HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2012-51 Draft 1COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY OF KAUA`I ReOtution No. 2012 -51, Draft 1 RESOLUTION RELATING TO SMOKE -FREE COUNTY PARKS AND REQUESTING A STATE BAN ON UNDERAGE SMOKING WHEREAS, tobacco usage has been determined to have many health risks,and cigarettes and other tobacco products (OTP) contain the addictive drug nicotine,which can be absorbed into the bloodstream when a tobacco product is chewed,inhaled, or smoked; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that tobacco products containing a combination of nicotine and other chemicals (natural and added) cause a wide range of harmful effects on the human body ranging from symptoms as mild as temporary elevated blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, and tremors to symptoms as severe as allergy- induced asthma attacks, cancer, heart disease, and death; and WHEREAS, secondhand smoke has been repeatedly identified as a health hazard and in Hawai`i, thousands of young people are exposed to tobacco smoke pollution every day; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Surgeon General has stated that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, whether indoors or outdoors, and that children's exposure to secondhand smoke causes an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory infections, middle ear diseases, more severe asthma,respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth; and WHEREAS, secondhand smoke is responsible for the premature deaths of over 430,000 Americans each year from lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, and other diseases; and WHEREAS, secondhand smoke exposure causes lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, in as many as 300,000 children in the United States under the age of 18 months each year, and exacerbates childhood asthma; and WHEREAS, children are acutely vulnerable to the dangers of tobacco use,and approximately 80% of smokers started smoking before 18 years of age, with the average initiation age being 12 years old; and WHEREAS, every day an estimated 3,900 young people under the 18 years of age try their first cigarette, and one -third of these children will die prematurely from tobacco - related illnesses; and WHEREAS, in Hawai`i, an estimated 2,000 youth each year under 18 years of age become addicted to tobacco; and WHEREAS, in 2004, American Poison Control Centers received nearly 8,000 reports of children poisoned by the ingestion of cigarettes, cigarette butts, and other tobacco products; and
WHEREAS, in order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of all park patrons; now, therefore,BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Kaua`i, State of Hawai`i,that it hereby requests that all County of Kaua`i park patrons to show aloha and respect for non - smokers by refraining from smoking when other park patrons are in close proximity.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that all County of Kaua`i park patrons do their part to preserve the beauty of our parks by properly disposing of all tobacco litter.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests the Administration purchase and erect signage at all County parks; such signage shall read "Please Refrain From Smoking When Other Park Patrons Are In Close Proximity ".BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council requests the Hawai`i State Legislature to adopt a law to prohibit minors (those under 18 years of age) from smoking.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.; Lenny Rapozo, Director, Department of Parks and Recreation; Ron Kouchi, State Senator; Dee Morikawa, State Representative; James Tokioka, State Representative; and Derek Kawakami, State Representative.INTRODUCED BY: /s/ KIPUKAI KUALI`I s/ DICKIE CHANG V: RESOLUTIONS \2010-2012 term \2012 -51, Draft 1 Smoke Free Parks- Kualii & Chang - GG- ds.doc)Of dat 1%. LA aa. 201 2 -51, D4 1 C 4 O. awn ,t a `ti 6ta,k 4 ,` ti,D IAA, ` e, any ai ai `i., om. x 8, 2012.a tta!V' ac 91.a @ ad.99C J-wPc i.T 5 6 1 0 0 WHEREAS, in order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of all park patrons; now, therefore,BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Kaua`i, State of Hawai`i,that it hereby requests that all County of Kaua`i park patrons to show aloha and respect for non - smokers by refraining from smoking when other park patrons are in close proximity.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that all County of Kaua`i park patrons do their part to preserve the beauty of our parks by properly disposing of all tobacco litter.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests the Administration purchase and erect signage at all County parks; such signage shall read "Please Refrain From Smoking When Other Park Patrons Are In Close Proximity ".BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council requests the Hawai`i State Legislature to adopt a law to prohibit minors (those under 18 years of age) from smoking.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.; Lenny Rapozo, Director, Department of Parks and Recreation; Ron Kouchi, State Senator; Dee Morikawa, State Representative; James Tokioka, State Representative; and Derek Kawakami, State Representative.INTRODUCED BY: /s/ KIPUKAI KUALI`I s/ DICKIE CHANG V: RESOLUTIONS \2010-2012 term \2012 -51, Draft 1 Smoke Free Parks- Kualii & Chang - GG- ds.doc)Of dat 1%. LA aa. 201 2 -51, D4 1 C 4 O. awn ,t a `ti 6ta,k 4 ,` ti,D IAA, ` e, any ai ai `i., om. x 8, 2012.
CERTIFICATE OF THE COUNTY CLERK I hereby certify that heretofore attached is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 2012-51, Draft 1, which was adopted by the Council of the County of Kauai at its meeting held on August 8, 2012, subsequently reconsidered at its meeting held on August 22, 2012, and re-adopted by the following vote:FOR ADOPTION: Bynum, Chang, Nakamura, Rapozo, Yukimura,Furfaro TOTAL— 6,AGAINST ADOPTION: None TOTAL— 0,EXCUSED & NOT VOTING: Kuali`i TOTAL— 1.Lihu`e, Hawaii 1141)August 23, 2012 Ja I ivy. .in-Tanigawa Deputy County Clerk, County of Kaua`i