Council Asked to Limit Smoking at Apartments

Imagine you're on vacation. As you arrive at your hotel room and open the patio door, you're greeted with the strong stench of cigarette smoke. In a hotel, you can simply ask for a new room. But what if the same thing happens in your own home? You can't just ask for a new apartment.

This was the picture that "Residents for Smoke-Free Living" President Jodie Feinberg painted for the mayor and council members at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

The Residents for Smoke-Free Living asked the city to pass regulations that would limit or ban smoking in multi-family rental developments in Aliso Viejo. Calabasas and Glendale were used as examples of cities that have limited smoking in common areas of apartment complexes, where people are exposed to second-hand smoke.

California law prohibits smoking in most enclosed work spaces, on the campus of any school that receives Proposition 99 funds, in and around playgrounds and within 20 feet of any window, main exit or entrance of any building owned by the government. 

Former Aliso Viejo resident Sue Audicochea said she sold her townhouse because of the exposure to second-hand smoke from her neighbors.

“Cigarette [smoke] does not know boundaries," she said while addressing the council.

Stacy Alynn, who suffers from asthma, told the council how she finds herself inhaling “lung-fulls of smoke” when she swims at the pool of her apartment complex.

“The rule is that there’s no smoking at the pool, but it should be no smoke at the pool,” said Alynn, referring to the inevitable cigarette smoke that comes from the patios and balconies surrounding the pool.

Council member William Phillips agreed, saying that “smoke travels” and that it “knows no direction.”

Kevin Harper, a grandfather of a 1-year-old and the son of an 86-year-old man who lives with him said, “Cities need to step up and do the right thing.” 

Council member Phillip B. Tsunoda proposed that city staff arrange a meeting between the Residents for Smoke-Free Living and the Apartment Association of Orange County to address the problem. Mayor Carmen Cave scheduled a report back on the issue in January.  

OTHER BUSINESS

• Homeowners from the Islands community expressed concerns over the installation of eight 60-foot-high light poles for night games and practices and the construction of a restroom at Foxborough Park. The council ruled the lighting be reduced by 50 percent by 9 p.m. and be off at 9:30 p.m. Restrooms would be locked at this time. As to concerns about property values and traffic, Mayor Pro Tem Donald A. Garcia said, “There’s an impact everywhere we build.” Foxborough Park is located on Foxborough Street.
• Officials approved a cost-sharing agreement with American Youth Soccer Organization Region 889 for improvements at Foxborough Park.

The next community meeting will take place Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. in council chambers, 12 Journey Road.