Cigarette butts are found sitting in a swing at a local Norman park off Clearwater st.Norman City Council comes to a conclusion about smoke in the air in public parks.
Does everyone's opinion count when it comes to the issues of smoking?
As you may know, the Norman City Council has made it final that there will be no smoking or use of tobacco products in Norman’s public parks.
Doug Cubberly, Norman City Council Member Ward 7, established this bill, after a similar one failed two years ago dealing with the same issues of tobacco.
“I started this, I felt the city could be doing more on the affects of smoking amongst the children and teens,” Cubberly said. "Smoking in public has always been a little issue, especially in the parks."
According to the Norman City Council, anyone who is caught under this ordinance will be cited and fined $100.
The bill for no smoking in public parks was a unanimous decision, which was declared final June 23 and will go into direct affect July 23. Many opinions were brought to light as the bill came closer to a final decision, but the opinions of council members and citizens were not enough.
The only park and recreational site that excludes this ordinance is the Westwood Golf Course.
Bob Thompson, City Council Member Ward 1, said he feels this issue dealing with smokers in parks should not be an ordinance. "City staff should be doing their job and this wouldn't need to be an ordinance," Thompson said.
The main concern with smoking in public parks, is the issue of secondhand smoke, and of course the health risks of the people smoking.
Cigarette butts can be found on the ground of public parks, which can be hazardous to children and even some animals, according to Norman Parks and Recreation.
Smokers and non-smokers of Norman have mixed emotions about this issue. However, it was a matter of time before the issue either got out of hand or too hazardous for people around it.
Dustin Holtman, citizen of Norman, said he understands the direction the Norman City Council is going and the reasoning's for it. "I understand the safety and cautions smokers have to take when smoking around other people," Holtman said. "I don't smoke, but I do find it annoying breathing in someone else's smoke even when I'm outside and maybe harming myself. I'm glad they are making this into an issue."
It seems as if Norman is not the only city in Oklahoma banning smoking in public parks. The towns of Owasso and Noble have similar guidelines and rules dealing with the same issues.
Some citizens of Norman feel as if the city council is taking too much of an affect on them and not letting people be themselves.
Norman resident and smoker, Jamie Spencer said she knows when to smoke and when not to, especially if there are children present. "I'm aware of when and where I smoke. It's not like smokers around the town are blowing smoke in the air just cause problems for little kids," Spencer said. "I understand not smoking in restaurants, but now in parks? If we can't smoke outside at a park, where else are they going to put us?"
Doug Cubberly said he just wants a safer environment for the future generations and a positive picture when it comes to the scenery of Norman's parks.
Another issue that Cubberly had wanted to clear up was the "bad" influence on younger kids when around smoke at the parks.
Cubberly said smoking was banned from where children congregated (swing sets, jungle gyms, etc.) the most at the parks. Now since the issue has taken a more positive turn toward health and hazards, any property linked with a public park is a no smoking zone, excluding parking lots.
Parking lots are the only exception where smokers can take a smoke break without being in danger of violating the no smoking policy.
The Norman City Council made it clear that it was not trying to take away rights from citizens of Norman. The Norman City Council just wants to experiment with cleaner air and less hazardous place for young children.
Doug Cubberly, Norman City Council Member Ward 7, established this bill, after a similar one failed two years ago dealing with the same issues of tobacco.
“I started this, I felt the city could be doing more on the affects of smoking amongst the children and teens,” Cubberly said. "Smoking in public has always been a little issue, especially in the parks."
According to the Norman City Council, anyone who is caught under this ordinance will be cited and fined $100.
The bill for no smoking in public parks was a unanimous decision, which was declared final June 23 and will go into direct affect July 23. Many opinions were brought to light as the bill came closer to a final decision, but the opinions of council members and citizens were not enough.
The only park and recreational site that excludes this ordinance is the Westwood Golf Course.
Bob Thompson, City Council Member Ward 1, said he feels this issue dealing with smokers in parks should not be an ordinance. "City staff should be doing their job and this wouldn't need to be an ordinance," Thompson said.
The main concern with smoking in public parks, is the issue of secondhand smoke, and of course the health risks of the people smoking.
Cigarette butts can be found on the ground of public parks, which can be hazardous to children and even some animals, according to Norman Parks and Recreation.
Smokers and non-smokers of Norman have mixed emotions about this issue. However, it was a matter of time before the issue either got out of hand or too hazardous for people around it.
Dustin Holtman, citizen of Norman, said he understands the direction the Norman City Council is going and the reasoning's for it. "I understand the safety and cautions smokers have to take when smoking around other people," Holtman said. "I don't smoke, but I do find it annoying breathing in someone else's smoke even when I'm outside and maybe harming myself. I'm glad they are making this into an issue."
It seems as if Norman is not the only city in Oklahoma banning smoking in public parks. The towns of Owasso and Noble have similar guidelines and rules dealing with the same issues.
Some citizens of Norman feel as if the city council is taking too much of an affect on them and not letting people be themselves.
Norman resident and smoker, Jamie Spencer said she knows when to smoke and when not to, especially if there are children present. "I'm aware of when and where I smoke. It's not like smokers around the town are blowing smoke in the air just cause problems for little kids," Spencer said. "I understand not smoking in restaurants, but now in parks? If we can't smoke outside at a park, where else are they going to put us?"
Doug Cubberly said he just wants a safer environment for the future generations and a positive picture when it comes to the scenery of Norman's parks.
Another issue that Cubberly had wanted to clear up was the "bad" influence on younger kids when around smoke at the parks.
Cubberly said smoking was banned from where children congregated (swing sets, jungle gyms, etc.) the most at the parks. Now since the issue has taken a more positive turn toward health and hazards, any property linked with a public park is a no smoking zone, excluding parking lots.
Parking lots are the only exception where smokers can take a smoke break without being in danger of violating the no smoking policy.
The Norman City Council made it clear that it was not trying to take away rights from citizens of Norman. The Norman City Council just wants to experiment with cleaner air and less hazardous place for young children.
As for the golf courses, it was persuaded to be a less hazardous environment for younger children and in more of an open area, allowing a lot more ventilation.
A lot of opinions won over the right to smoke on the golf course, but the Norman City Council has a different approach about that issue in the future.
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