VENTURA : Council May Amend Ban on Smoking

Ventura’s citywide ban on smoking may be amended tonight to give restaurant bars and bingo parlors a couple more years to comply with the restriction.

The city passed a strict anti-smoking law last spring that forbade lighting up in most public places, with the exclusion of bars and tobacco shops.

Since Ventura passed its ordinance, the state has enacted a similarly restrictive law. The state’s law, however, gives restaurant bars and bingo parlors until January, 1997, to comply.

Tonight, the Ventura City Council will consider amending the city’s ordinance to bring it in line with the state law.

Some restaurant owners loudly objected to the city’s ordinance, saying they would lose smoking customers to eateries in other cities.

The merchants especially cried foul at a section that ordered them to install expensive, separate ventilation systems for their bars if they were to allow smoking in that part of the establishment.

Bingo parlor operators have also opposed the ordinance because many of their customers smoke.