REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Grant from the County of Santa Clara's Healthy Cities Program - Tobacco - Free Communities Fund, and Related Budget Amendment [Council Pillar: Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency]
Report
BACKGROUND
On February 5, 2019, Council adopted a Smoking and Tobacco Regulations Ordinance that expanded smoking restrictions in many public areas and multi-unit residences. These regulations aim to protect Santa Clara residents, employees and visitors from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. The City received $30,751 from the County of Santa Clara (County) to support its adoption and implementation of smoking regulations related to multi-unit residences. The grant was spent on mailers that were sent to almost 34,000 landlords, property managers, and multi-unit residents/tenants to notify them about the new smoking ordinance, 1,600 aluminum signs and window decals, and staffing resources.
On September 13, 2019, the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health, Office of Education, and First 5 Santa Clara County held an inaugural Reverse the Vaping Epidemic - 2019 Summit to inform policy makers and other key stakeholders about the dangers of vaping. The Summit coincided with the cities of San Francisco, Livermore and Richmond's recent bans on electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) sales, Governor Newson's executive order on September 16, 2019 to address the youth vaping epidemic, and recent headlines about the growing outbreak of lung diseases related to vaping that has claimed at least 19 lives and affected over 1,000+ people in the country. These recent reports are not shocking considering there are no manufacturing standards for e-cigarettes. Appealing designs, along with the availability of flavors, have contributed to e-cigarettes becoming the most commonly used tobacco product in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that people consider refraining from using e-cigarettes...
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