YORBA LINDA : No-Smoking Area at Restaurants Expanded

The city’s smoking ordinance was amended Tuesday to increase the seating area restaurant owners must set aside for nonsmoking customers.

Beginning Aug. 18, restaurants must have a nonsmoking area that takes up at least 70% of the business’ seating capacity. Currently, the ordinance calls for 33% of the restaurant to be reserved for nonsmokers.

Tuesday’s action was the latest salvo in a months-long battle over a proposed ban on smoking in public places. Councilman John M. Gullixson introduced the amendment last month in response to an earlier amendment proposed by Councilman Henry W. Wedaa that would have eliminated smoking completely from restaurants, places of employment and other public places.

Most restaurants in the city already set aside 70% for nonsmokers, Gullixson said.

“I don’t think we need a law (restricting smoking) because the public has already forced business owners to do that on their own,” Gullixson said. “I introduced the 70% (ordinance) as an attempt to compromise.”

Other businesses covered by the city’s smoking ordinance were not affected by the amendment. An advisory measure asking residents if the city should ban smoking in all public places including restaurants is scheduled to be on the November ballot. The City Council will reconsider whether to keep the advisory measure on the ballot at its Aug. 2 meeting.