Grapevine debating smoking ordinance
How smoke-free does Grapevine want to be?
A discussion between the City Council and staffers Tuesday evening that centered on a potential tobacco ordinance for youth sports facilities wound up including a brief conversation about whether the city should also look into tobacco restrictions for botanical gardens, all neighborhood parks, city buildings, indoor facilities — or even a citywide ban.
The impetus for the discussion was more basic: Should the city add an ordinance banning cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco at facilities where youths play baseball, soccer, softball and other sports?
Various youth sports associations have asked for an ordinance, officials said.
“We’re behind the times,” Mayor William D. Tate said. “People don’t need to be smoking around the kids.”
Other city officials would support tobacco restrictions to reduce litter.
In upcoming weeks, Parks and Recreation Department staffers will provide a potential ordinance dealing with youth sports facilities.
Whether to expand any ordinance to include all parks will be discussed later, officials said.
Issues like how to enforce a tobacco ordinance at neighborhood parks will still need to be hashed out, Councilwoman Darlene Freed said.
Some council members believe that an ordinance alone would be enough to curb the behavior, although the threat of $200 tickets would give the deterrent some teeth.
As for making Grapevine even more smoke-free, it remains to be seen whether there is enough support — or momentum — to warrant a more comprehensive ban.
