SMOKING in Garden Grove parks may soon be illegal (Shutterstock).

By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune

Parks in Garden Grove may soon be smoke-free.

On Tuesday night the city council voted 5-0 – with Councilmember George Brietigam absent and Councilmember Joe DoVinh abstaining – in favor of directing the city attorney to return with a proposed ordinance banning the smoking of tobacco and other products – including “vaping” – in city parks and adjacent parking lots.

“The residents of Garden Grove deserve parks with clean air,” said Councilmember Yesenia Muneton, who proposed the prohibition.

The proposed ordinance will come back to the council for a final vote, along with information about enforcement and information options.

State law currently prohibits smoking near children’s play areas, but that’s the only restriction in place in the city parks.

Also on Tuesday, the council:
• approved a memorandum of understanding with Fountain Valley and Santa Ana to explore creating a Little Saigon Business Improvement District and related costs;
• an agreement with Silverstone Property Management for the Central Cities Navigation Center operated in partnership with Fountain Valley and Westminster;
• contract for the replacement of the roofs at the Community Meeting Center and H. Louis Lake Senior Center, both at 11300 Stanford Ave.