Del Mar Agrees to Discuss Smoking Ban in Buildings

Following in the footsteps of its neighbor to the north, the Del Mar City Council on Monday night moved toward a ban on smoking in public buildings, voting unanimously to place the issue on a future agenda for public discussion.

Last month, Solana Beach approved an ordinance considered to be the toughest in the county. It banned smoking in offices and restaurants, excepting bars and restaurants that meet certain requirements.

Several Del Mar restaurant owners appeared at Monday’s council meeting to oppose the plan. Restaurants have “taken (it) upon ourselves to regulate smoking in our establishments,” said Chuck Benson, owner of Carlos & Annie’s. “So far we haven’t heard any complaints. I can’t imagine why we need further regulation.”

The topic was forwarded by Councilman Henry Abarbanel, who said he was responding to the Solana Beach ordinance and recent reports about the danger of secondhand smoke.

Although the council unanimously approved further discussion of the topic, there did not appear to be unanimous support for the concept.

“We haven’t had any problems in the city of Del Mar,” Councilman Ned Colbert said.

In response to citizen protests, the Solana Beach City Council agreed to delay implementing its ordinance until September to give restaurants time to adjust. It also agreed to loosen the restrictions on smoking in restaurants with separate bar areas. Establishments that have bar-only liquor licenses were exempted from the ordinance.

Most restaurant owners who protested the ordinance complained that smoking customers would simply patronize restaurants in other cities. In enacting the law, the council promised to urge other cities to follow its lead.

Most area cities follow the San Diego County ordinance, which only requires restaurants and offices to set aside areas for nonsmokers.

In 1987, Del Mar voters soundly rejected a proposal made by former Councilman Richard Roe that would have banned smoking in most public spaces, including outdoor areas.