Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Santa Clarita Backs Milder Ordinance Against Smoking

A filtered version of a tobacco control ordinance here bans smoking in most workplaces, prohibits cigarette vending machines and is set to take effect Aug. 1.

The Santa Clarita City Council voted 5 to 0 Tuesday night to approve first reading of the ordinance with lesser restrictions than when it was adopted five months ago.

Smoking is banned in enclosed workplaces but permitted in restaurants and bars as long as the establishment’s policy is posted for customers. Cigarette vending machines are prohibited citywide.

Small businesses operated away from the public and not sharing ventilation systems with another office may allow smoking.

Council members have been flooded with data and arguments from advocates on both sides since the issue was raised in late 1993. Ban supporters say people’s health is at stake, while opponents say it’s a question of personal freedom and that merchants should be able to set their own smoking policies.

The decision Tuesday was a compromise.

Mayor George Pederson earlier opposed the ordinance, saying it didn’t go far enough to protect residents from secondhand smoke. Councilwoman Jan Heidt was against it for a different reason, saying businesses should be allowed to regulate themselves.

The council approved first reading of a stricter version in December but backed off of final approval when 200 people--some residents, some merchants and many from outside of the Santa Clarita Valley wanting to express their views on smoking--showed up to debate the issue.

The earlier draft banned smoking in all enclosed public areas, except bars with only one-fourth of their income from food sales.

Not everyone was happy with the compromise, including resident Donna Pugh, who first asked for smoking controls in the workplace. She believed that eating establishments should be treated the same as other job sites.

“I still don’t believe restaurants aren’t a workplace,” Pugh told the council. “No one will convince me of this.”

The ban will appear for a second reading by the council June 14 and, barring another last-minute change by the council, would go into effect Aug. 1.