Council to Consider Tougher Smoking Ban Tuesday

The Walnut Creek City Council on Tuesday will consider a sweeping revision to its existing smoking ordinance, and prohibit smoking throughout downtown, in all public spaces including parks, and all businesses, inside and out. The proposed ordinance would also ban smoking from new apartments and condos, and from all future and existing balconies and common areas.

The one exception would be for golf courses, where, according to the staff report, there have been no complaints about second hand smoke, primarily from cigars.

A very informal poll conducted on the city’s website about the proposed smoking ban received 99 responses. Of those, 74 supported the entire ban, 11 supported some of the restrictions, and 14 did not support the ordinance at all.

The revised ordinance is an attempt by the city to bring its smoking prohibitions in line with other nearby cities, which have far tougher smoking bans.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at 1666 N. Main St.