This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

City Hall Readies Rollout of Anti-Smoking Laws

At a City Council meeting Monday night, City Manager Jim McCann said that the city planned to host an informational meeting on Aug. 21 in advance of the council's consideration of a host of anti-smoking changes on Sept. 4.

Mill Valley City Manager Jim McCann told the Mill Valley City Council Monday night that the city plans to pursue a new smoking ordinance.

The new regulations, which would tighten up existing restrictions and add some new ones, would affect about a dozen businesses, according to McCann. First up is an informational meeting on August 21 at 1:00 p.m to educate the public about the changes. The council will take up the poposed changes at its regular meeting on Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

City officials are looking to create anti-smoking laws that are more aligned with other cities in Marin. Mill Valley, having received an F for  in the American Lung Association's annual State of Tobacco Control Report, looks to improve its standing in the Marin anti-smoking arena.

Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the Sept. 4 meeting, the City Council will consider an amendment that would include:

  • A ban on smoking in any place where food and/or drink offered for sale, including outdoor areas of restaurants and bars;
  • A ban on smoking at a minimum of 20 feet from any entrance, opening or exit of any enclosed area, including windows;
  • A ban on smoking within any park located in the City of Mill Valley on City property;
  • Prohibition on smoking within a minimum of 20 feet of: Service lines (ATMs, ticket lines, bus stops, transit shelters, and cab stands; Working road, building and construction crews; Recreational areas (playgrounds, sporting facilities, children's play areas, and rinks);
  • A ban on smoking at all public events including but not limited to, sports events, entertainment, speaking performances, ceremonies, pageants, parades, fairs and farmer's markets;
  • Prohibition on smoking in any vehicles, buses, taxicabs, and other means of public transit under the authority of the City of Mill Valley;
  • A ban on the disposal of smoking waste or tobacco product waste within the boundaries of an area in which smoking is prohibited;
  • A permanent designation of a minimum of 80 percent of guest rooms in every hotel and motel and bed-and-breakfast facilities as completely nonsmoking;
  • A tobacco retailer's license provision that will require retail licensing for tobacco sales, and gives cities leverage to penalize vendors who continue to illegally sell tobacco products to minors.

Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?