But the city is urged to help find other sites for smokers or promote quitting the habit.
A smoking ban in Des Moines’ public garages was recommended to the City Council on Wednesday by the city’s parking advisory committee.
If approved, the ban would probably begin next year, city leaders said. “Once this hit the papers, I’ve just been amazed at the response I’ve gotten,” said Des Moines City Councilwoman Christine Hensley, a member of the committee who proposed the ban this month.
People who use the city’s eight parking garages have increasingly voiced complaints about others who use the structures for a quick puff, city leaders have said.
Hundreds of cigarettes are smoked in the garages each day, according to a count done this week by a company that manages the garages for the city. The company emptied ash trays in the garages at the beginning of Monday and Tuesday, then counted discarded cigarettes in them at the end of the day. At least 1,500 were counted Monday and about 1,300 Tuesday. Cigarettes tossed on the ground weren’t counted.
The number of smokers in city garages is believed to have increased as companies phase out their own smoking areas. Some nonsmokers are upset that they have to walk through a cloud of secondhand smoke, particularly near the entrances of the city’s skywalk system.
Des Moines banned smoking in municipal buildings, but not the garages, in 1988.
The parking advisory committee, made up largely of business representatives, gave the thumbs-up to the ban. The group also advised the council to work with downtown companies to help promote alternatives such as quitting smoking or using an outdoor area far from sidewalks or public entrances for smoking.
Advisory member Scott Carlson, managing partner of Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewery, cast the lone vote against the recommendation.
“You’re dealing with people’s rights,” Carlson said, noting that smoking is legal. Kerry Wise, a project associate with the American Lung Association of Iowa, attended Wednesday’s meeting. Her group supports the garage smoking ban.
She believes that working with businesses to find alternative locations will create problems similar to those that exist now. “What happens is that it may work for a very short time, and then it trickles out,” and people are again smoking near public common areas, Wise said.
Kerry Wise, a project associate with the American Lung Association of Iowa, attended Wednesday’s meeting. Her group supports the garage smoking ban. She believes that working with businesses to find alternative locations will create problems similar to those that exist now.
“What happens is that it may work for a very short time, and then it trickles out,” and people are again smoking near public common areas, Wise said.
Originally written By: Jason Clayworth
