Smoking may be banned at beach

First restaurants and now – perhaps – a sandy shore along Lake Coeur d’Alene.

That’s right: Coeur d’Alene’s City Beach may become the first in the state to prohibit smoking.

Lifeguards concerned about the quality of life at the popular swimming spot have persuaded the city to consider a ban on smoking. On Thursday, the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission asked legal counsel to draft an ordinance it can recommend to the city council, which has final say on the matter.

Should the council sign on, it likely wouldn’t become law until next summer.

Lifeguard Emily Christensen told the commission Thursday that banning smoking at the beach is necessary to safeguard the health of nonsmokers, specifically children and those who are employed to patrol the waters. Prohibiting smoking would also help clean up an area riddled with more than 25,000 cigarette butts, she said. Christensen based that estimate on a count of the number of cigarettes found within one small portion of the beach.

“We don’t even bother picking up cigarette butts because there’s just so many of them,” Christensen told the commission.

Christensen pointed to other places that have similar bans – California; Boulder, Colo.; Helena, Mont.; and Coeur d’Alene’s own restaurants – as examples to be followed.

“It may settle a little bit better coming from Montana and Colorado,” rather than California, Chairman Lee Shellman joked.

Specifics have yet to be set for where smoking would be prohibited, and commissioners pondered whether it makes sense to ban smoking on the sand, but not on beach steps and other areas of City Park.

“How is second-hand smoke in the park better than second-hand smoke on the beach?” Commissioner Mike Bundy questioned.

Other commissioners noted the city would need to install proper receptacles for cigarette disposal between the park and beach, should the ban go into effect.

The city council will also have the opportunity to prohibit diving at nearby Independence Point, perhaps as early as next month. Language for an ordinance has already been drafted, and legal counsel has said such action is necessary to prevent city liability.

Both plans are much needed, businessman Gordie Andrea told commissioners. As owner of Fantastic Foods at City Beach, Andrea said he witnesses a constant stream of kids performing unsafe activities.

But Andrea told the commission neither ordinance would do any good if police don’t actively patrol the area.

“How are you going to enforce it when we can’t enforce what we have now,” Andrea said, noting alcohol violations.

Those who visited City Beach on Thursday had mixed reactions when asked what they thought of the proposed smoking ban.

“I think it kind of sucks because this is where we hang out and like to have a smoke while we’re chillin’,” 21-year-old Spokane resident Mark Nemri said.

Others noted health problems and smell as reasons a ban would be welcomed.

“Second-hand smoke kills a lot of people,” said Rachel Webb, 20, of Spokane. “It’s proven. I hate it when I’m downwind from it.”

And still others questioned the motives behind such a proposal.

“I don’t think it affects (lifeguards) because they’re out in the open like this,” said Coeur d’Alene resident Mike Mercado, 19. “They’re just doing it because they don’t smoke. If they smoked, it’d be a different story.”

But smoking isn’t a right, Christensen noted after the meeting, adding that she hopes City Beach is just the start.

“I’m confident it will go into effect,” she said. “Hopefully it sets a precedent.”