Residents and business owners will have an opportunity to oppose or offer support of the proposed change during a public hearing on April 25.
The ordinance would prohibit smoking: in enclosed public places such as bars, restaurants, offices and public areas; at outdoor dining spaces on restaurant premises, though another area for smoking could be established; within certain limits of the entrances and exits of confined public spaces; at outdoor public events, though designated smoking areas could be offered.
The smoking ban wouldn't apply to businesses where more than 50 percent of their revenue comes from tobacco sales — cigar bars, for example.
Mayor Junie White said he will support a ban, and that many of his constituents favor an ordinance prohibiting smoking "on the books."
"This will be complaint driven, meaning we are not going into restaurants to write tickets," he said. "It's something the customers will have to do. I don't think we'll have too many complaints. It's just what we're hearing from the people in our district."
Nu-Way Restaurant and Lounge owner Becky Myers doesn't expect to lose a large number of customers if the measure passes, but she doesn't think the city should legislate whether people can smoke in her restaurant.
"I have a back room now that's nonsmoking," Myers said. "I understand the health concerns, but I really think it should be left up to the business owner. I've worked so hard for my business. I don't think it should be for them to say whether my customers can smoke."
Steve Wilson, owner of Papa's Breakfast Nook, has smoking and nonsmoking areas. the restaurant is so small that the smoke drifts into the nonsmoking area.
Wilson said he will support council's decision as long as the ordinance is fair and applies to every restaurant.
Dan Phillips of Spartanburg is a smoker and frequents Papa's Breakfast Nook regularly. Phillips said it shouldn't be the city's responsibility to ban smoking.
"Let the owner or manager do what they want," Phillips said. "It's silly for people to make up these laws that they have no intention of enforcing anyway."
Councilwoman Linda Dogan is asthmatic and a nonsmoker. She, however, said she won't support a smoking ban.
"Well, I think we already regulate so many things," Dogan said. "I don't think we have a right to tell restaurants what they can do. if they don't want it, they need to man up and tell their customers they can't smoke there."
Councilman Joe Spigner is a supporter of a smoking ban, particularly since it addresses a smoking ban during city-sponsored events such as Music on Main and Spring Fling.
"I think if we're telling business owners what they can and can't do, we should set an example and do it ourselves," Spigner said. the proposed ordinance wouldn't be "heavy-handed," he said, meaning public safety officers wouldn't be staked out at restaurants and bars to write tickets to smokers.
An ordinance requires approval of two readings and a public hearing before it's enacted. if approved, the city would join 27 other cities, towns and counties statewide to enact similar measures.
City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. April 28 in council chambers at the County Administration Building, 366 N. Church St.
<a href="http://www.goupstate.com/article/20110408/ARTICLES/110409758/1051/news01?Title=Council-pressing-ban-on-smoking-at-Spartanburg-eateries-bars-and-at-eventstag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.goupstate.com/article/20110408/ARTICLES/110409758/1051/news01?Title=Council-pressing-ban-on-smoking-at-Spartanburg-eateries-bars-and-at-eventsFri, 08 Apr 2011 07:22:51 GMT 00:00">Council pressing ban on smoking at Spartanburg eateries, bars and at events
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