County commissioners previously discussed a smoking ban, then backed off and pursued a public education program that hasn't worked.

Cigarette-butt litter at public beaches is an annoying issue Sarasota County officials have been reluctant to crack down on because enforcement costs money, but the failure of anti-litter education programs has convinced several commissioners it's time to act.

On Tuesday, two commissioners who previously objected to smoking regulations at county beaches said it was time to resurrect the idea of designated smoking areas and bring it back for a vote.

"Education is not working," Commissioner Shannon Staub said.

Her unanticipated change of heart came during a routine presentation from Keep Sarasota Beautiful volunteers who addressed the litter problem. It was quickly endorsed by Commissioner Nora Patterson, who had also stood in the way of regulations.

"David Mills and I were for this," Commissioner Jon Thaxton reminded them, "but three of you (including Paul Mercier) wanted education. We envisioned designated smoking areas with butt receptacles. Smoking is still a legal activity, so I'd prefer regulations to banning it."

There were only three commissioners at Tuesday's meeting -- Mills left after the Nov. 7 general election and Mercier is helping supervise the Florida Congressional District 13 recount -- but they unanimously agreed to bring the smoking issue back for future discussion.

Last year, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board raised the issue of increased litter from cigarette butts and suggested county officials designate a smoking area at one public beach to determine whether the concept could work elsewhere.

There is precedent for smoking bans at public beaches. California addressed the proliferation of litter and trash by setting aside 40 miles of what it calls "smoke-free" beaches. If Sarasota County follows suit, it would be the first county in Florida to copy the model program.

Mills, who served four terms on the commission before his recent unsuccessful Florida House District 69 bid, pushed for a smoking ban at county beaches. But he never mustered three commission votes to draft an ordinance and hold public hearings.

The concept raises enforcement questions. Rather than saddle sheriff's deputies with the responsibility of enforcing anti-litter laws, Parks and Recreation Manager John McCarthy has suggested park rangers be trained to enforce codes and issues citations.

Park rangers used to oversee county parks, but they were absorbed into the sheriff's department years ago and disappeared. Lee County has employed park rangers since the mid-1980s, and they've recently taken on code enforcement duties to help maintain new parks.

In 2004, McCarthy addressed smoking and discarded cigarette butts when he reported on the county's efforts to maintain parks, beaches and environmentally sensitive lands. He concluded that park rangers could help, but the suggestion has never been acted on.

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