Smoke-Free Parks, The Hasting City Council Approved

The Hastings City Council approved a new policy banning smoking in city parks Monday after discussion on whether the policy goes far enough. At an April work session, City Administrator Joe Patterson recommended using a policy rather than an ordinance, which would subject violators to a fine. Patterson said other cities and states that have instituted a policy have had good results and cooperation from residents. In the meeting Monday, councilman John Harrington said a current ordinance that bans smoking within city ball fields, bleacher areas, within the fenced perimeter of public pools and in grandstands already protects citizens from second-hand smoke, and a policy for the rest of the parks won’t change much because it’s not enforceable. The policy was approved on a 6-2 vote, with Harrington and councilman Phil Odom voting no. “If the advocates of banning smoking in public parks are really serious, would we not try to change the meat of it to make it enforceable?” Harrington asked. “I think we’re not doing that because we sense that it is an overreach to do that. ... If this policy doesn’t make any difference, then why are we doing it? My opinion is I think we ought to be really involved in serious things here and this policy is just window dressing and a feel-good thing that doesn’t change the meat of the code.”