COSTA MESA : City Bans Smoking in Public Building

Smoking will no longer be allowed in the Neighborhood Community Center building, the most heavily used public facility in the city.

A staff report to the city manager cited numerous problems with smoking at the center since it opened in 1981. Carpets have been burned, a nicotine odor permeates the drapes and chairs and ashtrays have continuously been stolen by people using the building, according to the report.

Smoking is restricted in City Hall and other city buildings. Other cities, such as Fountain Valley, have adopted similar policies to ban smoking in recreational facilities.

The staff had recommended that smoking be limited to the interior hallway in the Community Center, but the City Council decided to ban smoking throughout the building.

There is an outside area at the back of the center where chairs and ashtrays will be provided for smokers.