OCEANSIDE -- A proposal to ban smoking at Oceanside's parks, beaches and pier will go before the City Council on Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 300 North Coast Highway.

The law would prohibit smoking at all beaches, parks and the wooden portion of the pier. But the law wouldn't apply to golf courses, parking lots or public streets near recreation areas, and the pier-side bandshell or the cement entryway of the pier.

City officials said they're bracing for many local residents to sound off either for or against the ban at Wednesday's meeting. Meanwhile, local residents had differing opinions when asked about the proposed law on Monday.

"It's awesome," said Oceanside resident John Lee, who doesn't smoke and had just finished a midday run near the pier. "I hate the smell of smoke, especially at the beach. It will make it healthier for everyone."

Supporters of the ban have said it will reduce harmful secondhand smoke and will limit the number of cigarette butts people throw on the ground. But opponents have argued that secondhand smoke isn't an issue in such large outdoor areas and that there are other ways to reduce the litter.

"It's a horrible idea," said David Jacobson, an Oceanside resident who smokes. "We have a right to smoke, and it doesn't bother anyone when outside."

Solana Beach was the first city in the continental United States to outlaw smoking at beaches when its council unanimously passed a ban in October 2003. About two dozen California cities have followed Solana Beach's lead, including Del Mar, which passed a law in February 2006.

Former Oceanside Councilwoman Shari Mackin proposed last year while she was still in office that the city consider a similar ban, and the city formed an ad hoc committee to study the issue.

The committee sent out 42,000 surveys about the proposed ban with July water bills, and 8,943 people mailed back responses.

More than 75 percent of respondents supported banning smoking at parks, beaches and the pier, according to city officials.

The Oceanside council will make the final decision. The proposed law received a mixed response from several elected officials on Monday.

Mayor Jim Wood said he supported the ban.

"When you're at the beach, the last thing you want is to sit next to someone smoking," Wood said. "It will be healthier for everyone."

Wood said that banning smoking could also reduce the litter on the beaches.

Councilman Jack Feller said that smoking in front of children sets a bad example, but added that the city must decide "if we really feel that outdoor smoking is that serious."

"Stepping on people's rights is probably not the foremost thing on my mind," Feller said. "It sure sounds like bigger government to me."

If the council passed the ban, the city would put up signs and launch a public awareness campaign about the law, according to a city report prepared by staffers.

The report estimates it would cost about $20,000 for the signs and outreach efforts plus any maintenance costs.

Police and code enforcement officers would be able to ticket violators of the law, but the report states that most of the enforcement would be self-policing by residents and deterrence through signs.

Jan Zacarias, who was enjoying a cigarette on the beach near the pier on Monday, said she wouldn't have any problem moving up to the street or parking lot to smoke if the city passed the law.

"It's a good idea because of all the cigarette butts people leave on the ground," said Zacarias, who lives in Hemet.

Other residents said the law wouldn't change their behavior.

Smoker Gabe Ruiz said that even though alcohol is banned at the beach, many people bring beer cans to the beach.

"The law won't make a difference," Ruiz said. "It's relaxing to smoke at the beach."

Contact staff writer David Sterrett at (760) 901-4067 or dsterrett@nctimes.com.