Rancho Palos Verdes to Ban Smoking in Restaurants
Rancho Palos Verdes is preparing to join 31 other California cities by prohibiting smoking in restaurants.
In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the City Council voted to draft an ordinance that would ban smoking in all 35 of the city’s restaurants. The measure would allow smoking in designated areas in restaurant lounges and bars, however.
The council plans to put the draft ordinance to a final vote next month. If, as expected, the measure is adopted, it will take effect 45 days after its passage.
The proposed ban comes as no surprise to council meeting regulars. Mayor Susan Brooks and Councilman Robert E. Ryan suffer from asthma, which is aggravated by cigarette smoke. None of the other council members smoke.
Armed with the surgeon general’s report on the dangers of secondhand smoke, Brooks in October asked that a nonsmoking ordinance be researched by the city staff.
“I think I have a right to clean air,” Ryan said at Tuesday’s meeting.
No restaurant owners appeared at Tuesday’s meeting, but the city had received written comment from four restaurant owners--two in favor of the measure and two opposed.
In related action Tuesday, the council also voted to put into code a longstanding policy that bans smoking in city buildings.
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