An ordinance to ban smoking in multi-unit residences such as apartments, condominiums and townhomes, as well as in parks and outdoor service areas, got its final approval on Tuesday, as the Santa Rosa City Council approved the ordinance by a 6-0 vote with one abstention. The move covers the use of traditional tobacco products as well as electronic cigarettes and medical marijuana that is smoked, though use of an electronic smoking device is permitted for those patients. The changes will go into effect in stages over 13 months, with parks the first to go smoke-free on Aug. 7. For those in multi-unit complexes on month-to-month leases, they will have to stop lighting up on Oct. 6, while all others will have to stop on Aug. 7, 2016. Enforcement of the measure will be handled by the city’s police department, and the ordinance provides for fines beginning at $100 for a first offense that goes up to $500 for third and subsequent violations. Santa Rosa is located approximately 55 miles north of San Francisco and has a population of nearly 175,000 residents.
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