Group suggests smoking ban alternative
The push for an expansion of Springfield’s smoking ordinance may have lost some of its heat in the past two weeks, but groups on both sides of the debate say they’re interested in reviving the issue and searching for common ground.
The overtures made so far have been limited — mostly e-mails and phone calls to members of City Council — but Councilman Dan Chiles said he’s optimistic a compromise can be reached.
“I would like to see City Council take this up again because although the process was messy, it was enlightening,” Chiles said Friday. “It’s clear the original (proposal) didn’t pass, so now people are sending us suggestions for what’s a better alternative … Everyone seems to think there is a way to get this done.”
One suggestion — made by an informal group of business owners, nonprofit leaders and others — is that council create a task force representing interested parties to craft a substitute.
Derek Fraley, a local banker who floated the idea in a June 29 e-mail to council, said that while those in the group oppose some parts of the proposed smoking ban, they agree the current ordinance needs to be strengthened.
“Currently the law is way too nebulous,” said Fraley, a member of a private downtown club that allows smoking. Not a habitual smoker, Fraley said he has a cigar “once or twice a month” and thinks a “common sense” compromise is possible.
Mayor Jim O’Neal, one of four council members who sponsored the smoke-free proposal, said he wants to sit down with Fraley before weighing in on the task force idea.
“Sometimes task forces are very effective, sometimes they’re not,” he said. “I think the ultimate objective here is to have a unified effort that takes care of the problem and can be passed.”
A public hearing on the proposed smoke-free ordinance at the June 28 council meeting ended abruptly when supporters with the One Air Alliance balked at an amendment exempting nonprofit benevolent organizations and bingo halls.
“We’re still hopeful that council will do something regarding the smoke-free ordinance,’” said Josh Garrett, field government relations director at the American Cancer Society and One Air Alliance member. “We’re interested in negotiating and compromising.”
Garrett said the group would not be opposed to sitting down with Fraley and others, although he isn’t convinced a “full-blown task force” is needed.
And while the group is open to some limited exemptions, it’s unwilling to bend on core issues.
“Bars should be smoke-free, any workplace should be smoke-free,” Garrett said.
“But there is room to negotiate on things like tobacco shops … even private clubs, as long as the definition isn’t haphazardly thrown into an ordinance that took months to craft.”