The City of Eagle Pass is
looking to possibly add ECigarettes
to its existing No
Smoking in public places
ordinance.
During a special meeting
held on Tuesday, March 4,
2019, the Eagle Pass City
Council discussed an agenda
item looking to possibly
amend their No-Smoking in
Public Places ordinance by
adding E-Cigarettes to the list
of products covered under the
ban. During the citizens'
communication portion of the
meeting, Christopher Garcia
who runs a Vape Shop locally
addressed the issue.
Garcia explained that he
had recently applied for a permit
to open a Vape Shop in
town and that he wishes that
the city reconsider their intent
to modify the Non-Smoking
in Public Places ordinance.
The City Council then proceeded
to take the agenda
item into an executive session
to discuss with their legal
counsel.
Once back in open session
the city council proceeded
with approving the first reading
of the amending ordinance
and requested that legal
counsel provide further information
regarding the item at
the next meeting for councils
consideration.
Back in 2010, the Eagle
Pass City Council approved
the No Smoking in Public
Places Ordinance at a special
city council meeting held on
Tuesday, September 28, 2010.
The city ordinance specifically
bans smoking to take place
in public places, including but
not limited to the following:
All enclosed and unenclosed
city facilities, enclosed
or unenclosed including, but
not limited to, buildings,
parks and sports facilities, airport,
bridges, police stations
and substations, fire stations,
civic center facilities,
libraries, clinics, and municipal
court; City vehicles and
public forms of transportation,
including, but not limited
to, buses, vans and taxicabs;
Retail stores or service
establishments; Public restrooms;
Service lines; Public
areas of malls, galleries,
libraries and museums when
open to the public; Theaters;
Sports arenas and convention
halls; Polling places; Child
care facilities; Places where
public assembly meetings
take place during such time as
a public meeting is in
progress; Waiting rooms, hallways,
wards and rooms of
health care facilities, Any
school or educational institution;
Elevators;
Restaurants and food
establishments; Places of
employment; Bars; All rooms
in nursing homes; outdoor
arenas, stadiums, and
amphitheaters; In and within
twenty (20) feet of outdoor
playgrounds.
There are numerous areas
that are not subject to the city
Non-Smoking in Public
Places Ordinance including
private residences, Tobacco
specialty retail stores that are
freestanding; Public streets,
sidewalks, and parking lots,
whether public or private; private
clubs and private recreational
facilities;Hotel and
other conference and meeting
rooms while they are being
used for private purposes.
