REPEAL THE BAN

Columbia Restaurant/Bar Smoking Ban
       
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Smoking Ban background and current status

City Council sets date for smoking ordinance public hearing (September 11th, 2006)

The City Council has scheduled a special City Council meeting for 7PM October 9th for the public hearing on the proposed smoking ordinance which would ban smoking in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, bingo halls and private membership clubs. The hearing will be held in the City Council Chambers located in City Hall, 701 E. Broadway. The Board of Health public hearing on the smoking ordinance was held at the same location last spring -- there was standing room only. The City Council will be setting up the Lobby and Mezzanine for overflow.

Help us stop the City Council from taking away your freedoms!

First -- contact the Mayor and your City Council member NOW to let them know you oppose the smoking ban before it is too late.

Second -- attend the public hearing on October 9th at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The more people that show up who oppose the smoking ban, the more likely the City Council will vote it down. Please plan on getting there early, especially if you plan on speaking so you can get a seat in the City Council Chambers.

Please send your name, phone number, and email address to the Boone Liberty Coalition so we can inform you of any changes and remind you about the hearing. Leave your contact information by calling (573) 777-1950 or send an email to StopTheBan@booneliberty.org.

Finally, you can help by notifiying others about the importance of contacting the City Council and attending this hearing by printing out the Stop The Ban Flyer and handing it out to customers of your business, members of your organization, and friends.

City Council sets a timeline for addressing the proposed smoking ordinance (July 18th, 2006)

On July 17th the Columbia City Council voted to accept the Board of Health smoking ordinance report. They also voted to ask staff to craft language for a revised smoking ordinance. Finally they voted to hold a special meeting of the City Council solely for a public hearing on the proposed smoking ordinance. Lauran Nauser was the sole member of the City Council who voted against proceeding any further. The City Council decided to delay any further action until after they have concluded work on the 2007 city budget. The smoking ordinance will be put on the city council agenda in late September or early October. Although a city council working session was discussed it was unclear whether the city council will discuss the smoking ban during a working session.

Board of Health finalizes smoking ordinance - removes exemption for outside dining areas (April 11, 2006)

The Columbia Boone County Board of Health approved a final draft of the proposed smoking ordinance. An exemption for outdoor dining areas was removed at the last minute.

The Board of Health then voted to send a report to the City Council with their new smoking ordinance recommendations. The vote was 6-2 with Jean Pax and Nathan Voris the two dissenting votes. Chairman Michael Szewczyk will draft a final report along with a dissenting opinion from Nathan Voris which will be forwarded to the City Council in the next few weeks.

Once the City Council receives the report from the Board of Health they can take no action or put it on the agenda for the City Council.

Board of Health schedules public hearing on proposed smoking ordinance (February 27, 2006)

The Columbia Boone County Board of Health reviewed the draft smoking ordinance then scheduled a public hearing for 6:00PM - 7:30PM March 7th. The hearing will be held in the City Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the Daniel Boone Building, 701 E. Broadway. Here is a link to the Draft Smoking Ordinance.

This is your opportunity to voice your opposition to the proposed anti-choice smoking ordinance. Even if you prefer not to speak, please attend this hearing. The Board of Health and City Council need to know how many business owners and employees oppose the smoking ban. Please mark this date on your calendar. Please drop us an email at StopTheBan@booneliberty.org if you will be attending. Especially if you plan on speaking at the hearing.

Board of Health Subcommittee to resume hearings on smoking ordinance (September 11, 2005)

A Board of Health Subcommittee Meeting is scheduled for November 15th, at 5:30 at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, 1005 W. Worley.

This meeting is to continue the review of the current/proposed smoking ordinance.

Everyone is invited to attend the meeting. However, the meeting is not open to public comment. A public hearing will be set at a later date.

Board of Health Subcommittee to hold public hearing June 30th (June 23, 2005)

The Subcommittee formed by the Board of Health to draft proposed changes to the Columbia Smoking Ordinance have finished drafting the new ordinance. Their next meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 30th at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Training Room at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department at 1005 W. Worley.

The subcommittee is interested in learning about the concerns and issues business owners may have regarding possible changes to the City Ordinance.

Background

The Boone County Coalition for Tobacco Concerns (BCCTC) is lobbying the Boone County and City of Columbia Board of Health and the Columbia City Council for a smoking ban in all Columbia Restaurants and Bars.

The BCCTC presented information to the Board of Health and answered questions on February 8th, 2005. The Board of Health voted to form a sub committee to recommend changes to the Columbia Smoking Ordinance and report to the City Council.

The Board of Health is listed as a Coalition Partner of the BCCTC so it is expected that the Board of Health will recommend implementing a Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban when they make their recommendations to the City Council early in the spring of 2005.

The Board of Health was given the go ahead by the Columbia City Council to form a subcommittee to research changes to Columbia's Smoking Ordinance during the March 7th City Council Meeting by a vote of 5-1. Request prompts smoking ban study

The Cole County Partners for Clean Air tried to get a restaurant smoking ban in Jefferson City in the fall of 2003. But it was defeated when the Mayor of Jefferson City vetoed the bill passed by a 6-4 vote of the city council. The BCCTC has a number of members and coalition partners who worked with the Cole County Partners for Clean Air on the Jefferson City ban.



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