Smoke-Free Glendale?

Glendale's city council is about to make it tougher to light up in our fair 'burb. According to the Glendale News-Press, all five council members support a proposal that would bar smoking within 25 feet of seating at ourdoor events on city property.

Notes the paper: The law, which would also restrict smoking within 25 feet of service lines at public events, was introduced at last night's council meeting. A last-minute addendum Tuesday night by Councilman Dave Weaver would also completely ban smoking in the city's chess park off of Brand Boulevard.

Council members will vote on it at next week's meeting.

The ordinance would call for designated areas with ashtrays to be set up at all events in parks or other city-owned properties. City officials estimate the cost to the city of providing signage and ashtrays at the events at $1,000.

If it passes, violators of the new law would be charged with an infraction, which carries a $100 fine for the first offense, $200 for a second offense and $500 for subsequent violations.

Meanwhile, things are looking up in our quest to save the historic 1936 Streamline Moderne gas station in Adams Square. I sent an email (see here) to the city's director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services today, and got this response:

Thank you Mr. Schneider. I appreciate the letter and will make sure the Commission gets it today at their meeting. At this point the plan is to retain the gas station and that is what we will present to the city council in the next few weeks.

Hooray! Now we just have to make sure the city council sticks with the original plan to save the gas station and turn the area around it into a mini-park.