Smoking ban in Garden City set to begin / LJWorld.com

Archive for Sunday, December 31, 2006

Associated Press

December 31, 2006

Garden City — Count Garden City among the Kansas communities where smokers will soon have fewer places to light up.

A new ordinance banning smoking in most public places will take effect Jan. 8, after the City Commission on Thursday denied a request by opponents to put the law on hold while they pursued a change in the law.

Leroy Rose, a Garden City lawyer, told commissioners that opponents were ready to circulate a petition that would allow smoking in licensed premises with an exhaust system that would remove smoke from a designated smoking area.

The petition seeks to give owners an option, Rose said.

According to the Finney County Clerk's office, the petition would need about 1,580 signatures, or 25 percent of the voters who participated in the last city election.

Commissioner David Crase told Rose he felt opponents of the ordinance had sufficient time to get the petition circulated and get it on a ballot before now.

Commissioner Reynaldo Mesa agreed with Crase.

"It's been five months," Mesa told Rose, adding that he would need "a very compelling reason" to change his mind.

Commissioner Janie Perkins followed suit by saying she had no problem with the ordinance going to a public vote but that she hasn't heard or received any phone calls expressing opposition to the ordinance.

Rose said some of his clients owned establishments where people come to enjoy a cigarette with a "cool beer."

The ordinance bars smoking in city buildings, schools, food service establishments and other licensed premises. It also prohibits smoking within 50 feet of the primary public entrances or exits of any buildings or businesses included in the ordinance.

"The consensus today is it's not going to change," said Mayor Gary Fuller, who said he smoked for about 35 years before quitting.

Several Kansas communities, including Lawrence, Salina, Parsons and Olathe, already have adopted limits on smoking in public places.