Starting Monday, smoking and tobacco use will be illegal anywhere on the property of the Mill Creek Sports Park, even if someone is smoking a cigarette in their car with the windows up in the parking area.
But a local resident says smoking isn’t the real problem at the park.
The Mill Creek City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed an ordinance banning smoking throughout the park and setting a $100 civil fine for infractions. But Lianne Torgeson, who lives across the street from the Sports Park, called the ban “ludicrous” even though she is opposed to all smoking.
“That should be the least of your priorities at the park,” Torgeson said, adding that parking problems, speeding drivers and skateboard park supervision are greater problems than smoking.
She also took exception to what she perceived as skateboarders being blamed for smoking, which has been prohibited in the skateboard bowl at the Sports Park since the facility opened.
“I’ve seen many mothers, fathers and grandparents puffing away while watching their youngsters play Little League,” Torgeson said. “It’s unfair to characterize skateboarders as the problem.”
Overall, the Council had little debate on the ordinance before unanimously approving it. The topic had been discussed at an April 25 study session, with the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission recommending a full smoking ban throughout the city’s parks and trails system.
Rather than debate the topic further on Tuesday, some Council members offered their rationale for voting for the ban.
Councilman Mike Todd said the ban was “the right thing to do because it’s a multi-user park.” Councilwoman Rosemary Bennetts, meanwhile, said her yes vote was for environmental reasons, such as keeping cigarette butts out of the park.
“I think we all agree that we want to keep our city to a high standard,” she said.
Councilwoman Mary Kay Voss supported the ban, but once again admitted to having “concerns abut excessive oversight of personal freedoms.” Voss used similar arguments in persuading the Council to not adopt a city-wide parks and trails ban during debate on April 25.
Mill Creek becomes the 12th city in Snohomish County to adopt some kind of ordinance related to banning tobacco use in a public park.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
