Expanded smoking restrictions under consideration would include areas of multi-unit residences

The Palm Springs Sustainability Commission is considering significant updates to the city’s smoking ordinance that could expand restrictions to outdoor areas and multi-unit housing complexes.

During their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, commissioners discussed a draft ordinance aimed at broadening the city’s current smoking regulations, which primarily focuses on indoor public spaces.

The proposed changes would prohibit smoking in outdoor dining areas, parks, and common areas of multi-unit residences. The ordinance would also address both traditional tobacco products and electronic smoking devices.

Commissioners received public comments urging action on secondhand smoke exposure in multi-family housing complexes.

“I would like to see a smoke-free city,” said Paul Henriksen, one resident who spoke during public comments. “I’d like to really see some political courage in our city so that we can move forward and start protecting some of our citizens from secondhand smoke, specifically those in multi-unit housing.”

The commission plans to review the draft ordinance in detail before deciding on next steps for presenting it to the City Council.

Director of Sustainability LP McCloy said staff would prepare a side-by-side comparison of current regulations and proposed changes for the next meeting.

“We’ll have a request to agendize a lightly-facilitated conversation about the substance of the ordinance,” McCloy said. “Some of our commissioners who dived in a little bit more on this are going to send discussion points or some key highlights.”

Commissioners expressed interest in educating residents about potential new restrictions before implementation. They also discussed potential implementation challenges, including enforcement and impact on businesses.

Commissioner Ken Alexander suggested looking at other California cities with similar ordinances for guidance.

“I did some quick searches because there are quite a few cities in California that have a code on smoking, and none of them address single family,” Alexander said. “They specifically identify that as it doesn’t fall into their categories.”

Above all, the commission aims to have a collective understanding of the ordinance before deciding on next steps.

“I think perhaps an ad hoc subcommittee could be effective in terms of reading it through more carefully and then perhaps briefing the commission on where the changes are,” Chair Roy Clark said.

The draft ordinance comes after the City Council approved an expansion of smoking prohibitions to all areas of Palm Springs International Airport in September.

Commissioners plan to continue discussions at their next meeting,  scheduled for Nov. 19., with the goal of potentially bringing the ordinance to the City Council in early 2025.

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