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<br />8A <br />Page 17 <br /> <br />being of beach visitors and the fragile ocean and beach ecosystems. The council asked the city <br />staff to research the impact of a beach cigarette ban. <br /> <br />According to the California Coastal Commission, discarded cigarettes wreak havoc on the beach <br />and ocean ecosystems. The filters are not biodegradable and the butts are composed of cellulose <br />acetate which is a form of plastic that can take years to decompose. <br /> <br />Cigarettes contain 165 chemicals including arsenic, lead and cadmium that are harmful to <br />humans, marine life and the environment. Animals that live in coastal habitats can mistake <br />discarded butts for food and eat them, which can harm their digestive systems and cause death. <br /> <br />Along with bans at many beaches across California. cigarette butts are being picked up annually <br />by volunteers at the California Coastal Cleanup Day. In 2006, volunteers collected 347,948 butts <br />during the day-long event at beaches statewide. <br /> <br />Solana Beach Council Member Joe Kellejian, who was mayor when the ban was implemented in <br />late 2003, believes the ban had no public opposition and was approved by the council because its <br />time had come. "The law makes sense because clean beaches are a more inviting place for <br />visitors,. said Kellejian. "We've paved the way for a healthy society and environment and are <br />thrilled to be part of this movement. U <br /> <br />Solana Beach's ordinance also bans cigarettes at all city parks. The cigarette ban at beaches and <br />parks isn't the first time that the city took leadership on the issue of smoking in public places. <br />Solana Beach passed the first ban on smoking in restaurants in the state in 1992. <br /> <br />In the five plus years that the ordinance has been in effect. the law prohibiting cigarettes at city <br />beaches has been widely obeyed. Solana Beach has yet to have to issue a fine to anyone for <br />violating the ban. <br /> <br />Almost all city beaches in San Diego County are now cigarette free. Following Solana Beach's <br />lead, many other cities across California have enacted similar laws banning cigarettes at city <br />beaches including: Huntington Beach, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa <br />Beach, Newport and San Clemente. . <br /> <br />Visit www.ci.solana-beach.ca.us for more information about the City of Solana Beach. <br /> <br />Latino Caucus Hosts Forum During Legislative Action Days <br /> <br />In 2006, the Legislature passed AB 2987 regarding cable and video telecommunications <br />legislation. The League of California Cities' Latino Caucus is hosting an event on April 16 to <br />provide an update following the passage of the telecommunications bill. <br /> <br />Assembly Member Lloyd Levine, author of AB 2987, representatives from local government and <br />the Public Utilities Commission will address how the implementation of AB 2987 impacts cities. <br /> <br />Additional speakers indude: <br /> <br />. Assembly Member Kevin de Le6n (D-Los Angeles) will discuss how the Legislature's <br />Latino Caucus plans to address California's $16 billion budget shortfall and other Caucus <br />policies before the Legislature; and <br /> <br />. Comeast Cable Representative Eddy Garcia will discuss how city residents will be <br />impacted by the federally mandated All-Digital Television broadcasting conversion (Feb. <br />19, 2009). <br /> <br />Forum Details <br /> <br />April 16, 1:30-3:30 p.m. <br />Sacramento Convention Center, Rooms 304/305 <br /> <br />6 <br />