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HomeMy WebLinkAbout77-06 Resolution RECORD OF RESOLUTIONS Dayton ~~9~1~I?n~:!nc.. Form_ti~. ~q~4_~ Resolution No. 77 -06 Passed .20_ A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING SMOKEFREE OHIO - STATE ISSUE 5 AND OPPOSING SMOKE LESS OHIO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT - ISSUE 4 WHEREAS, the City of Dublin adopted Ordinance 52-04 on November 15, 2004, making the City's workplaces and public places smoke-free effective February 1, 2005; and WHEREAS, subsequent to adoption of this ordinance, the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's Report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, concluded that more than 50,000 non-smoking Americans die every year from exposure to secondhand smoke; and WHEREAS, secondhand smoke has been shown to substantially increase the risk of lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, breast cancer, heart disease in adults and sudden infant death syndrome, asthma and airway disease in children; and WHEREAS, everyone has the right to breathe clean indoor air in public places and workplaces; and WHEREAS, no one should be required to risk disease and disability from secondhand smoke to earn a living; and WHEREAS, no one should suffer the risk or discomfort of exposure to secondhand smoke while indoors engaging in business, dining or entertainment; and WHEREAS, everyone, even those made vulnerable because they are young or old or ill should be able to enter a public building without fear of harm from secondhand smoke; and WHEREAS, business owners will benefit from their ability to provide clean indoor air to their employees and customers on a level playing field; and WHEREAS, Issue 5 - SmokeFreeOhio's proposed state law, sponsored by virtually every health organization in the state - protects all workers and customers from the health hazards of secondhand smoke by making all public places and workplaces smoke-free and creating a level playing field for all businesses; and WHEREAS, Issue 4 - Smoke Less Ohio's proposed Constitutional amendment, sponsored primarily by RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company - fails to protect millions of Ohio's workers and its most vulnerable elderly, children and ill from exposure to toxic secondhand smoke, overturns Dublin's Ordinance 52-04 and prevents further action by Dublin City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Dublin, State of Ohio, 5- of the elected members concurring: Section 1. That the Dublin City Council strongly supports the passage of Issue 5, SmokeFreeOhio, and forcefully opposes the passage of Issue 4, Smoke Less Ohio on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. Section 2. This Resolution is effective upon passage in accordance with Section 4.04(a) of the Revised Charter. Passed this /.41'''' day of OC!.--tCJber- ,2006 ATTEST: I hereby certify that copies of this OrdinancelResolution were posted in the ~ (1- ~ City of Dublin in accordance with Section 731.25 of the Ohio Revised Code, Clerk of Council / Clerk of Council, Dublin, Ohio Office of the City Manager 5200 Emerald Parkway. Dublin, OH 43017 Phone: 614-410-4400 · Fax: 614-410-4490 CITY OF DUBLIN Memo TO: Members of Dublin City Council FROM: Jane S. Brautigam, City Manager DATE: October 13,2006 RE: Resolution 77-06, Support for SmokeFreeOhio - State Issue 5 and Opposing Smoke Less Ohio Constitutional Amendment - State Issue 4 Background SmokeFreeOhio has requested that Dublin City Council adopt a resolution in support of State Issue 5 and in opposition to a Constitutional Amendment, State Issue 4 - both ballot issues to be voted upon at the Tuesday, November 7 General Election. . SmokeFreeOhio - State Issue 5 State Issue 5 is a proposed state law which would prohibit smoking in public places and places of employment and most places open to the public. Issue 5 is supported by SmokeFreeOhio, a campaign by the American Cancer Society in collaboration with the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Ohio Health Commissioners Association, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and hundreds of supporting organizations to create smoke-free public places and workplaces in the state of Ohio. . Smoke Less Ohio - State Issue 4 State Issue 4 is a proposed Constitutional Amendment which would prohibit smoking in enclosed areas except tobacco stores, private residences or nonpublic facilities, separate smoking areas in restaurants, most bars, bingo and bowling facilities, separated areas of hotels and nursing homes and race tracks. The amendment would invalidate retroactively any ordinance or local law in effect. and would vrohibit the future adovtion of any ordinance or local law to the extent such ordinance or law prohibited smokinf! or tobacco vroducts in anyplace exemvted by the amendment. A coalition of groups led by R.J. Reynolds and the Ohio Licensed Beverage Association has circulated petitions to place this initiative on the state ballot. Recommendation Recognizing the positive health and environmental benefits of smoke-free public places in the City of Dublin, staff