SEAL BEACH : Ban on Smoking at Meetings Up for Vote

For years, smokers have been able to puff away while they pondered civic affairs in the City Council chambers.

But all that could change shortly because the City Council will vote today on a ban on smoking during public meetings.

Other cities in recent years have passed myriad restrictions on smoking in public buildings, but the only change Seal Beach made was about five years ago when the council decided to divide the council chambers into smoking and nonsmoking sections.

Recently, however, the state League of Cities encouraged cities to place more stringent restrictions on smoking in public facilities.

At the same time, City Manager Jerry L. Bankston said he has received a number of citizen complaints from people who say they don’t want to come to council meetings because of the smoke.

Bankston said Seal Beach is apparently the only city in the county to allow smoking during public meetings. Although the council chambers do have separate sections, there is no physical divider and the two areas share a circulation system.

“Studies have clearly shown that with the same circulation system, having separate areas has no beneficial impact,” Bankston said.

Although several residents who regularly attend council meetings smoke during meetings, no council members do and only one city staff member--City Clerk Joanne M. Yeo--does. Yeo said she does not have any problem with the policy.

Even if the council decides to adopt the new policy, it would still be one of the least restrictive ordinances in the county. Smoking would still be permitted in public buildings.

The council will also consider its policy on the sale, distribution or consumption of alcohol on city-owned property. Under existing policy, the city manager has the power to issue special-event permits that allow alcohol sales. But after discussions last year, the council directed Bankston to draft more stringent regulations.

The council will consider two options at its meeting. The first would ban alcohol on city property. That would mean a prohibition even for weddings at city facilities or at an annual fund-raising event for the city’s animal shelter, Bankston said.

The second option would still give the city manager the authority to issue permits for events where alcohol would be sold or drunk. However, he would be directed not to allow alcohol at commercial for-profit events.