A request for the city of Ocala to add “smoke-free” signs to its parks and other public spaces was discussed by officials on Tuesday night, who touched on the difficulties behind enforcing a public smoking ban.
During Tuesday night’s meeting of the Ocala City Council, City Manager Pete Lee stated that the city had been approached by Tobacco Free Florida and the hospital district to place tobacco-free signs in parks and public places.
According to Lee, although the signs would say “tobacco free,” the city wouldn’t necessarily have to (or be able to) enforce them.
Lee said there are over a dozen and a half cities around the state of Florida that have passed “no smoking” ordinances since the amended Florida Clean Air Act went into effect in 2022.
In 2014, former Councilwoman Mary Sue Rich proposed a ban on smoking in public places in Ocala, including the Historic Downtown Square and other areas owned by the city.
Although the council has not adopted an ordinance banning smoking, over the years, city staff has installed signage at various public facilities that specifies or asks visitors to refrain from smoking.
In downtown, signs with rules that are posted along the Historic Downtown Square all start with “Thank you for not smoking” statements.
At parks across Ocala, the city has installed “Rules of Play” that all include statements advising visitors to help keep the park “smoke free.”
“Help us provide a smoke-free place for our children to play. Please refrain from smoking near playgrounds or where children gather,” reads the statement within the Rules of Play posted at Tuscawilla Park.
Lee expressed hesitation with installing “smoke free” signs and said he would rather keep something similar to what the city already has, deferring to the council.
“Enforcement is such a difficult task,” said Councilman Jay Musleh of a potential ordinance to ban smoking. He stressed that a ban of that nature might create interactions between law enforcement and members of the community that were unnecessary.
“I don’t think you really want to go there. I would bet Chief [Mike] Balken wouldn’t want to go there,” said Musleh, motioning to Ocala Police Department Chief Balken, who was seated in the audience. Musleh said Balken nodded his head in agreement.
Musleh said he didn’t think the city should create an ordinance because if it did, the ordinance would have to then be enforced by way of citation.
“I think the better way to do it is where we encourage no smoking around playgrounds and other areas,” said Musleh. “Personally, I don’t smoke and I don’t like to be around other people that do smoke. So I would be in favor of no smoking completely.”
As the discussion continued, Council President Pro-Tem Kristen Dreyer questioned if a smoking ban would include a provision on marijuana, citing the possibility of Floridians passing an amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.
That amendment was not approved by Florida voters on Tuesday.
Ultimately, the council directed staff to strengthen language deterring smoking at public facilities while not specifically calling areas “smoke-free.”
Do you support a ban on smoking in public places in Ocala? Share your opinions in a comment below or a letter to the editor.
