Published: October 20, 2009 07:10 am      

Commissioners OK partial smoking ban

TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City commissioners banned smoking at beaches, picnic shelters and playground areas, but stopped short of a total smoking ban in city parks.

Commissioners decided in a 6-1 vote in favor of a smoking ban "in park buildings, shelters and designated swimming and beach areas in city parks that have waterfront or playground areas." The ban takes effect Oct. 29 and violators could be asked to stop smoking, expelled from the park or ticketed.

Commissioner Ralph Soffredine said it was a move in the right direction, but wanted a more restrictive measure to ban all tobacco in city parks.

"I think we had an opportunity to take a stand and we failed to do that," Soffredine said. "It does take us a step further toward handling this health problem."

City leaders agreed on the ban after dismissing two other options: a total ban on all tobacco in city parks, including smokeless tobacco, and a ban on tobacco in certain city park areas.

A total tobacco ban failed to receive enough support to pass because Commissioners Jody Bergman, Barbara Budros, Chris Bzdok and Mayor Michael Estes dissented.

Budros said she couldn't support a total ban because it would "legislate lifestyle," while Estes said he didn't support the notion because it would prevent smokers from lighting up inside their vehicles in city park parking lots.

City resident Lee Bowman spoke at the Monday meeting against any smoking ban. He said that as a smoker, he was offended by any government trying to control his life choices.

"You as government should not be dictating to individuals what they can do in an open-air area," Bowman said.

Commissioner Jim Carruthers voted against the smoking ban because he thought smokeless tobacco should also have been included, he said.

Commissioners on Monday also approved:

-- trail construction for a connecting link on the North Boardman Lake Trail Connector.

-- Barbara Kennedy's appointment to the city's Historic Districts Commission through June 2011.

-- Andrew Sill's appointment to the city's Board of Zoning Appeals through June 2011, along with Jennifer Jones' appointment as an alternate member through June 2012.