Costa Mesa may snuff out smoking in most parks

COSTA MESA — The City Council on Tuesday night will consider banning smoking in almost every city park.

Based on a proposal from the Parks and Recreation Commission, the council will discuss prohibiting smoking at 25 parks that have children’s playground equipment and three city athletic field sites: the Jack Hammett Sports Complex, TeWinkle Park Athletic Complex and Luke Davis Field at Lions Park.

The four city parks without playground equipment would not be subject to the ban.

According to the proposed ordinance, smoking would be prohibited within 50 feet of designated sites, including the children’s area of the Balearic Community Center.

People who violate the ban could receive a disorderly conduct ticket, which carries a $100 fine for a first violation. A second violation within a year would be $200, and for each additional violation within a year, the fine would be $500.

Smoking would also be banned at the Hamilton Community Garden, 523 Hamilton St., and the Del Mar Community Garden, 170 Del Mar Ave.

If the council approves the law Tuesday, it would come back for a second reading and formal adoption Nov. 15.

City leaders will also review a building plan approved by the Planning Commission that would allow a residential complex off Mesa Verde Drive to have a 44-foot high structure even though city code limits it to 27 feet.

Initially proposed as at 61-foot structure, representatives from the 468-unit Villa Venetia apartment complex lowered their proposed community building’s height after the commission initially rejected the proposal.

The newest version of the building replaces an artificial lake on the grounds and would stand at 41 feet, matching the height of the property’s leasing building. An architectural tower and decorative chimney make up the extra 3 feet.

The council will consider whether to allow the construction to go forward or if they will force Villa Venetia to alter its plans.

In the consent calendar, the council looks to continue with the proposed outsourcing of city jobs. The city is expected to open for bids the city’s fleet maintenance, graphic design, emergency dispatch and reprographic services, which does copying, paginating, printing and binding.

A majority of the council maintains it needs to replace city workers with outside contractors to alleviate its pension costs in the long term while reinvesting in city maintenance.

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Twitter: @JosephSerna