Santa Rosa (CA) considers banning smoking in apartments, condo and outdoor waiting lines
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On August 26, 2014 The Press Democrat reported that the Santa Rosa City Council is considering a ban on smoking tobacco, marijuana and electronic cigarettes in any dwelling where two units share a wall, such as apartments, condominiums, duplexes and townhouses. The percentage of hotel and motel rooms that need to be smokefree would increase from 50 to 75 percent. Outdoor smoking would be banned at city owned parking lots, garages and bus stops. The city already bans smoking at outdoor dining areas, city-owned parks and recreation facilities, the downtown transit mall, and within 20 feet any area where smoking is prohibited.
An exemption that allowed smoking in parks if no one was in the area would also be removed under the plan, made in 2006 after concerns were raised by golfers wanting to smoke cigars on the Bennett Valley Golf Course, has proven to be difficult to enforce and smoking in parks creates litter.
The city is planning a community meeting in September to inform residents of the changes, as well as a second meeting before the Board of Community Services in October, before returning with a final ordinance for the county to consider in December.