recommends approval of Resolution 77-06 on Monday, October 16, 2006. . Comparison of Laws: SmokeFreeOhio-lssue 5 versus Pro-Smoking Constitutional Amendment-Issue 4 A coalition of groups led by R.I. Reynolds and the Ohio Licensed Beverage Association are attempting to sabotage everyone's right to smoke-free public places by circulating a petition that would allow smoking in most public places. Below is a comparison of the SmokeFreeOhio state law and the pro-smoking constitutional amendment. Issue 5: SmokeFreeOhio Issue 4: Pro-Smoking State Law Constitutional Amendment Restaurants Smoke-Free Air Smoke allowed Bowling Alleys Smoke-Free Air Smoke allowed Offices Smoke-Free Air Smoke allowed if minors are prohibited Factories Smoke-Free Air Smoke allowed if minors are prohibited Retail Stores Smoke-Free Air Smoke allowed if minors are prohibited Bingo Halls Smoke-Free Air Smoke allowed Bars Smoke-Free Air Smoke allowed American Cancer Society, American Lung Sponsors Association, American Heart Association, Tobacco and Alcohol Industries and other health groups Other disturbing aspects of the "Smoke Less Ohio" pro-smoking constitutional amendment: . Would overturn laws in the 21 Ohio cities that have strong smoke-free public places laws, including Columbus, even if voters in those cities approved the laws through a vote. . Would prevent local communities from ever passing a stronger law to protect the health of their citizens. . Could not be changed except by another Constitutional Amendment. (SmokeFreeOhio's law is an initiated statute which is a state law that can be changed by state lawmakers in the unlikely event that adjustments need to be made after it passes.) . Would supersede the SmokeFreeOhio law and go into effect if both laws pass. . Would allow any employer to declare his business off-limits to minors and allow smoking throughout the entire office and around all employees, . Would create an uneven playing field where different businesses play by different rules, . Would leave the health of the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who work in the hospitality industry in jeopardy. Be careful when you vote Below is the actual text of each issue as it will appear on the November ballot. Vote NO on Issue 4: Smoke Less Ohio-the pro-smoking constitutional amendment: 4 PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT (Proposed by Initiative Petition) To adopt Section 12 of Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. This proposed amendment would prohibit smoking in enclosed areas except tobacco stores, private residences or nonpublic facilities, separate smoking areas in restaurants, most bars, bingo and bowling facilities, separated areas of hotels and nursing homes, and race tracks. The amendment would invalidate retroactively any ordinance or local law in effect, and would prohibit the . future adoption of any ordinance or local law to the extent such ordinance or law prohibited smoking or tobacco products in anyplace exempted by the amendment. Vote YES on Issue 5: SmokeFreeOhio-the real smoke-free public places law: 5 PROPOSED LAW (Proposed by Initiative Petition) To enact Chapter 3794. of the Ohio Revised Code to restrict smoking in places of employment and most places open to the public. The proposed law would: . Prohibit smoking in public places and places of employment; . Exempt from the smoking restrictions certain locations, including private residences (except during the hours that the residence operates as a place of business involving non-residents of the private residence), designated smoking rooms in hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities; designated smoking areas for nursing home residents; retail tobacco stores, outdoor patios, private clubs, and family-owned and operated places of business; . Authorize a uniform statewide minimum standard to protect workers and the public from secondhand tobacco smoke; . Allow for the declaration of an establishment, facility, or outdoor area as nonsmoking; . Require the posting of "No Smoking" signs, and the removal of all ashtrays and similar receptacles from any area where smoking is prohibited; . Specify the duties of the department of health to enforce the smoking restrictions; . Create in the state treasury the "smoke free indoor air fund;" . Provide for the enforcement of the smoking restrictions and for the imposition of civil fines upon anyone who violates the smoking restrictions, SmokeFreeOhio is a campaign by the American Cancer Society in collaboration with the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Ohio Health Commissioners Association, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and hundreds of supporting organizations to create smoke-free public places and workplaces in the state of Ohio. Because secondhand smoke causes cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases, we believe that everyone has the right to breathe clean indoor air, free of secondhand smoke, in public places and workplaces. SmokeFreeOhio, Richard Filler, Treasurer, 5555 Frantz Road, Dublin, Ohio 43017 1-888-ACS-OHIO - SmokeFreeOhio.org SFOLawComparison September 11, 2006