In the words of one Corvallis city councilor, there seems to be political will among the city's elected officials to proceed with a plan that would designate smoke-free areas in city parks.

But before such rules on smoking are made to mitigate the effects of second-hand smoke, the council wants to know what the public thinks.

So citizens will get a chance to weigh in on the proposal by the Benton County Tobacco-Free Coalition, the same group that championed Corvallis' ban on smoking in bars and restaurants about seven years ago.

If the city can restrict dogs to leashes in parks, then it also should be able to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke, retired doctor Bob Becker told the council at its noon meeting in the Downtown Fire Station.

Anti-smoking activists aren't proposing a prohibition of smoking in all park and open space areas, he clarified.

"We support smoke-free areas in local parks," he said.

The coalition said similar ordinances in other cities are largely self-regulated.

"This is not something where you have police or guards there watching," Becker said.

Most people will stop smoking when they are asked if there are signs posted, he said.

Council President Charlie Tomlinson asked whether the coalition could muster public backing for such a measure.

"Do you see yourself generating that support?" Tomlinson asked.

Becker said the group planned to enlist the help of parents of children who use neighborhood parks.

By consensus, the council referred the coalition's request to the city Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, which will review the proposal and hold a hearing on the matter.

However, a few concerns were raised Monday, and one outright objection to what some people see as an attempt to regulate etiquette.

Councilor Emily Hagen said she couldn't support the city spending any more time discussing it, because smoking in parks isn't a problem she's observed.

"Smokers are not hanging out by the playgrounds," Hagen said.

Councilor Rob Gandara said he agrees that people shouldn't smoke near parks. But he said the city could get the same result if it posted signs asking park patrons, "Please, don't smoke around children."

In the end, a majority of councilors said it was appropriate to send the proposal to the advisory committee and hold a hearing to see what citizens think before making any decisions.

Social gaming

In other business, the council unanimously approved a social gaming ordinance, making public poker tournaments legal in Corvallis and establishing a licensing process and regulations for such events.

By majority vote, the city also joined Benton Habitat for Humanity as co-applicant in an annexation proposal known as Forest Dell Park near Highland Drive in north Corvallis. With land donated by a local family, Habitat is proposing a 17- to 19-unit development adjacent to a new city park, in an issue that will come before voters on the November ballot.

Becky Waldrop covers public policy and education for the Gazette-Times. She can be reached at becky.waldrop@lee.net or 758-9501.