Smoking ban supporters call for compromise

Last edited 1:43 p.m., March 19, 2012

Following the March 12 Springfield City Council meeting during which several business owners voiced support for a repeal of the city's public indoor smoking ban, supporters of the voter-approved law have called for a compromise.

The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and One Air Alliance are asking Live Free Springfield to withdraw its repeal petition with the condition that three amendments be added to the law's language. The amendments are as follows:

• An exemption would be made for retail tobacco shop that have a minimum of 70 percent of sales that are tobacco-related.
• Private clubs would be exempted when they are not open to the public and have no employees present.
• Certain language related to e-cigarettes would be removed, allowing theater groups additional options for smoking e-cigarettes during on-stage performances.

According to a news release from the smoking ban supporters, the proposed amendments are in response to the March 12 council meeting and the governing body's intention to host a March 22 workshop to further discuss the repeal.

The amendments have been passed to Mayor Jim O'Neal and the other members of council for review.

"We want to ensure that the voices of voters are respected, employee health is protected and public health organizations are not excluded from this process," the release reads.

The release stipulates the amendments would need to be passed by a unanimous vote, though there has been contention over whether council would need to unanimously vote to amend the smoking ban. Joe Easter of Easter Law Firm LLC, an attorney representing One Air Alliance, has stated city charter only allows for voter-approved initiatives to be repealed unanimously. City Attorney Dan Wichmer interpreted the charter to say council could approve the repeal ordinance by a simple majority vote.

A second reading of the repeal ordinance is scheduled for the next council meeting on March 26.

Dave Myers, chairman of Live Free Springfield, said via e-mail the organization would hold a news conference 3 p.m. tomorrow at the 2660 S. Scenic Ave. American Legion building to talk about the latest proposition by the proponents of the smoking ban.