According to the American Heart Association, cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of death in the United States. In an effort to promote good health and limit exposure to secondhand smoke, the West Hollywood City Council has adopted and introduced the first reading of the Smoking Ordinance to prohibit smoking in outdoor dining and other public areas. The ordinance will strengthen the City's existing regulations protecting public health and improving quality of life for residents and visitors.

"This is simply a public health issue," said Mayor John Heilman. "We should be doing everything we can to protect the health of employees and customers as well as limit their exposure to secondhand smoke. West Hollywood was one of first cities to enact a smoking prohibition law in 1986 and our businesses still continued to flourish. They will be rewarded this time too for doing the right thing," Mayor Heilman continued.

"We are pleased to take this step toward strengthening our public health policies," said West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land, who co-sponsored the ordinance banning smoking on outdoor dining patios with Mayor John Heilman. "This ordinance is consistent with the Los Angeles ordinance in its exemption of bars and nightclubs. Though it doesn't accomplish as much as we'd like in reducing the impact of secondhand smoke on those who live, work and visit West Hollywood, it is an important step forward. I am confident that by working with the community, including our business community, as we have through this process, that we will continue to educate about the impacts of secondhand smoke and that more businesses will join this effort," continued Councilmember Land.

The second reading of "An Ordinance of the City of West Hollywood Amending the West Hollywood Municipal Code to Prohibit Smoking in Outdoor Dining and Other Public Areas and Eliminate Existing Regulations that are Duplicative of State Law" (Smoking Ordinance) will take place on Monday, February 22, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard.

The major provisions of the proposed smoking ordinance include the following:

- Outdoor dining areas of restaurants will be covered, but outdoor areas of bars and nightclubs will be exempt from the ordinance.

- In some cases, a business will have the opportunity to update its business license and permits to more accurately reflect their operations and in limited situations a restaurant may be permitted to designate an unenclosed congregation area on-site to allow smoking. Businesses would be required to submit a Smoking Operations Plan to the City for review and approval.

- The two hookah cafes currently located in the City will be exempt from the smoking prohibition.

- A "no-smoking buffer zone" of five feet will be created around covered outdoor dining and service areas.

- Incentives will be developed to encourage those businesses that are exempted from the ordinance to become smoke free.

The City will also work with the region's leading health care agencies and social services providers to inform the community about smoking cessation programs and literature.

Source:
West Hollywood City Council