(a) Medical studies have conclusively shown that exposure to secondhand smoke from tobacco causes illness and disease, including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness. Smoking has been declared by the State Legislature pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 3794 to be a statewide concern and, therefore, it is in the best interests of public health that smoking of tobacco products be prohibited and/or restricted on property owned or under the control of the City. Pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3794.01 et seq., there is now a uniform state-wide minimum standard to protect people from the health hazards associated with exposure to secondhand smoke from tobacco. Furthermore, in 1993 this City enacted a comprehensive ordinance pertaining to Clean Indoor Air. It is the intent of this chapter to supplement Chapter 620 of our General Offenses Code to make air safer to breathe on all property owned or under the control of the City by banning smoking outdoors on all such property except at specifically designated smoking areas as may be provided herein.
(b) The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so as to further its purpose of protecting public health and shall prevail over any less restrictive State or local laws or regulations. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit smoking where it is otherwise prohibited by other laws or regulations.
(Ord. 08-69. Passed 4-15-08.)