Chico City Council to consider 20-foot smoking rule for businesses

A smoking ban within a specified distance of private entryways will be up for discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Smoking is already prohibited in front of entryways to public buildings but not privately-owned businesses. The ordinance before the council would prohibit smoking within 20 feet of doors, windows and other openings to businesses. Two ordinance options are being considered, with one adding an exception for people passing by. It's not clear what kind of enforcement will be used or the penalty for violations.

The proposal was brought forward by the American Lung Association earlier this year, and in August the council voted 5-2 to send the issue to city staff for suggestions, with Bob Evans and Mark Sorensen voting no. In researching how other cities have addressed the matter, City Attorney Lori Barker reports most ordinances prohibit smoking within 20 to 25 feet of doors, windows or other openings. Other ordinances she found prohibit smoking completely on specifically designated sidewalks or on all city public property.

In August, a handful of community members said the rules would be difficult to enforce, and that people still smoke now in places where it is banned, including City Plaza. On Friday afternoon, Nicole Romain, membership coordinator and office manager of the Downtown Business Association had not yet heard a reaction to the ordinance from board members. But she said when the association voiced its opposition in August the biggest concern from a survey of business owners was about enforcement. "As far as I know that's still the concern.

I haven't heard anything different," she said. "It's about creating another law and who is going to enforce that law. I don't know we have the police support to be enforcing it." Members of Students with Kids Leading Everyone Against Nicotine said they counted 857 cigarettes butts within 20 feet of 61 businesses, gathered signatures of support from 500 people and received endorsements for a ban from 70 businesses. The city had also been asked by the American Lung Association to ban smoking in Bidwell Park, an issue that has been referred to the Bidwell Parks and Playground Commission. The rest of Tuesday's council agenda includes a quarterly financial update, several consent items and other routine reports.