Spartanburg Update…
Council pressing ban on smoking at Spartanburg eateries, bars and at events
Ordinance would outlaw lighting up at many city venues
April 8, 2011
By Lynne P. Shackleford
By Lynne P. Shackleford
City Council is on the verge of implementing a smoking ban in Spartanburg restaurants and bars and at outdoor events — such as Music on Main and Spring Fling — held on city property.
Residents and business owners will have an opportunity to oppose or offer support of the proposed change during a public hearing on April 25.
The ordinance would prohibit smoking: in enclosed public places such as bars, restaurants, offices and public areas; at outdoor dining spaces on restaurant premises, though another area for smoking could be established; within certain limits of the entrances and exits of confined public spaces; at outdoor public events, though designated smoking areas could be offered.
The smoking ban wouldn’t apply to businesses where more than 50 percent of their revenue comes from tobacco sales — cigar bars, for example.
Mayor Junie White said he will support a ban, and that many of his constituents favor an ordinance prohibiting smoking “on the books.”
“This will be complaint driven, meaning we are not going into restaurants to write tickets,” he said. “It’s something the customers will have to do. I don’t think we’ll have too many complaints. It’s just what we’re hearing from the people in our district.”
Nu-Way Restaurant and Lounge owner Becky Myers doesn’t expect to lose a large number of customers if the measure passes, but she doesn’t think the city should legislate whether people can smoke in her restaurant.
“I have a back room now that’s nonsmoking,” Myers said. “I understand the health concerns, but I really think it should be left up to the business owner. I’ve worked so hard for my business. I don’t think it should be for them to say whether my customers can smoke.”
Steve Wilson, owner of Papa’s Breakfast Nook, has smoking and nonsmoking areas. The restaurant is so small that the smoke drifts into the nonsmoking area.
Wilson said he will support council’s decision as long as the ordinance is fair and applies to every restaurant.
Dan Phillips of Spartanburg is a smoker and frequents Papa’s Breakfast Nook regularly. Phillips said it shouldn’t be the city’s responsibility to ban smoking.
“Let the owner or manager do what they want,” Phillips said. “It’s silly for people to make up these laws that they have no intention of enforcing anyway.”
Councilwoman Linda Dogan is asthmatic and a nonsmoker. She, however, said she won’t support a smoking ban.
“Well, I think we already regulate so many things,” Dogan said. “I don’t think we have a right to tell restaurants what they can do. If they don’t want it, they need to man up and tell their customers they can’t smoke there.”
Councilman Joe Spigner is a supporter of a smoking ban, particularly since it addresses a smoking ban during city-sponsored events such as Music on Main and Spring Fling.
“I think if we’re telling business owners what they can and can’t do, we should set an example and do it ourselves,” Spigner said. The proposed ordinance wouldn’t be “heavy-handed,” he said, meaning public safety officers wouldn’t be staked out at restaurants and bars to write tickets to smokers.
An ordinance requires approval of two readings and a public hearing before it’s enacted. If approved, the city would join 27 other cities, towns and counties statewide to enact similar measures.
City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. April 28 in council chambers at the County Administration Building, 366 N. Church St.
“I have a back room now that’s nonsmoking,” Myers said. “I understand the health concerns, but I really think it should be left up to the business owner. I’ve worked so hard for my business. I don’t think it should be for them to say whether my customers can smoke.”
Steve Wilson, owner of Papa’s Breakfast Nook, has smoking and nonsmoking areas. The restaurant is so small that the smoke drifts into the nonsmoking area.
Wilson said he will support council’s decision as long as the ordinance is fair and applies to every restaurant.
Dan Phillips of Spartanburg is a smoker and frequents Papa’s Breakfast Nook regularly. Phillips said it shouldn’t be the city’s responsibility to ban smoking.
“Let the owner or manager do what they want,” Phillips said. “It’s silly for people to make up these laws that they have no intention of enforcing anyway.”
Councilwoman Linda Dogan is asthmatic and a nonsmoker. She, however, said she won’t support a smoking ban.
“Well, I think we already regulate so many things,” Dogan said. “I don’t think we have a right to tell restaurants what they can do. If they don’t want it, they need to man up and tell their customers they can’t smoke there.”
Councilman Joe Spigner is a supporter of a smoking ban, particularly since it addresses a smoking ban during city-sponsored events such as Music on Main and Spring Fling.
“I think if we’re telling business owners what they can and can’t do, we should set an example and do it ourselves,” Spigner said. The proposed ordinance wouldn’t be “heavy-handed,” he said, meaning public safety officers wouldn’t be staked out at restaurants and bars to write tickets to smokers.
An ordinance requires approval of two readings and a public hearing before it’s enacted. If approved, the city would join 27 other cities, towns and counties statewide to enact similar measures.
City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. April 28 in council chambers at the County Administration Building, 366 N. Church St.
Health Professionals Push For Smoking Bans In Spartanburg County
January 25, 2011
By Graeme Moore
Healthcare professionals on Monday night presented to Spartanburg County Council results of a new survey which shows overwhelming support for smoking bans.
Renee Romberger with Spartanburg Regional Medical Center said the survey shows 89.1% of those polled would support local restaurants going smoke-free.
The survey, conducted by Metropolitan Studies Institute, gave a broad overview of smoking habits and opinions on tobacco throughout Spartanburg County.
For instance, 81.3% who answered the survey said they did not use tobacco, and 83.7% said they would be more likely to eat at a smoke-free restaurant.
