Fairgrounds’ smoking policy gets mixed reaction

The limited-smoking policy at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa seems to have earned mixed grades.

During the Orange County Fair Board meeting Thursday, staff called it a modest success while two board members labeled it a failure.

At the beginning of the year, the fair board voted to place new restrictions on smoking during events produced by the fairgrounds staff, including the annual summertime fair. Smoking, they determined, would be limited only to designated areas.

The primary intent was to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, particularly for children, though some fair vendors warned that such restrictions would hurt their businesses.

During the 125th annual OC Fair, which ended Aug. 16, staff set up seven open-air smoking areas, which contained a few benches, ashtrays and privacy walls.

Nick Buffa, fairgrounds safety and security supervisor, said most smokers were polite and courteous when informed of the policy, though some snuffed out their cigarettes on the ground.

Some people complained that smoking areas were too far away and hard to find, while others didn’t like having to leave the Action Sports Arena to light up, Buffa said.

Board Chairwoman Ashleigh Aitken said the change amounts to “a little bit of a cultural shift” for the property.

“We’re going to have to train ourselves and our customers as we move on,” she said.

Directors Nick Berardino and Stan Tkaczyk said they don’t believe the policy was effective.

“I don’t think it worked, just to be straight up,” Berardino said, adding that he witnessed many people ignoring the policy and saw the fairgrounds littered with butts.

Berardino urged the board to stop with the half measures.

“Either we’re going to have a smoking fair or we’re going to have a non-smoking fair,” he said.

Smoking-ban opponents Mike and Jeanine Robbins, who own Paradise Cigars, said business was down 50% this year.

The couple said their problems were exacerbated when customers, having received false information from fair staff, thought they could smoke at their stand.

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Sacramento lobbyist

In other action, directors agreed that the state-owned fairgrounds should have its own dedicated lobbyist.

They directed fairgrounds CEO Kathy Kramer to begin a bidding process to find a legislative monitoring firm that would keep an eye on Sacramento for legislation that could affect Orange County.

“This is not one where you don’t necessarily look for the cheapest,” Berardino said. “You look for the person with the biggest footprint.”