Commissioners vote to ban smoking on county property

The court's action amends Chapter 57 of the county code, titled Travis County Tobacco-Free Workplace Policy. The policy bans tobacco use in all county buildings, all outside areas of a county facility within 15 feet of a doorway or window that can be opened, county vehicles, private vehicles parked on county property, and garages and work sites occupied by county employees.

The policy change would cost $8,080, mostly for signs throughout the county, according to background documents.

The county has had a smoking restriction policy since 1987. In 2010, the county approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Austin to receive grant money from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention toward ending tobacco use. The grant recommends that grantees consider implementing Tobacco Free Workplace policies. The court held a public hearing on the topic in January 2012.

Steve Manilla, county executive of the Transportation and Natural Resources Department, said enforcement may be an issue for employees working on the county's more than 1,200 miles of roadways.

Don Ward, director of road maintenance and fleet services, said some county road workers who smoke are upset and are doing their best to comply with the policies.

Commissioner Gerald Daugherty said there is a sentiment throughout the nation that "people do not like government telling them what to do at every step."

However, he said he sided with the policy change because of the harmful consequences of smoking.

Resident David Ferris said that an important distinction in the proposed policy is that it is a policy for facilities, not an attempt to control people's behavior.