Drafter
Clerk 04/12/2012
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AN ORDINANCE relating to prohibiting the use of tobacco products in high-use areas in King County parks and recreation facilities; amending Ordinance 14509, Section 4, and K.C.C. 7.01.010, adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 7.12 and prescribing penalties.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. The King County parks and recreation division operates more than two hundred parks, one hundred seventy-five miles of regional trails, and welcomes five million visitors annually. The system's assets contribute to the health, well-being and enjoyment of the regional population and rural, unincorporated communities. In particular, by offering low-cost opportunities for physical activity, county parks play an important role in promoting health and preventing chronic disease in all of our communities.
2. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco-related illness is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for about four hundred forty-three thousand deaths each year.
3. According to a 2010 report from the Washington state Department of Health, in King County, one thousand seven hundred-eighty adults die annually from smoking-related causes and tobacco use costs King County three hundred forty-three million dollars every year in healthcare costs and lost wages.
4. In 2006, the United States Surgeon General concluded that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The toxic substances in secondhand smoke cause a range of diseases and a growing research base indicates outdoor exposure levels can be as high as indoor exposure levels.
5. Cigarettes and other tobacco products, once consumed in public places, are often discarded on the ground requiring additional maintenance expenses, diminishing the beauty of recreational facilities, causing potential risks for fire hazards, and posing a risk to toddlers and animals due to ingestion.
6. Prohibiting the use of tobacco pro...
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