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7 <br /> 1 • Signage <br /> 2 July 1, 2013 <br /> 3 • Enforcement begins <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Implementation Philosophy <br /> 6 • Education and empowerment are the essential components to the adherence of this <br /> 7 Rule. Enforcement will only be used when absolutely necessary. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 Presentation turned over to Board of Health Chair, Tony Whitaker <br /> 10 <br /> 11 Board of health's rationale <br /> 12 • Tobacco use and exposure to smoke are leading preventable causes of illness and <br /> 13 death in Orange County <br /> 14 • There is no safe level of second hand smoke <br /> 15 • Orange County is one of the healthiest counties in the state, in part due to the fact that <br /> 16 we are a progressive leader in public health <br /> 17 • Boards of Health have the responsibility to protect the public's health and to adopt rules <br /> 18 necessary for that purpose (NC GS 130-39(a)) <br /> 19 • BOH was committed to a deliberative, inclusive, thoughtful process that spanned nearly <br /> 20 2 years <br /> 21 <br /> 22 BOH Chair Tony Whitaker said that there has been a dramatic and immediate positive <br /> 23 impact on public health in communities across the country where smoking bans have been <br /> 24 implemented. He said that the BOH has the authority to implement rules for the protection of <br /> 25 the public health, as well as a mandate and the ability to do so because of legislation. He said <br /> 26 there has been a lot of time spent sifting through the logistics and legal basis for actions the <br /> 27 County might take, and he outlined sources of information. <br /> 28 Commissioner Price asked how enforcement will play out. <br /> 29 Colleen Bridger said experience with experience with no-smoking in restaurants has <br /> 30 shown that the majority of enforcement is done with education by fellow citizens. She believes <br /> 31 this will be the same situation in the vast majority of cases with the new rules. She said it is <br /> 32 anticipated that this could be burdensome to law enforcement; and systems are being designed <br /> 33 to re-direct any 911 calls regarding this away from law enforcement. She said there are teams <br /> 34 of educators being sent to heavy smoking areas, such as the courthouse. These teams will do <br /> 35 as much as possible to educate and divert the burden from law enforcement. She made a <br /> 36 comparison to the open container law and the discretion required in the decisions regarding <br /> 37 when and where enforcement is needed. <br /> 38 Mayor Kleinschmidt said he does not feel the analogy with restaurants works because of <br /> 39 the contrast between the outdoor and indoor situations. <br /> 40 Council Member Jim Ward asked how is the county addressing funding and resources <br /> 41 for signage and education within Chapel Hill and other municipalities versus more rural areas. <br /> 42 Colleen Bridger said they are concentrating most resources in areas where the <br /> 43 population is most concentrated. <br /> 44 Council Member Jim Ward asked if there was collaboration with the Town of Chapel Hill <br /> 45 staff to assist with identifying these areas and Colleen Bridger answered yes. <br />