Branson hosting community forum on smoke-free ordinance

Last edited 1:47 p.m., Aug. 12, 2014

City of Branson, Taney County Health Department and Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau officials are scheduled to host a smoke-free community forum Aug. 14.

During the 6-8 p.m. meeting at the Branson RecPlex, stakeholders including business owners can learn and raise questions and concerns about the city's proposed smoke-free ordinance, according to a news release.

“This is really an issue that deals with the health of our entire community, ” Branson Alderman Rick Davis said in the release. “This has been identified in our citizen surveys as something the community would like to see happen and would support."

In April, the Tri-Lakes Clean Air Alliance met with the Branson Board of Aldermen to discuss a possible smoking ban in all Branson businesses. At the time, KSPR reported Branson had the second-highest smoking rate in Missouri.

Branson's 2012 Community Survey indicated 64 percent of respondents felt a citywide smoking ban in public places was important for the future of the city. A tobacco impact assessment conducted in 2012 found 88.3 percent of residents surveyed would support a comprehensive smoking ban, and 87 percent of Branson Convention Center visitors said it was important for hotels and restaurants to be smoke-free, according to the release.

City officials were unavailable for additional comment on the proposed ordinance by deadline.[[In-content Ad]]