Smoking Policy

the council. “As we have done for the last decadeplus, our group (of a dozen Healdsburg residents) was seated in the Plaza across from The Matheson. Cigars were being smoked (repeatedly) by a group of at least four to five individuals. The smoke was acrid, very offensive and potentially health impacting for many of us trying to enjoy the music.”

His complaint was noted by Councilmember David Hagele, who at the end of that Aug. 1 meeting recommended that city staff “come back with something we can chew on” for revised smoking areas as a “quicker step versus coming back to discuss what we want.”

City Manager Jeff Kay took the initiative to direct staff to review the relevant chapter of the Healdsburg Municipal Code to see what changes might be necessary “to making special events entirely smokefree,” according to the staff presentation that accompanied the item in this week’s City Council meeting agenda.

Matt Milde, recreation supervisor for the community services department, oversaw the necessary revisions of Chapter 8.24 concerning smoking in public places, and with the city attorney’s staff fashioned a series of tweaks and clarifications to the municipal code that would include prohibiting smoking in public recreation areas, including adjacent sidewalks and parking lots.

“Changes were based upon Council’s comments at their Monday, August 1, 2022 meeting, consultation with the Police Department and legal counsel, and input received at the Wednesday, December 14, 2022 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting,” he said in an email.

“While I cannot speak to the speed of this adjustment, I feel we captured the essence of Council/Commission suggestions, and adding this on Consent still allowed Council to pull the item for discussion had there been any questions/concerns with the suggested adjustments,” Milde continued.

The city’s effort was roughly contemporary with an Oct. 22, 2022 request from Milestone Events Groups to make the entire Villa Chanticleer site smoke-free, both inside and outside the facility, including all parking areas. “We feel this will enhance the relationship with our neighbors as well as cut down on fire danger,” wrote Leilani Martin of Milestone.

A self-employed business owner for most of his life, Hohnstein was grateful to work with loyal, hardworking staff at Aamco Transmissions, Transco Transmissions in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg Transmission.

Because of his love and joy for all things trucks, his last business was Healdsburg Landscape Materials which he founded in 1998. His first purchase was a shiny, red Peterbilt from Opperman and Son. He was most at home in the cab of that truck crisscrossing Healdsburg delivering material.

Hohnstein also enjoyed fishing, wood-working, driving his Ford truck and camping with friends and family.

Byron Hohnstein was preceded in death by his parents Reuben and Elsie Hohnstein of Ukiah. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Debbie Hohnstein and children Bryan Hohnstein (Anne) of Santa Rosa, Christine Fincher (Randy) of Healdsburg, Jennifer Cox (Joseph) of Healdsburg and Kathleen Natividad (Sean) of Santa Rosa. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Olivia, Emma, Reuben, Lila, Sullivan and Finnegan.

To honor his memory, the family is holding a celebration of life that will be held Saturday, January 28, 2023 at the Villa Chanticleer Annex (Veterans Hall) in Healdsburg from 1-3 pm. We invite anyone who knows Byron to attend and remember his life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to K9s For Warriors 114 Camp K9 Road, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081; k9sforwarriors.org

DR. STEPHEN JARVIS, DDS

February 11, 1947 - November 29, 2022

Dr. Stephen “Steve” Conrad Jarvis, DDS, of Healdsburg, California passed away on November 29, 2022 at the age of 75. Steve was born on February 11, 1947 in Palo Alto, California to his father Donald Conrad Jarvis and mother Vivienne (Hansen) Jarvis. Steve graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School in 1964, enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17, received his undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon in 1969, where he was a member of the SAE fraternity and then earned his dentistry degree from the University of the Pacific in San Francisco. After receiving his dental degree, Steve went back into the U.S. Army for 3 years, stationed for one year in Oklahoma, two years in Savannah, Georgia, then finally moving to Healdsburg, California.

Steve lived and worked in Healdsburg for 45 years from 1976 - 2021, owning and operating a general dentistry practice for 33 years, from 1976 - 2009. Steve moved to Bend, Oregon in 2021 to be closer to his kids and grandchildren.

Steve was an avid sports fan, always supporting and cheering for the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers and of course the Oregon Ducks. Steve supported local Healdsburg sports, volunteering his time to coach baseball and football at Healdsburg High School as well as contributed to the development of Healdsburg Little League and baseball fields in Healdsburg.

Steve is survived by his two children, Thomas Jarvis (Portland, Oregon) and Kristen Jarvis Thompson (Bend, Oregon) and brother Dr. Tom Jarvis (Nipomo, California).

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 11th in Healdsburg.

Taken together, these changes would give Healdsburg one of the most comprehensive public smoking ordinances in the county. Some of the specifics include: defining “Public Recreation Areas” to include Plaza sidewalks and the Rec Park parking lot, clarifying that a special event’s entire permitted space is smoke-free and prohibiting smoking in all public spaces within 20 feet of a public recreation area.

The motivation was cited as “environmental stewardship,” due to the recognized dangers of secondhand smoke.

City Manager Kay agreed that it was “an unusually direct path from council request to legislative action,” and explained why. “We interpreted the request as being straightforward and noncontroversial, and we want to make sure we had the policy update in place before the start of the 2023 concert series.”

Following the meeting, Jordan said, “I am heartened and very impressed with Vice Mayor Dave Hagele's embracing of this concern and in collaboration with the previous and current Council members taking rapid action on addressing this issue. This action will improve health outcomes for Healdsburg residents, guests and visitors and enable all of us to better enjoy Tuesday in the Park and other events in our city.”