City may push smokers off some public sidewalks

The next place smokers may be unwelcomed: public sidewalks surrounding Salem Hospital and Willamette University.

Salem City Council has asked staff to prepare a new city ordinance that would ban smoking on sidewalks adjacent to certain businesses. The proposed ordinance is the mayor's idea.

"I think it's important to support those businesses who have declared their property smoke free," said Salem Mayor Anna Peterson.

The mayor became an advocate for restricting smoking in the public right-of-way after being contacted by Salem Hospital and Willamette University officials, she said. Under her proposal, other businesses could also request similar smoking restrictions.

Salem Hospital's campus has a smoking ban in place. Willamette University is preparing to make its campus smoke-free by early next year.

Officials with Salem Health, the operator of Salem Hospital, stated in a June 25 letter to the city that its efforts to encourage a healthy lifestyle are "muted" when smoking is allowed on nearby sidewalks.

Jim Bauer, Willamette University's vice president for administrative services, asked the city take action in a June 12 letter.

"Any employer and property owner, who takes this difficult ethical stand to limit smoking, will benefit from this proposed ordinance," Bauer stated in his letter to Salem City Manager Linda Norris.

Peterson was uncertain how the proposed restrictions on smoking would be enforced, but details could be hammered out during council deliberations, she said. A public hearing on the proposed ordinance is planned, although a date hasn't been set.

At a council meeting earlier this month, the mayor made a motion for staff to draft the anti-smoking rule.

Brad Nanke, the Ward 3 councilor, cast the only no vote on the motion.

How a ban on smoking along certain sidewalks could effectively be enforced is vague, Nanke said. Rather than give-up the habit, smokers would simply move down the street or light-up in their cars, he said.

"It comes back to kind of a feel good policy. But will it actually do anything? No.," said Nanke, who enjoys an occasional cigar.

Peterson said she was confident that creating a new city law aimed at restricting tobacco use wasn't overstepping the city's authority.

"Sometimes we tell people not to do certain things for the betterment of the community," she said.

mrose@StatesmanJournal .com (503) 399-6657 or follow on Twitter @mrose_sj

Could city parks be next?

Several years ago, Salem City Council considered, but rejected, a proposal to ban smoking in city parks.

Salem City Councilor Diana Dickey said she will soon make another attempt to prohibit smoking in city parks.

Besides traditional tobacco products, Dickey said she is concerned about new smoking technologies, such as electronic cigarettes and vape pens. The councilor doesn't want to allow their use in public parks.

Dickey noted that some of these new smoking devices can also be used consume THC oil —the narcotic in marijuana —without the telltale odor of cannabis.

Smoking is already banned in Oregon state parks. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Commission is considering a rule that would outlaw cigarettes on all beaches along the coast.

Since 2013, the use of smoking and chewing tobacco along the perimeter of most state offices has been banned by order of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber.