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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/11/07 - Minutes - SpecialNovember 7, 2007 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER A special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council was held on Wednesday, November 7, 2007, in the Tri Communities Room at the Civic Center located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mayor Kurth called the meeting to order ai 4:10 p.m. Present were Councilmembers: Rex Gutierrez, L. Dennis Michael, Mayor Pro Tem Diane Williams, and Mayor Donald J. Kurth, M.D. Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Pamela Easter, Assistant City Manager; Fabian Villenas, Principal Management Analyst; Kristen Compean, City Manager's office Intern; James Markman, City Attorney; Mahdi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development; Trang Huynh, Building and Safety Official; Kurt Keating, Code Enforcement Supervisor; Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director; and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk. Absent was Councilmember: Sam Spagnolo B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS No communication was made from the public. C. ITEM(S) OF BUSINESS C1. DISCUSSION OF ANTI-SMOKING REGULATIONS A staff report and power point presentation were given by Fabian Villenas, Principal Management Analyst, and Mahdi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development, which is on file in the City Clerk's office. Mayor Kurth stated it is the cities that are pushing no smoking, that it is not the State. He stated because of that push, the State is now doing something. He stated there are many cities that have already gone beyond where Rancho Cucamonga is. Mayor Pro Tem Williams asked if our intent would be to designate a smoking area if we have more restrictive regulations. Mahdi Aluzri, Deputy City Manager/Community Development, stated that would be up to the Council and that staff could look into this and bring back more recommendations. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated the question is does the Council want to go beyond what the State regulations are through a phased approach. Councilmember Michael stated he would like more restrictive regulations in the park and recreation areas Special City Council/Redevelopment Agency Meeting November 7, 2007 Page 2 Mayor Kurth felt when someone's smoke affects our residents that it was up to the Council to do something about it. He felt we should keep up with what other cities are doing. He stated there are some cities that do not allow smoking in outdoor malls. He felt we should phase some of these ideas in over the next several years. He suggested a two to five year grace period and to phase in the new regulations over time. Mayor Pro Tem Williams asked if we can force hotels to have a no smoking policy. James Markman, City Attorney, stated it can be done through the Ordinance. Mayor Kurth felt hotels would like this ordinance because it would be easier for them to maintain their facilities. Councilmember Gutierrez stated he wonders how police and other departments will enforce this. Mayor Kurth asked if staff has been able to enforce our current regulations. Kirk Keating, Code Enforcement Supervisor, stated staff really has not had problems enforcing the ordinance we currently have. Councilmember Michael felt we will need to expand notification to the business community when we make modifications to our existing ordinance. He felt we should direct staff to come back right away changing the ordinance to eliminate smoking in parks and the stadium, and then move forward from there. Mayor Pro Tem Williams asked if we could get this ready to be effective January 2008. Staff felt it could be ready by February 2008. Councilmember Michael thought we would get a good feel what the public wants by starting the new regulations with the parks. Mayor Kurth asked if this could include golf courses. Jack Lam, City Manager, felt there might be a bad reaction to this. Mayor Pro Tem Williams stated she agreed with the new regulations for the parks, but wasn't sure about the golf courses. Mayor Kurth stated maybe the first step is the parks only. The Council agreed to start with the parks, stadium and skate park first in order to get this going. Mayor Pro Tem Williams stated she wanted to include the stadium in its entirety. She stated the current tenant of the stadium has been great about following current regulations. Direction was given to staff to provide an ordinance with a phased approach to include the areas the Council suggested above. D. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. e pectfull s trait d, ebra J. A s, CMC City Clerk Approved: December 5, 2007