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properties. She advised in the interim, staff received public correspondence and the City Council has <br /> been copied on all responses. <br /> Mayor Brown opened public comment. <br /> Gregory Rawls expressed concern over the rights of homebuyers because fewer than 10% of California <br /> adults smoke and expects this number to go down. He suggested adding a smoking disclosure as a <br /> real estate sales requirement. He noted ownership rights are already limited by nuisance laws for loud <br /> music, lawn-watering restrictions, and other regulations such as banning the burning of firewood during <br /> Spare the Air periods. He questioned the existence of building codes mitigating smoke in <br /> condominiums and townhouses. <br /> David Stark, representing the Bay East Association of Realtors, expressed support for the ordinance <br /> and advised the modifications over lease agreement language make it practical and should help <br /> achieve the City Council's goals while also protecting private citizens' rights and liberties. He urged the <br /> City Council to approve the ordinance as presented tonight. He offered to convene a meeting with real <br /> estate professionals about buyer preferences. <br /> Afshin Zand explained property rights for condominium owners end at the walls and they do not have <br /> the right to contaminate what lies beyond their walls according to the Davis-Stirling Act. He urged the <br /> City Council to pass the ordinance with the appendix presented at the last meeting banning indoor <br /> smoking. He advised second-hand smoke causes 40,000 deaths annually among adults and negatively <br /> impacts over 300,000 annually and noted enforcement is the same for apartments and condominiums. <br /> Paul Cummings, Tobacco Control Program Director for the Alameda County Public Health Department, <br /> stated exposure to second-hand smoke is a concern and reported they have been contacted by <br /> concerned Pleasanton residents over the past two weeks and offered support for educational services. <br /> Mayor Brown closed public comment. <br /> In response to Councilmember Testa, Ms. Seto clarified the Davis-Stirling Act governs private property <br /> and states people own the airspace within their condominium unit but advised there are different rules <br /> for townhomes, triplexes, fourplexes, and other types of units impacted by this ordinance. She advised <br /> Mr. Zand's comment is not something regulated by the Davis-Stirling Act. She reported the City is not <br /> out of legal compliance. She noted the City does not enforce the private rules of an HOA and advised <br /> in-home smoking is something they can regulate within their community. <br /> Ms. Seto clarified the Davis-Stirling Act regulates real estate where there is common property <br /> ownership but does not impose upon the City to regulate health and safety. The City's proposal is a <br /> different kind of health and safety regulation. She explained it is a City Council policy decision to decide <br /> if the City is fully protecting public health and safety without an in-unit smoking ban. There is no <br /> requirement under State law and every community takes a different approach to in-unit smoking. <br /> Ms. Seto clarified for ownership units, the Building department advised each unit has separate <br /> ventilation and indoor air space. She clarified the standards and construction is higher in for-sale units <br /> even if the codes may be the same for how the units are divided. She advised builders of for-sale units <br /> take extra effort to make them more insulated. <br /> In response to Councilmember Testa. Community Development Director Ellen Clark confirmed the <br /> standards are the same for having separate ventilation systems in ownership and rental units but noted <br /> a builder can always go above the minimum standards at their discretion. She clarified other areas of <br /> the building code may have different standards but not in the aspects being discussed tonight. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 5 of 18 December 21. 2021 <br />