Meetings to discuss further curbs on smoking in Santa Rosa

New smoking regulations proposed for Santa Rosa will get a public airing at two upcoming public meetings.

The first is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Person Senior Wing of the Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave. Since that meeting takes place on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the city has scheduled a second community meeting. That meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 1 in Room 7 at Santa Rosa City Hall.

The city is proposing a sweeping expansion of its anti-smoking laws. The new regulations would ban the smoking of tobacco, marijuana and electronic cigarettes in apartments, condominiums and most public places.

The proposed changes are aimed at reducing the health impacts of secondhand smoke on residents. As currently drafted, the rules would apply to any multifamily units that share a wall.

The ban would also be expanded to include all city-owned properties, including parks, recreational facilities, trails, the golf course, buildings, parking lots and bus stops. It would also include “service areas” such as ATMs, cab stands and ticket lines.

It would also clarify that electronic cigarettes are covered by the city’s ordinance, and would increase from 50 percent to 75 percent the percentage of guest rooms at local hotels and motels that must be smoke-free.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.