Residents get say in smoking ban
BY JAMES BURGER, Californian staff writere-mail: jburger@bakersfield.com
A plan to ban smoking around sports fields and picnic areas in Kern County parks will get a little more public input before county supervisors vote on it.
County Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lerude suggested public meetings be held in remote county communities to inform people about the idea and get feedback.
Supervisors voted unanimously to hold those meetings.
"I would support Mr. Lerude's recommendation that we get out to the communities of eastern Kern," said Supervisor Don Maben.
There was not unanimous support on the board for prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of high-traffic park areas like recreation fields and picnic areas.
California law already bans smoking within 25 feet of tot lots.
"My interest is in promoting public health, not carte blanche banning smoking in parks," said Supervisor Jon McQuiston.
Supervisor Mike Maggard said he doesn't like smoking, but wasn't completely comfortable with higher levels of government control of what is still a legal activity.
Daryl Thiesen of the Tobacco Free Coalition of Kern County called Lerude's proposal for smoke-free zones around sensitive park areas a "common sense" approach to handling the health effects of secondhand smoke.
"That still allows for that civil liberties," he said. "We do respect the fact that this a legal use at this time."
Legal costs
Supervisors Maggard and Michael Rubio voted against a $20,000 increase in legal payments to the Kuhs and Parker law firm for the legal battle against former Sheriff Carl Sparks.
But the other three supervisors passed the payment on a 3-2 vote.
The barrage of lawsuits between the county and Sparks over unauthorized extra-time pay he handed out while in office has largely been resolved.
According to a report from the county counsel's office, this payment to the county's private attorneys is expected to be the last.
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