SANTA PAULA : City May Expand No-Smoking Ban

The Santa Paula City Council is scheduled to consider an ordinance Monday that would restrict smoking in public places.

The city has had a no-smoking policy in government buildings since 1987, and the council is being asked to consider broadening that policy to other public places such as restaurants, theaters and health-care facilities.

“It’s going to take a lot of guts for the council to pass such a measure,” Mayor Kay Wilson said.

“The council has to be sensitive to the needs of the business owners and their ability to make a living.”

Compliance with the regulation could be a problem for small businesses such as mom-and-pop cafes, she said, where segregating smokers from nonsmokers would be difficult because of size limitations.

However, a survey of other cities in the county has shown few problems with similar ordinances, City Clerk Stacey MacDonald said.

“After the first 60 days, during which people expressed concerns, there have been no problems reported,” she said.

A first violation would earn a fine of $100 or less. A second infraction would cost $200.

A third instance of noncompliance would be considered a misdemeanor and would cost the business owner $1,000.