Submitted By
Lisa Shelley, Deputy Village Manager/Interim Public Health Director
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution in Support of a Tobacco Free Work Site
End
Overview
Overview
The Village received a Tobacco Free Communities Grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health for the period July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015. As part of the Village's application last year, the Village committed to creating a tobacco-free work place (including electronic devices) for all village owned properties. The Resolution confirms the Village's intent to move forward with this initiative. The Oak Park Board of Health unanimously is in support of this program.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Resolution.
Fiscal Impact
The Village has approximately $5,000 in grant funds to cover the cost of the signage for each facility. In addition, grant funds cover 100% of the staff time to administer this grant. This initiative is only one deliverable of several deliverables required of this grant.
Background
The Village currently operates under the Smoke Free IL Act which prohibits smoking in public places within 15 feet of any building entrance. This new proposal would prohibit smoking entirely on all Village owned properties (not just within 15 feet of the entrance), including electronic devices. The Village already has an internal policy which prohibits smoking in all village-owned vehicles when the Village Code was updated to include an Indoor Clean Air Policy Chapter.
As part of the Grant, the Village would need to direct that this policy be adopted and take effect on or prior to June 1, 2015. The grant application would cover the cost of any signage. This grant provides funding to local health departments in Illinois to implement tobacco contraol and prevention programs. The program seeks to eliminate morbidity and mortality related to tobacco use among IL residents and to reduce the economic burden of treating tobacco-related illnesses. The program works toward the four national goals established by the Center for Disease Control, Office of Smoking and Health, (1) prevention of tobacco use among young people, (2) promotion of tobacco use cessation among adults and youth, (3) elimination of exposure to secondhand smoke, and (4) identification and elimination of tobacco related health disparities among specified population groups.
If approved by the Village Board, the Village Manager will direct staff to take the necessary steps to implement the policy. Staff estimates that an employee committee will be formed to work on the implementation and amendment of the Personnel Manual with a policy that will formally be adopted by the Village Board at a subsequent meeting.
Alternatives
The Village Board could decide to not proceed with the implementation. Grant funds would then be returned to the State.
Previous Board Action
The Village Board previously adopted an Indoor Clean Air Policy which prohibits smoking inside and outside within 15 feet of any public place and places of employment in Oak Park. This was amended in May 2014 to include e-cigarettes.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
At the January 27, 2015 meeting of the Oak Park Board of Health, this proposal was reviewed and was unanimously recommended.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
The Village Board recently received a letter from the Oak Park Township requesting that the minimum age to purchase cigarettes be raised from 18 to 21. Although this would not be related to this Grant, it is a related topic on the matter of clean indoor air policies.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
N/A.