The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly passed an amended anti-smoking ordinance at their October 12th meeting that would update borough code.
Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman introduced the resolution:
“Ordinance 2021-35 Amending KPB 10.08 to prohibit smoking in all Kenai Peninsula Borough Buildings and vehicles, and amending KPB 1.24.090 the minor offense penalty schedule. We spoke about this in committee today as well as when we introduced the ordinance at a meeting a month ago. What this ordinance does is enacts, in code, a prohibition about smoking, just as it says in the title, in all borough buildings, vehicles, and around borough buildings.”
A concern was expressed that the North Peninsula Recreation Center’s playground or other borough playgrounds not at a public school would not be covered under the ordinance as written. Bjorkman proposed an amendment that passed. He said:
“I move and ask unanimous consent for the following amendment. In Section 1, paragraph 10.08.010 (A) (3) to read as follows – outdoors within ten feet of playground equipment or a borough owned facility.”
Another amendment that passed added a new section to define the term smoking to include tobacco and marijuana, including vapor products and electronic smoking products, which Assembly Vice-President Brent Johnson read (in part):
“Smoking means using an e-cigarette or other aerial smoking device or inhaling/exhaling, burning or carrying a lighter or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe or tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation.”
In corresponding memo documents supporting Ordinance 2021-35, Johnson said that the borough’s ban of smoking in the Betty Glick Assembly Chambers during assembly meetings (1981) is old and outdated and needed to be brought into compliance with state law (2018).
The ordinance unanimously passed as amended.
For more information on Ordinance 2021-35, click here.