Smoking Now Prohibited in all Public City Areas

An ordinance prohibiting smoking tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars and electronic cigarettes in designated public parks and facilities within the city of Grand Terrace will now go into effect. The city council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the ordinance amending Grand Terrace’s health and safety code, effectively prohibiting smoking in public areas as other surrounding communities have done, including Colton, Loma Linda, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga and Yucaipa. “It is appropriate that Grand Terrace also align its regulations with other healthy cities in the region, its 2030 Vision and, where warranted, ensure its regulations promote healthy cites initiatives,” staff reports dated Sept. 9 read. There were no requests for public comment on this item made by residents during the meeting. Smoking is now prohibited in public parks, hospitals and other health care facilities, child care facilities, public meeting rooms, theaters and auditoriums, eating establishments, department stores, city buildings and facilities, and recreation areas - except in specially designated smoking areas. The ordinance also prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes, battery-powered vaporizers that stimulate tobacco smoking by vaporizing a liquid solution containing ingredients that include nicotine, in some cases, and other flavorings, in these designated public areas. According to staff reports, prohibited electronic tobacco devices also include “electronic cigars, hookahs and/or pipes” due to the apparent carcinogens found in these devices and the “potential dangers” they present for non-users who “passively inhale the chemical vapors.” Community Development Director Sandra Molina told the council Tuesday that the reason for the prohibition of these electronic devices is due to announcements made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that laboratory testing done on electronic cigarettes found that they contained carcinogens and toxic chemicals. The FDA official website states that “e-cigarettes have not been fully studied,” and consumers “do not currently know the potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended; how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use; or whether there are any benefits associated with using these products.” The website also states that currently only electronic cigarettes marketed for therapeutic purposes are regulated by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. After Councilmember Darcy McNaboe asked for clarification, Molina explained that the ordinance does not regulate smoking prohibitions in food and beverage service areas of indoor eating establishments because there are already ordinances in place that regulate these areas. The ordinance does not intend to regulate smoking in private homes, property owned or leased by government agencies, or private and enclosed work spaces occupied only by smokers.