Creation of No-Smoking Area,

Glass House, City Hall, Ward 24

The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team recommends the adoption of the Recommendation of the Sub-Committee - Relocation of All Members of Council to City Hall, embodied in the following communication (December 3, 1998) from the Interim Contact, Sub-Committee - Relocation of All Members of Council to City Hall:

Recommendation:

The Sub-Committee - Relocation of All Members of Council to City Hall, recommends that Council declare the area, at City Hall, adjacent to the Glass House, the Official Garage, and the employee garage to be no smoking areas as of January 1, 1999, and that notices advising staff of this be posted, along with "no smoking" signs.

Background:

The Sub-Committee - Relocation of All Members of Council to City Hall, on December 2, 1998, had before it a report (November 6, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services respecting Creation of No-Smoking Area, Glass House, City Hall.

The Sub-Committee's actions are noted above.

(Report dated November 6, 1998, from the

Commissioner of Corporate Services

addressed to the Sub-Committee - Relocation

of All Members of Council to City Hall.)

Purpose:

To report on the feasibility of turning the area adjacent to the Glass House and the Official Garage into no smoking areas and to investigate alternative areas for smokers.

Source of Funds:

None required

Recommendations:

It is recommended that Council declare the area adjacent to the Glass House, the Official Garage, and the employee garage to be no smoking areas as of January 1, 1999, and that notices advising staff of this be posted, along with " no smoking" signs.

Background:

At the Sub-Committee meeting of October 6, 1998, your Committee requested a report on the feasibility of turning the area outside the Glass House and the Official Garage into no smoking areas, and also requested that alternative areas for smokers be investigated.

In 1988 Council approved as Smoking Policy for the former City which prohibited smoking in all of the Corporation's workplaces. The policy stated smoking was prohibited anywhere within City Hall. The garages and taxi tunnel, including the area outside the Glass House, are considered part of the workplace, however the policy was never enforced in these areas. Subsequently a workplace smoking by-law, for all workplaces in the City, was also passed however it has also not been enforced in these area.

The Official Garage is used by many staff to smoke, especially during the winter months. Concerns about health impacts and the unsightly condition of the garage have been raised. Council may direct that they wish the policy and the by-law enforced by declaring these areas to be a no smoking areas. An effective date of January 1, 1999 will provide adequate time in order for appropriate signage, notifying staff of this designation, to be posted along with " no smoking" signs. Once this is in place the workplace smoking by-law and the policy can be enforced.

It is difficult to provide alternate areas for smokers other than outside the building. In the past we have explored the possibility of creating an amenity on Nathan Phillips Square with benches and ashtrays in order to try to move smokers away from the front doors. Due to the events held on the Square, this was only possible on the periphery of the Square where there is no protection in inclement weather. Ashtrays installed some distance from the front entrance have only been marginally successful in moving smokers away as there is protection from the elements at the doors. By making outdoors the only place where people can smoke we are likely to exacerbate this problem.

Conclusions:

Should the garages and taxi tunnel be designated as no smoking areas the only area where people can smoke is outside the building. Additional ashtray receptacles will be provided.

Contact Name:

Sheila Batt, Manager, Custodial Services and City Hall, 392-6855, fax 392-1251, email sbatt@city.toronto.on.