Starting next month, smoking and tobacco use will be banned in county parks.

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed Wednesday to add parks to the county’s existing no tobacco policy, created in 2011 and enforced outside county department buildings.

The Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on the issue at its April 22 meeting and kept the hearing open to its meeting Wednesday. No public testimony was given Wednesday.

Steven Blakesley, Clatsop County health promotion specialist, explained to the Board of Commissioners the ban is meant for public health reasons and for the comfort of all park visitors.

Blakesley said the new policy includes bans on marijuana and electronic cigarette use, which have been approved statewide in recent years since the policy was created.

“A lot has changed since then,” he said.

The ban also includes chewing tobacco, which creates public health concerns and maintenance issues for county staff, according to the county’s parks department.

At at Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee meeting last fall, Blakesley presented information about the policy. Supports of the ban, he said, point to environmental concerns and health reasons such as decreasing exposure to secondhand smoke, encouraging more smokers to quit and discouraging children to start smoking.

In addition, supporters cite a safety concern about smoking materials causing sparks that lead to uncontrolled fires.

Parks impacted by the proposed policy include Big Creek, Carnahan, Cullaby Lake, LeeWooden/Fish Hawk Falls, Klootchy Creek, North Fork Nehalem, Sigfridson, John Day and Westport boat ramp.

The Clatsop County Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee recommended the ban in November. Although the recommendation passed, some on the committee expressed concerns about people’s personal rights, how the policy would be enforced and the need for such a policy since parks are outdoors.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Scott Lee believes the county is leading the way across the state by approving the ban. Lee said he can understand concerns with bans on beaches, since beaches are often considered public highways and people can smoke in their vehicles.

Parks are different, he said.

On a personal note, Lee said, he has seen family members struggle with tobacco use. He sees the county’s ban as a way of supporting families and future generations.

“There is not a family not touched by these issues,” Lee said.

In other business:

• The Board of Commissioners amended to the county’s labor counsel services agreement with firm Bullard, Smith, Jernstedt and Wilson for this fiscal year. The county’s agreement with the firm was not to exceed $30,000 annually. Due to schedule contract negotiations and four unforeseen personal issues, which have been resolved, the county said, an additional $149,000 was needed to pay for the services in this fiscal year. The largest additional cost was $113,000 for a labor dispute in the Sheriff’s Office.