The Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) is seeking public input as to whether there is a need or desire to have ash cans installed in its business district, following the village area’s installation of about 10 high-quality cigarette disposal devices in October. The installation was part of Surfrider Foundation’s Strategic Ash Can program, already implemented in Ocean Beach and Imperial Beach, which attempts to stamp out the nasty problem of stray butts by placing ash cans around the community in high-volume areas. San Diego Surfrider chairman Manase Mansur said he hopes to see about 150 cans installed in the La Jolla community, from Bird Rock to La Jolla Shores. “These will cut down on toxins from runoff, and most importantly, will get rid of unsightly litter,” said Mansur. Installations have steadily increased since the program started in 2006, he said, and the cans are in “high demand.” Not everyone, however, is clamoring for a can. Larisa Hall, owner of Tap Fever, located at 5628 La Jolla Blvd., said the installation of ash cans would be supporting smokers’ bad habits. “I absolutely do not want an ashtray outside of my business,” said Hall. “I leave my front door open all the time, and an ashtray will encourage people to smoke there.” According to the City of San Diego, smoking is banned in parks and beaches from La Jolla to Sunset Cliffs, and state law prohibits smoking within 20 feet of government-leased buildings. According to San Diego County’s Tobacco Control Resource Program (TCRP), private businesses “have the right to institute stronger policies that prohibit smoking both inside and outside of their facilities. They can also determine the distance at which smoking is banned from entryways, windows and ventilation systems.” The ash cans would are manufactured by Oceanside’s Cigarette Pollution Solutions in a “pelican brown” color, specially made for La Jolla, at a price of $200 each. Businesses can have their names printed on the cans if they choose to become sponsors of one or more cans. BRCC President Joe Parker is shelving the issue until 2011 to give residents time to decide if there a need for the cans in Bird Rock. He is asking that community members contact him at [email protected] to voice their suggestions about how Bird Rock should move forward. “I’d like to understand if there’s a perceived problem. I’m in favor of eliminating trash from any public right-of-way,” he said, “but I haven’t heard enough from the community.” — Claire Harlin contributed to this story.