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