Could Sandusky snuff out smoking in all city parks?

SANDUSKY — Two elected officials butted heads on where people can smoke cigarettes in Sandusky-owned parks.During a recent public meeting, city commissioners Nikki Lloyd and Greg Lockhart starkly disagreed when a discussion arose about possibly expanding a tobacco consumption-related law.The rule as it stands today: Wherever there's a playground or play area in a city park, nobody can smoke within a 25-foot radius of it. Violators face a low-level misdemeanor if they're found and cited.First proposing this legislation in 2016, Lloyd prefers the ban encompass all city-owned green spaces and not just in small areas only near swings, slides, splash pads or baseball diamonds."We have basically had a two-year experiment with the smoking ban in and around all of our city playground equipment, and I feel it has been well received. Talking to parents, they are very happy," Lloyd said. "The only disappointment that I have heard over the last couple of years is that our residents did not think we went far enough."In this Aug. 24, 2017, photo, Sally Thompson holds her grandson, Ace, 3, as he makes it to the end of the monkey bars at the Wilbert Street Park in Sandusky. During a recent public meeting, city commissioners voted to proceed forward with a public process to ban smoking in all city parks. The law in place today: At all city parks, people can't smoke within a 25-foot radius of all playgrounds and play areas.Lloyd further explained her reasoning."This is a protection for all of our community, including our children, and (a smoking ban) 25 feet away from a playground will not take care of the entire park," she said. "It's important we not only follow what other communities are doing and have done but also be a leader in supporting a healthy, active lifestyle."Lockhart abruptly spoke out, slamming Lloyd's suggestion."I would object to that wholeheartedly," said Lockhart, adding how such a law would "infringe upon people's liberties."Lloyd responded to Lockhart."What about the personal rights of any human that wants to breathe fresh air?" Lloyd said. "We need to protect the air that we have for those who want to enjoy our parks."Lockhart then tried rallying support from the five other commissioners — Dick Brady, Dennis Murray Jr., Wes Poole, Naomi Twine and Dave Waddington — to hold off on Lloyd's proposal. His motion ultimately failed by a 5-2 margin. Just himself and Poole supported the motion.Commissioners then voted on presenting Lloyd's proposal, a full-on smoking ban in all city parks, to the public before possibly implementing such a law. The results flip-flopped, 5-2 in the affirmative. Only Lockhart and Poole voting against Lloyd's motion.A public process, which would welcome feedback before officials vote on this potential law, should take place at the next scheduled commission meeting, 5 p.m. April 9 at City Hall, 222 Meigs St.Sandusky city commissioner Nikki Lloyd wants to prohibit smoking and all tobacco-related products from being consumed on all city park property. "This is a protection for all of our community, including our children," she said. "It's important we not only follow what other communities are doing and have done but also be a leader in supporting a healthy active lifestyle." An explanation of Sandusky's smoking law• The law: In 2016, city commissioners approved legislation prohibiting smoking in all city parks within a 25-foot radius of playgrounds and play areas. • The penalty: Anyone found smoking — puffing, inhaling, chewing and the like — within the 25-foot radius faces a low-level misdemeanor. Two years ago, commissioners also approved a related law creating more stringent fines imposed on anyone found littering, including cigarette butts, anywhere in Sandusky. This changes from a discretionary fine to a mandatory minimum fine of $150.• The vaping: People can inhale e-cigarettes, known as vaping, near playgrounds and play areas without facing any legal ramifications.• The definition: The law bans smoking 25 feet within:— Playgrounds: including, but not limited to, a seesaw, a merry-go-round, swings or a swing set, a slide, a jungle gym, chin-up bars, a sandbox, a spring rider, a splash pad, trapeze rings, playhouses or mazes— Play areas: including, but not limited to, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, an ice skate area, a skateboard area, and any playground surface border or the border around the playground equipment, sometimes delineated by a plastic or wood boarder• The locations: A smoking ban would take effect in the following parks: AMVETS Park, Battery Park, Central Park, Churchwell (MacArthur) Park, Dorn Community Park, Facer Park, Farwell Park, Foxborough Park, Huron Park, Wightman-Wieber (Jaycee North) Park , Jaycee Park South, Kiwanis Park, Lions Park, Orlando Pace Park, Schaeffer Park, Shoreline Park, Sprau Park, Sandusky Bay Pavilion, Venice Park, Washington Park, Wilbert Street Park, and any other city park(s) established after the effective date of this legislation.In this Aug. 24, 2017 photo, children play on the new playground equipment at the Wilbert Street Park in Sandusky. During a recent public meeting, city commissioners voted to proceed forward with a public process to ban smoking in all city parks. The law in place today: At all city parks, people can't smoke within a 25-foot radius of all playgrounds and play areas.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.