The city of Brookings has taken another step toward making its parks smoke-free.

Parks and Recreation Commission members Thursday asked City Manager Gary Milliman to present a proposed amendment banning smoking in city parks for consideration at next month’s commission meeting.

If approved by the advisory group, it would go to the Brookings City Council for a final decision.

Commissioner Tony Parrish initially raised the issue because of litter from cigarette butts in the parks. On Thursday, commissioners heard about the health effects of smoking from Heather Eller, who coordinates Curry County Public Health’s tobacco prevention and education program.

She said state figures show that 3,302 Curry County adults smoke regularly and 1,261 of those people suffer from a serious issue caused by tobacco use. Eller added that an average of 65 Curry County residents die from tobacco use each year – 21 percent of all deaths in the county.

Even second-hand smoke can cause asthma and coronary damage in non-smokers, she said. Eller said it costs “huge amounts of our dollars” to take care of those who are dying of smoking-related diseases.

She noted that 80 percent of smokers start the habit before they turn 18. That’s why it’s important for adults to model non-smoking behavior and “show children it is not the societal norm,” Eller said.

She also acknowledged the littering problem. She said Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach banned smoking on its grounds and employees went across the street to a parking lot to smoke.

“The cigarette butt issue there is just amazing,” Eller said. “Cigarette butt cleanup is very costly to the taxpayers.”

Commissioner Tony Baron said banning smoking in parks won’t solve littering.

“We will have a cigarette butt problem on the streets outside the perimeter of the park,” he said.

Commissioner Don Vilelle agreed, saying, “You’ll just move the problem somewhere else.”

But Parrish disagreed.

“They might choose not to have a cigarette or they will have it in their car,” he said.

Brookings Police Lt. Donny Dotson told commissioners how police would enforce a smoking ban if an ordinance were passed.

“We wouldn’t dedicate an officer to drive around and look for smokers,” he said, “but if an officer observed the violation, a citation could be issued.”

Smoking in the parks would be “a fairly low priority” for officers, he said.

Eller said that other Oregon towns that have banned smoking in their parks – including Bandon and Coos Bay – have relied mostly on signage for compliance. It doesn’t prevent all smoking, but it cuts down the amount significantly, she said.

Dotson said that approach has been successful with alcohol use in city parks. Signage has “absolutely” reduced the amount of drinking, he said.