St. Paul City Council members voted Wednesday in favor of a smoking ban impacting city parks and building entrances.
In a 4-3 vote the city council made it unlawful for anyone to smoke tobacco or marijuana within 25 feet of public buildings and places of work in St. Paul. Mayor Melvin Carter is expected to sign the ordinance into law.
"I view this as the continued evolution to work towards a smoke-free society and smoke-free St. Paul," said council member Chris Tolbert, the chief author of the new rules. "We've made huge strides, especially in the past decade, mostly targeting which was one of the few legal smokes of the tobacco industry, which has targeted our country for a long time and has had devastating effects on the community."
Under the ordinance, smoking is barred from all park and playgrounds.
Building owners along with the parks director can establish smoking areas with appropriate signage. There is a smoking exception for religious or cultural ceremonies.
"There is an opening to have those conversations with our parks commission and community if there are to be designated smoking areas," said Council President Amy Brendmoen. "That opening exists in this ordinance as revised. I support that as well."
The council removed language making a smoking ordinance violation a petty misdemeanor. Instead, violators will first receive a warning, followed by an administrative citation.