Irvine : Smoking Ordinance Gets Preliminary OK

Non-smokers can chalk up another victory--at least a partial one--as Irvine joins other cities in the county with an ordinance regulating smoking.

The City Council has tentatively approved an ordinance banning smoking in public places and ordering non-smoking sections in restaurants that hold more than 40 people, according to City Clerk Nancy Lacey. However, the council did not restrict smoking in the workplace.

Only three council members voted on the ordinance, since there is a vacancy on the council and Mayor David Baker, an attorney whose law firm represents the tobacco industry, excused himself from the vote. The officials split their vote 2 to 1, with member Barbara Wiener voting against an ordinance that included the workplace.

Once the ordinance was amended to delete the workplace, however, the three officials voted unanimously for the proposal. If the council approves the measure at its meeting next week, the law would take effect within 30 days.