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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - December 20, 1989 (64)aq CITY OJJNCIL MEETINL DECEMBER 20, 1989 REQUEST FOR CrfY--WIDE NO -SMOKING N PUBLIC PLACES CFDNAlVCE CC -24(b) n Sandra Stoddard, Program Director for the American Cancer Society addressed the City Council urging that the City adopt a City-wide no -smoking in public places ordinance. Ms. Stoddard's presentation included the following information regarding the subject: The American Lung Association, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society hereby find that: Numerous studies have found that tocacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution; and Reliable studies have shown that breathing second-hand smoke is a significant health hazard for certain population groups, including elderly people, individuals with cardiovascular disease, and individuals with impaired respiratory function, including asthmatics and those with obstructive airway disease; and Health hazards induced by breathing second-hand smoke include lung cancer, respiratory infection , decreased exercise tolerance, decreased respiratory function, bronchoconstriction, and bronchospasm; and Nonsmokers who suffer alergies, respiratory diseases and other ill effects of breathing second-hand smoke may experience a loss of job productivity or may be forced to take periodic sick leave because of such adverse reactions; and Numerous studies have shown that a majority of both nonsmokers and smokers desire to have restrictions on smoking in public places and places of employment; and Smoking is a documented cause of fires, cigarette and cigar burns and ash stains on merchandise and fixtures resulting in economic losses to businesses. Accordingly, the American Lung Association, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society find and declare that the purposes of smoking pollution control through adoption of a local ordinance would be (1) to protect the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in public places except in designated smoking areas, and by regulating smoking in places of employment; and (2) to strike a reasonable balance between the needs of smokers and the need of nonsmokers to breathe smoke-free air, and to recognize that, where these needs conflict, the need to breathe rmoke-free air shall have priority. The matter was referred to staff for placement on a future agenda.