With a 4-3 roll call vote, the smoking ordinance failed at the October 27 Highland Village City Council meeting.  If passed, smoking would have been prohibited at any public parks, trails, playgrounds, recreational fields, restrooms, concession stands and any seating or observation areas, or within 15 feet of an entrance or exit to public buildings. Councilwoman Charlotte Wilcox, who voted against the ordinance, said that while she prefers to live in a smoke free society, smoking doesn’t seem to be a problem on trails and in the parks according to the people who use them.  She also added that this doesn’t have to do with restaurants (smoking indoors); it has to do with smoking in the open air.  Mayor Pro Tem Don Combs said he prefers the route of educating residents and making (no smoking) requests rather than enforcement. “I feel it’s not the character of Highland Village; it smacks of big government,” said Mayor Dianne Costa, who also voted against the ordinance. Violators would have been fined up to $200. “I think the original intent was for clarification and what we’ve done is created confusion about this ordinance.  I wish we would have voted on what we asked staff to bring back from our September meeting,” added Costa.  

     The original ordinance referred to smoking in city-owned and operated buildings, city owned Unity Park and within 15 feet of an entrance or exit.  Restrictions on smoking at parks and on trails were added later to the amendment. Councilman William Meek, who voted in favor of the first reading of the amendment at the October 13 meeting, had time to rethink his vote, “I like the freedoms we have in this country, said Meek, “I don’t like the idea of smoking, but I feel this is an infringement of freedom.”  “I still stand by that this is a public health concern,” said Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, Scott McDearmont, who was one of three who voted for the amendment, adding that public opinion on this issue is split in the City. Councilmen Louis Robichaux and Patrick Davis joined the Deputy Mayor Pro Tem in his vote. They acknowledged that this ordinance is long overdue compared to other cities such as Flower Mound. This was the second and final read of an ordinance amending Chapter 50 of the City’s Code of Ordinance, Health and Sanitation, in regards to smoking.