Walnut Creek has added resources to its website to help landlords and others comply with an ordinance that bans smoking through much of the community, the city manager’s office told CAA on Friday, Oct. 18.
A new webpage includes sign templates, the California Apartment Association’s lease addendum information, a compliance fact sheet and ordinance summary.
Moreover, the materials include contact information for the city’s No Smoking Hotline and e-mail address.
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Walnut Creek has banned smoking in much of the city, from inside apartments to downtown.
City Councilman Justin Wedel cast the lone dissenting vote on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
“We are severely depriving some individuals of their property rights,” Wedel said in this Contra Costa Times article.
Once the ordinance has been formally adopted, expected during its second reading Oct. 1, multifamily housing complexes will have 30 days to serve notices about the new law and 60 days to post no-smoking signs. On Feb. 1. the ordinance becomes effective and all multifamily housing complexes and their residents need to be in compliance.
Theresa Karr, executive director of the California Apartment Association’s Contra Costa Division, told The Times that Walnut Creek is implementing the law too quickly. The City Council should give property owners and renters a year’s notice, at least, before banning an otherwise legal activity in apartments — especially when the activity is addictive and takes time to kick.
“The city should exhibit consideration when making decisions that not only impact the smoker’s life but their family’s,” Karr said.
More
Articles about smoking ordinances elsewhere in California and an anti-smoking bill proposed this past legislative session:
- Committee stubs out Levine’s anti-smoking bill
- Fremont’s changes to smoking regulations will affect landlords
- Anti-smoking ordinance takes effect in San Ramon