The results of the survey were strictly informational, and the county council did not make any resolutions of propose any future bans, said Councilwoman Jane Hall.
However, Hall said she would like to see more municipalities pass smoking bans, and she dismissed as myths the idea that businesses lose revenue by going smoke-free. “In fact, it’s just the opposite,” she said.
Romberger, the healthcare professional who presented the findings, said counties and municipalities should absolutely move toward smoking bans.
Spartanburg City Council split on smoking ban
Staff to research implications; issue might not resurface until fall
Staff to research implications; issue might not resurface until fall
By Lynne P. Shackleford, lynne.shackleford@shj.com
April 13, 2010
April 13, 2010
A divided City Council plans to move forward with a discussion about tightening Spartanburg’s long-standing smoking ordinance, but any changes would likely come later in the year.
City Manager Ed Memmott said staff members have not taken a position on the matter, but are poised to hold public meetings and to discuss the possible implications of a smoking ban with business and restaurant owners. Staff members want to talk with other cities that have passed restrictive smoking ordinances and look at the economic impact of smoking bans.
Memmott said it could be summer or fall before the matter comes back before council. When he asked council for direction on how to proceed Monday night, he received mixed reactions.
“It’s time we proceed,” Mayor Junie White said, adding that he gets about 15 e-mails weekly on the issue.
Councilwomen Cate Ryba and Renee Cariveau are supporters of a smoking ban, with Ryba, who formerly worked in the city’s economic development office, calling a ban primarily an economic development issue.
“First, we need it to be competitive,” Ryba said. “Spartanburg is the only major municipality of its size in the state without a smoking ordinance, and we need to be leading in quality-of-life issues, not lagging.”
Councilwoman Linda Dogan pointed to the current 16-year-old city ordinance — which prohibits smoking in large stores, restaurants and public facilities, but largely leaves discretion to property owners — as effective.
“If we say you can’t smoke in downtown restaurants, then that’s another thing we’re adding to (restaurant owners),” Dogan said. “That’s something else they can’t do. We’re already one of the most strictest places to get in with mandating this and mandating that and fees for this and fees for that.”
Dogan pointed to city-sponsored downtown events — such as Music on Main, the International Festival and Spring Fling — where alcohol is sold and patrons then drive home.
“I just have a problem with telling these business owners what they can do,” she said.
Councilman Joe Spigner said business owners are capable of deciding whether to allow smoking in their establishments.
“I think they’re capable of making those decisions without the strong arm of the city coming down,” Spigner said. “I understand it’s a health concern, but I’m concerned with the city promoting outdoor events where drinking and unhealthy food are served.”
Memmott emphasized that a proponent of a smoking ban could argue the effects of secondhand smoke are different from the impacts of drinking alcohol and eating unhealthy foods — adding that impaired driving is against the law.
Spigner and Councilman Robert Reeder asked Memmott and city staff to gauge public opinion through workshops and hearings.
Councilman Jerome Rice said city staff is already busy with other issues, such as storm water management and developing a budget for 2011-12, and adding to that burden is taking time from those, and other, matters. He said several restaurant owners have decided not to allow smoking, and the decision to let patrons smoke is better left to individual business owners.
Cariveau said council is a policy-making body.
“For the last couple of years, people have been asking when we’re going to move forward on this issue, and I’d like to hear the pros and cons,” she said
Spartanburg looks at smoking ban for restaurants, bars
By Lynne P. Shackleford, lynne.shackleford@shj.com
April 9, 2010
April 9, 2010
Spartanburg City Council will decide Monday whether to move forward with a smoking ban in restaurants and bars.
City Manager Ed Memmott said staff will give an overview of smoking ordinances in other municipalities, but they won’t offer a specific proposal. Council will discuss the issue and give staff direction on how to proceed.
There will be no public hearing on the matter, and no vote will be taken Monday.
Memmott said if council decides to continue discussing a smoke-free ordinance, residents will have chances to give input.
Several council members said they have received numerous e-mails and calls about a smoking ordinance.
Councilwoman Cate Ryba said since she took office in January, many people have asked her why council hasn’t entertained a smoking ban when other municipalities and counties have enacted smoke-free ordinances.
“Since Greenville and other cities have led the movement, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to get more information and to have a conversation about it.”
Councilwoman Renee Cariveau said she also has had citizen input, both for and against a smoking ban.
Cariveau has researched the matter and said the issue is a public health and quality-of-life issue.
Mayor Junie White, who has received plenty of input on a ban, said it’s time for council to have an open discussion. “It’s something we need to consider,” he said.
Councilwoman Linda Dogan said as an asthmatic, she understands the need for a ban but doesn’t want to burden restaurant and bar owners.
“I’ll be honest — I’m still back and forth on it,” Dogan said. “I don’t like the fact that people smoke in public places because of the effects of second-hand smoke, but restaurants should set their own rules. At the same time, I do think we need to look at it and hear both sides.”
Becky Hammond, owner of the popular Nu-Way Restaurant and Lounge, said half of the restaurant is reserved for nonsmokers during lunch, and she has a patio where smokers could light up if an ordinance were enacted.
Councilman Robert Reeder said he hadn’t heard from many constituents on the issue, and Councilman Jerome Rice said he would wait to hear staff’s report before offering any input. Councilman Joe Spigner could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The S.C. Municipal Association says 25 cities and counties in the state — including the cities of Greenville, Charleston, Rock Hill and Clemson and the counties of Richland, Aiken and Lexington — have passed smoke-free ordinances.
