The city council of Arcata, Calif. is considering expanding the no smoking ordinance in the downtown area after hearing of complaints from residents that the ban has pushed smokers into their neighborhood. Arcata City Ordinance No. 1431, which was modified in June 2013 and went into effect on July 19 of that year, prohibits smoking in the downtown area as well as all city buildings and facilities, enclosed public places, entrances to businesses, multi-unit residential complexes, outdoor areas of restaurants and several other areas, and includes a 30-foot buffer around businesses and residential common areas. According to a report on Times-Standard.com, the Arcata police department has received an increased number of complaints from those who live near the current western boundry of the no smoking zone, and the council is being asked to consider extending the boundaries to encompass the areas generating the complaints. During the council’s February 5 meeting, police chief Tom Chapman shared the complaints with the council as part of his update on the ordinance. A timetable for the expansion of the no smoking boundaries has not been established as of yet. The city of Arcata is located in Humboldt County in northern California and is home to ...
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