Akron.com

Falls eyeing tobacco initiative



CUYAHOGA FALLS — The City of Cuyahoga Falls may join other area communities in upping the legal age from 18 to 21 for purchasing cigarettes and other tobacco products.
At the March 11 meeting, City Council introduced legislation to prohibit the sale of tobacco items and paraphernalia to individuals under the age of 21 in the city.
The legislation, known as Tobacco 21 (T21), is being introduced — and adopted in municipalities throughout Summit County — at the recommendation of Summit County Public Health to make it illegal for retailers to sell tobacco products to youth under 21 years old.
According to the proposed ordinance, tobacco use contributes to many of Ohio and Cuyahoga Falls’ greatest health challenges, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and infant mortality.
If current rates of youth tobacco use continue, 5.6 million Americans currently under the age of 18 are expected to die from smoking, the legislation states.
Additionally, studies show that young people who are addicted to nicotine are seven times more likely to suffer from a drug use disorder, but individuals who have never used tobacco by age 21 are unlikely to ever start smoking, according to the legislation.
If the measure is approved later this month, a contract will be authorized with Summit County Public Health to implement the change through regulations to retailers.
The legislation states penalties for violations would include a fourth-degree misdemeanor charge, which moves to a third-degree misdemeanor for a second violation and adds a civil penalty of $500. All subsequent violations include civil penalties of $1,000. All fines would be used for smoking prevention.
The cities of Akron and Green in Summit County already have adopted T21 legislation, while the City of Hudson recently rejected T21 legislation.
Additionally at the meeting, Council voted to approve the dedicated plat of 0.0291 acre at 140 Portage Trail to a public right-of-way, and adopted legislation authorizing a contract, without competitive bidding, with ARRC Inc. for the construction of on-street public parking in front of 140 Portage Trail, in an amount not to exceed $125,000. Council members Jeff Iula (R-at large), Mary Ellen Pyke (R-Ward 2) and Vic Pallotta (R-Ward 3) voted against the contract for the public parking construction project.
At her first regular meeting on the job, new Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio announced Pav’s Creamery is now open on Front Street. She said several other businesses will open downtown this spring.
Colavecchio reported a consultant soon will be putting together a survey concerning the city’s public arts master plan. She said a great deal of participation with the survey would be appreciated to provide direction for public arts in the city.
She additionally announced the community is invited to an open house at Fire Station 3, 1601 Portage Trail, March 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. Colavecchio said the public can view the station prior to its demolition. A groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the station tentatively is being planned for early spring. [For more on that, see related photo feature on Page 3.]
In other meeting news, Council President Mary Nichols-Rhodes (D-Ward 4) said a public hearing will take place April 1 at 6:30 p.m. at The Natatorium, located at 2345 Forth St., regarding an ordinance to approve regulatory text amendments to the sections regarding administration and enforcement and flood plain and storm water in the general development code for the city.
At the close of the meeting, Mayor Don Walters presented his State of the City Address, which he originally gave at a Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce luncheon last month. His address highlighted the progress being made in the city and what is ahead for the community in 2019. [For more on that, see “Mayor says Falls continues to make ‘incredible progress’” in the Feb. 28, 2019, West Side Leader or visit the archives at www.akron.com.]
Cuyahoga Falls City Council will meet March 18 for committee meetings and March 25 for a Council meeting, both at 6:30 p.m. at The Natatorium.