Mono Supes Approve Smoke-Free Housing, Give a Nod to Wildlife Bridge

Mono Supes Approve Smoke-Free Housing, Give a Nod to Wildlife Bridge 

Mono County Supervisors took steps at last week’s meeting to protect county apartment dwellers from second-hand smoke and provide safe passage for mule deer herds across U.S. Hwy. 395. 

While the Town of Mammoth Lakes and the County have taken steps to limit the impact of second-hand smoke, the introduction of a ban on smoking in multi-unit dwellings is a first for the County. The process started in 2023 with the formation of an ad hoc committee to study the possibilities. The department of Health and Human Services launched the process last year with door-to-door surveys. While the responders were receptive to a ban, the survey response numbers were a small representation of those impacted. 

HHS Deputy Director Michelle Raust outlined the impacts of second-hand smoke traveling through air ducts as well as the lingering residue. She stressed that the focus was not punitive but rather outreach and education. The process would start with a request for compliance but could escalate to a citation and fines. 

The ask from HHS was an amendment to current County codes. Four of the five Supervisors were in favor or proceeding with the code revision, Dist. 4 Supervisor John Peters was the lone hold-out. His issues ranged from property rights to the lack of funding to cover the cost of the program. He was responsive to the negative impacts on children but questioned the problem for property owners to try to enforce. 

In terms of funding, Supervisor Jennifer Kreitz suggested using funds accrued from cannabis sales. For Supervisor Bob Gardner, the choice was simple: “if we can save one kid’s life, it’s worth it. This is not a hard choice.” 

Direction to staff was straight forward: clarify enforcement and identify cannabis taxes as the funding source. 

The Board was also receptive to saving mule deer from collisions along a stretch of U.S. Highway 395.  

County and CalTrans staff updated the Supervisors on plans for an elevated animal crossing on a section of the highway that stretched from the airport to Hwy. 203. That 10-mile stretch had been identified as a roadkill hot spot by the Eastern Sierra Wildlife Stewardship Team in a study starting in 2016. The goal was to come up with strategies to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate the incidents of vehicle/mule deer collisions. 

Katy Rodriguez, a senior biologist with CalTrans, and Olga Egorov, a planning analyst with the County, provided the Board with some background. With funding from Prop. 68 in 2021, members of the area herd were collared to track their migration patterns. The grant will also cover the necessary environmental documents and the preliminary studies. However, additional funding will be necessary for the design, permits and pre-construction. CalTrans cannot pursue grants for those specific elements, but Mono County can. 

The issue is as much to protect mule deer as well as vehicles and their passengers. While cars can be damaged from the collisions, a secondary danger is vehicles swerving to avoid the animals left on the road. While underpasses have worked for cow herd crossings, mule deer are far less inclined to enter the tunnels.  

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted a study, collaring members of the herds to track their spring and winter migration. Those studies were used to map out the best locations for over-crossings. These crossings are no small matter. The construction plans require the overpasses hold up under winter snow load and specify a 140-foot width. Supervisor Linda Salcido, a participant on the Stewardship Team cited a 10-lane crossing constructed on Hwy. 101 near Santa Monica as well as a project in Sonoma. Both projects, however, were incorporated into existing highway improvement projects. 

Gardner moved to partner with the Community Development Department and proceed with the grant application. The Board approved the motion. 

Deb Murphy