BURBANK : Smoking Ban Gets Preliminary OK

The City Council has given preliminary approval to a smoking ban in all publicly owned and operated facilities, ranging from City Hall to much of the Starlight Amphitheatre.

If approved at next week’s council meeting, the ban will take effect as early as July with the removal of ashtrays from municipal buildings and the posting of signs that prohibit smoking.

Councilman Robert R. Bowne questioned whether the preliminary vote should be taken because Susan Spanos, a councilwoman who smokes, was absent.

But Mayor Bill Wiggins and Vice Mayor Dave Golonski were ready to approve the ordinance, although Councilman George Battey Jr. was also absent.

“I think there is one sentence in the staff report that says it all,” Wiggins said. “ ‘Although it is not the city’s place to control people’s behavior, it is our responsibility to provide a positive and safe environment for our employees.’ ”

Burbank joins a growing number of cities nationwide supporting smoking bans in public places. Smoking in Burbank is already prohibited in some City Hall offices and in places of general assembly, such as movie theaters.

A broad-based smoking ban was considered in 1991, but never came up for a vote by the council.

The ordinance given preliminary approval on a 3-0 vote Tuesday prohibits smoking in city-owned vehicles and within 5 feet of any entrance or exit to a municipal building. City employees who violate the ban are subject to termination.

In other council action, Transportation Administrator G. William Lundgren got the go-ahead to look into whether the Glendale Beeline Metrolink shuttle system can be extended into Burbank.

The present service transporting passengers to and from Burbank’s Metrolink station, the Media District and the Burbank Airport area will end Oct. 1.