Foster City, Calif. Progressing with Smoking Ban

The city of Foster City, Calif. continues to work on a reform of its existing smoking ban, and while some parts of the proposal are being met with a good amount of opposition, it appears others will get the go-ahead sooner than later.

At its meeting last Monday, the city council voted to ban smoking in public areas, including parks, as well to create a 50-foot buffer zone from the entrances to commercial spaces where smoking would be prohibited. Additionally, the council voted to allow the owners of single family homes to smoke on their property.

What remains in contention is smoking in multi-family residences such as apartment buildings, townhomes and condominiums, as well as a piece of the proposal that deals with a Mediterranean restaurant’s ability to offer hookah to guests on its outdoor patio. Both of those sticking points are being given 30-45 days to be studied and new solutions to be created, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal.

The parts of the ordinance that were passed will get a second reading at the council’s August 4 meeting and would go into effect 30 days later. The ordinance provides for fines of $250 for the first violation, $500 for a second and $1,000 for subsequent violations.

The latest version of the proposal can be found here.

Foster City is located in San Mateo County, approximately 22 miles south of San Francisco and is home to more than 32,000 residents.