Smoking in San Clemente Parks Is on the Way Out

The San Clemente City Council voted 4-1 in favor of an ordinance that would ban smoking in all public parks.

Such bans are already in place on public trails, beaches, designated coastal trails and canyons. This ordinance would extend the ban to the remainder of city parkland. Officials expect it to be enforced through signs, park monitors and public education.

Officials ultimately scrapped a part of the proposal that would have extended the ban to the parks’ parking lots.

“It’s kind of odd, because you could be smoking like a chimney on the sidewalk, but step into the parking lot and you’re in violation,” said Councilman Tim Brown.

Councilman Bob Baker, the sole dissenter, said he thought the ban would be unenforceable.

Staff told the council they would be relying on public education, signage and existing park monitors to keep people from smoking.

Though Councilman Jim Dahl ultimately voted in favor of the ordinance, he had reservations.

“I think this is sort of a nanny state,” he said. “It’s going kind of far. There’s a lot of air in the park.”

None of the council members is a smoker, according to them, except for Jim Evert's "occasional cigar."

The Beaches, Parks and Recreation department will get $3,500 to post "no smoking" signs throughout the parks and $1,000 per year to maintain them in the face of taggers.

The ordinance will go into effect in a few weeks, assuming officials approve the second reading at their next meeting.