§ 8.28.020. Legislative findings.

A.

The Commission finds that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution; that breathing secondhand smoke is a cause of disease, including lung cancer in healthy nonsmokers; and that separation of people and tobacco smoke within the same air space may reduce, but does not eliminate, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

B.

The Commission further finds that the risk of disease from environmental tobacco smoke is related to the level of exposure over time; and that merely reducing smoke in buildings owned, operated or leased by the City does not eliminate the health risk to City employees nor to guests and visitors to municipal offices and municipal meeting rooms.

C.

The Commission recognizes the right of employees to work in a smoke-free environment as well as the rights of visitors and guests to do business and meet in a smoke-free environment in buildings owned, operated or leased by the City. The Commission is convinced that smoking represents a serious health and safety hazard, not only to the smoker but to the nonsmoker, in any enclosed area regardless of designation of certain areas as smoking or nonsmoking. It is the finding of the Commission that all indoor areas of buildings owned, operated, or leased by the City are working areas and, as such, should be a smoke-free environment.

(Ord. 811 (part), 1993: prior code § 12-18)