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February 8, 2012

Parks smoking ban on hold in TC

Carruthers: It seemed like not everybody understood it

By Vanessa McCray vmccray@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — City Commissioner Jim Carruthers wants more time to work on smoking rules at city parks.

Commissioners were scheduled Monday to consider a parks and recreation recommendation to ban tobacco products at all city parks. But Carruthers requested the item be pulled from this week's agenda to allow time to revise the proposed ban, which he supports.

Approval for a total ban appeared uncertain. Several commissioners expressed concern that eliminating all tobacco at all parks is too restrictive.

"It just seemed like not everybody understood it," Carruthers said. "Maybe we could develop a proposal that is something that everybody could stomach."

Tobacco-free advocates asked the city commission to ban tobacco in parks before, in 2009, but commissioners wouldn't go that far. Instead, the city prohibited smoking in park buildings, shelters, swim and beach areas, waterfront parks and within 15 feet of playgrounds.

Traverse Bay Area Tobacco Coalition wants consistent rules across all parks. Carruthers hopes parks commissioners and tobacco-free groups can rework the proposed ordinance into a palatable rule.

City Manager Ben Bifoss said the city commission is not required to take action on a recommendation from the parks board and said there's no time line for a proposal to return to the city commission for consideration.

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