2011.04.13 Parks Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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At the March 9, 2011 meeting, the Parks Commission discussed the policy. Tovah Marek, Youth Enrichment Manager at Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, informed the Commission of youth participation in Forest Lake in changing the policies in their community. Surveys were also taken at the Washington County Fair which showed fair goers would attend more if the grounds were smoke free. Currently the City of Forest Lake has no policy related to tobacco free but it has been presented twice to the City. The Parks Commission directed staff to re -write the policy with language that restricted tobacco use within a particular distance from park features with youth. Staff was also directed to work with Commissioner Derek Larsen in drafting a policy. 2. OCTOBER PARKS COMMISSION DISCUSSION: Before making a recommendation to the City Council, the Parks Commission discussed four different parts of a possible ban: 1. have a policy, ordinance or none; and 2. include the entire park or a distance from certain features; and 3. apply it to active parks, passive parks or all parks; and 4. ban all tobacco use or smoking. In discussions of a ban, the Parks Commission did a roll call vote on each of the parts. Commissioner Derek Larsen abstained. Larsen is employed by the Tobacco Free Youth Recreation Program. In a 4 to 3 vote, the Parks Commission recommended a policy verses an ordinance. One Commissioner voted to have neither a policy nor an ordinance. Discussion included peer enforcement, enforcement by the Washington County Sheriffs Office and signage. In a 6 to 2 vote, the Parks Commission recommended a ban on the entire park property. The issues listed with using a distance (i.e. 25 feet from children, etc.) included enforcement and clarity to park goers. The option of having an area designated to smoke was also discussed. In a 5 to 3 vote, the Parks Commission recommended that the ban include the entire park system (active and passive parks), rather than only in active parks. In a 4 to 4 vote, the Parks Commission was tied on whether to ban all tobacco use or just smoking. A ban on all tobacco use would include spit tobacco use and smoking. The reasons given for a smoking -only ban include: ■ Role -modeling is not enough of a reason to also ban spit tobacco. ■ Second hand smoke is hazardous to park -goers health, but it is hard to recognize the second-hand effects of spit tobacco. ■ Enforcement of spit tobacco use may be difficult. ■ Regulation of a lifestyle choice is outside the government's role to protect civil liberties.