Pamela Andersons Feet

City sponsored tobacco limitations a smoking gun?

On June 21, the city of Anderson conducted a public hearing on establishing limitations to smoking in public places.

“Shasta County Public Health requested the limitations,” reported Dana Shigley, city manager.

Public Health drafted an ordinance they hoped would be approved by the city.

“We are not recommending exactly what they recommended,” she explained.

Instead, Shigley drafted a new ordinance.

“When (the ordinance) came to me for presentation to the Council, I had some concerns,” explained Shigley in a subsequent e-mail. “Because of these concerns, the recommended resolution we included in the staff report was scaled back from the Public Health/Planning Commission/Parks and Rec commission recommendation.”

That revised ordinance was introduced during the Tuesday night meeting, an ordinance that could potentially make it a criminal offence for residents to be caught smoking in a prohibited area as defined by the ordinance.

During the public hearing that followed Shigley’s report, several residents addressed the City Council.

Nathan Reid, a member of the Smoke Free Anderson work group, stated that he believes in, “A culture where it is understood smoking is prohibited.”

Local business owner Brad Frost echoed the sentiment. “There needs to be a cultural change,” he stated. “The city needs to set the standard about what’s acceptable in our city. We really want to change the future of our young people.”

William Clay, himself a smoker for 35 years, stated that his biggest concern was that, “I will be criminalized because I smoke.”

I find a lot of hypocrisy in this,” he said. “You people all drive cars. (Exhaust from) cars pollutes people too.”

Local business owner Bob Colburn who owns the Firehouse Lounge was concerned about the impact a new ordinance might have on his business.

“The twenty-foot barrier will cause enormous problems,” Colburn said, referring to the “buffer” zone being proposed in public areas. “I do ask that you make this voluntary. An opt-out thing would be good.”

While nothing was formally adopted at the Tuesday night meeting, Ordinance No. 773 was read to the City Council and will be voted upon at a future meeting. Prior to that, however, Shigley recommended making some changes.

“I would recommend stronger language to enforce (any ordinance),” Shigley stated. “Some things were very poorly defined.

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