GARDEN GROVE : Council Recoils on Smoking Ordinance

Missing one member and divided on philosophy and details, the City Council this week balked at putting a measure on the November ballot that would restrict smoking in restaurants and workplaces.

Two weeks ago, the council approved the idea in principle on a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Frank Kessler dissenting. On Monday, faced with the final vote, officials postponed the matter until next week.

Councilman J. Tilman Williams, who proposed putting on the ballot a copy of Huntington Beach’s smoking ordinance, was absent Monday.

Kessler, one of two smokers on the council, said, “What you’re proposing is a waste of the taxpayers’ money,” referring to the $5,000 cost of putting the measure before voters. He said he thought the council could agree on a compromise measure without an election.

Mayor W.E. (Walt) Donovan, the other smoker, lamented, “The way it’s going, some day the only place you’ll be able to smoke is in your car or in your home.”

On July 2, he voted to submit the measure to residents, but Monday night wanted to amend it to apply to businesses with 10 or more employees, rather than the four in the proposal.

Said Councilman Raymond T. Littrell: “I can’t support it (the restrictions) but I certainly don’t have any problem in letting the people have a say.”

The ordinance would require no-smoking areas in restaurants with a capacity of 50 or more and would require employers to accommodate nonsmokers who request a smoke-free work area.

Employers would not have to make structural changes to a building under the ordinance.