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The Danville Town Council is set to debate expanding the town’s smoking regulations to include a ban at apartments, condominiums and most other multifamily dwellings Tuesday evening (Sept. 15).
The proposed new smoking ordinance would also extend all prohibitions to include medical marijuana and electronic smoking devices, such as e-cigarettes, but the changes would not include new restrictions to other areas such as downtown and all public sidewalks.
The council and town officials held public discussions about possibly enhancing Danville’s smoking regulations during study sessions in June and July, city attorney Rob Ewing said in his staff report to council members.
As town law stands now, smoking is prohibited in a variety of areas, including all town parks, indoor businesses, restaurants, transportation and restroom facilities, public facilities and schools, and any place voluntarily designating itself as a nonsmoking establishment.
The proposed ordinance under consideration Tuesday would expand the ban to all multifamily buildings of three or more units, prohibiting smoking within all units and common areas of the building and property — other than designated smoking areas.
The law would also require every new or renewed lease agreement to include the smoking rules described in the new ordinance.
Citing the potential harm of secondhand smoke, town staff also recommends expanding the smoking regulations to include medical marijuana and e-cigarettes.
Based on direction from the council at the July study session, the proposed ordinance does not expand smoking restrictions to other locations such as outdoor dining areas, sidewalks, all outdoor areas, everywhere in downtown Danville or within 20 feet of doors and windows, Ewing said.
The council is set to consider receiving the town staff report, hearing feedback from the public and introducing the proposed ordinance Tuesday before setting final consideration to occur at a later meeting.
The smoking ban is among several items on the council’s open-session agenda, set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front St.
In other business
* Council members will consider approving $468,000 in expenditures on a series of technology upgrades, including a new backup and data storage system and technology consulting services.
* They will consider adopting the recognized obligation payment schedule for the Successor Agency to the town’s former Community Development Agency and approving the administrative budget for the Successor Agency for the period of Jan. 1 through June 30, 2016
* The council will receive a regular report on the Administrative Services Department.
* The council members will announce the start of recruitment for two Heritage Resource Commission members, for four-year terms beginning Jan. 1. They will also appoint one Design Review Board member and one Heritage Resource Commission member to the Historic Design Review Committee.
