Smoking Restrictions in Common Areas of Multiple-Family Residences and Playgrounds to be Introduced Before Montgomery Council

Release ID: 11-078
Release Date: 3/29/2011
Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7939 or Delphine Harriston240-777-7931
From: Council Office

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 28, 2011—A resolution will be introduced before the Montgomery County Council on Tuesday, March 29, that would prohibit smoking in certain common areas and playgrounds of multiple-family residential dwellings. Introduction of the resolution, whose chief sponsor is Councilmember George Leventhal, will lead to the next step of the process toward possible adoption—a public hearing tentatively scheduled for May 5.

The resolution will be introduced during a full day for the Council beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The meeting will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon) and also will be available via streaming through the County Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov. The meeting will be rebroadcast on CCM at 9 p.m. on April 1.

The proposed regulation that would restrict smoking would apply to a common area of “any indoor area of a multiple-family residential dwelling which is accessible to the occupants of more than one dwelling, including a hall, lobby or laundry room.” The regulation would also prohibit smoking within 25 feet of a playground area of a multiple-family residential dwelling.

During the morning session, the Council also will introduce a resolution that reflects County Executive Isiah Leggett’s proposal to increase several transportation fees.

Under his proposal, the cost of a monthly Ride On bus pass would increase from $30 to $45; the fee for long-term parking in the Bethesda Parking Lot District would increase from 65 cents to 75 cents per hour (with monthly passes increasing from $120 to $140); Bethesda Parking Lot District parking charge hours would expand to Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in lots and garages; and the long-term parking fees in the Silver Spring Parking Lot District would increase from 50 cents to 60 cents per hour (and from $95 to $113 per month pass). A public hearing on the increases is tentatively scheduled for April 26.

During the morning session, the Council will honor Raynell Cooper, a Richard Montgomery High School senior who recently won the 2011 national “Teen Jeopardy” competition. Starting at 7:30 p.m., the Council will host four public hearings regarding recommendations made by the Organizational Reform Commission (ORC).

The ORC was composed of members appointed by the Council and County Executive Isiah Leggett. All members had extensive experience in reform in the government or private sector. The committee issued its report that included 28 recommendations on Jan. 31.

The recommendations that will be the subject of public hearings focus on support staff for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, reorganization of the Community Use of Public Facilities division, reorganization of the Commission on Women and reorganization of the Human Rights Commission.