Marianna to Consider Tobacco Ban at City Parks

By: Shelia Mader

Marianna city officials are considering a new ordinance that would prohibit smoking, vaping and the use of smokeless tobacco products in city parks and recreation areas, following a request from the Jackson County Tobacco Prevention Partnership and the Florida Department of Health.

During Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager William Long presented Ordinance 1184 on first reading, describing it as a measure that would ban “smoking, vaping, dipping, chewing, patching, everything” in designated public recreation spaces. The ordinance applies to Madison Street Park, Wednesday Park, McLean Community Center, Sunset Drive Park, Lafayette Landing, the MERE Complex and Jennings Park.

Council members spent much of the discussion focused on how the ordinance would actually be enforced. Long read from the ordinance language stating enforcement would be handled by the city’s law enforcement agency and could include civil citations, county court citations or other enforcement actions available to the city. When pressed further by council members about who specifically would issue citations, Long acknowledged the wording was broad and suggested enforcement could potentially fall to the city’s code enforcement officer or the police department if designated by the city manager.

The discussion drew laughter from the council as members joked about enforcement duties and whether officers would need “a little bit bigger badge” or even “a stun gun” to handle violators.

The ordinance was approved on first reading and will return next month for a final vote before it can take effect. Council members voted 5-0 to advertise the ordinance and place it on the agenda for the next meeting.