Jump to full article: KHOU CBS 11 (Houston, TX), 2009-11-13
Author: Leigh Jones / The Daily News
Intro: Island voters may get a chance to decide during the May election where smoking should be allowed.
Dissatisfied with the smoking ordinance they adopted earlier this year, city council members voted unanimously to consider four options for changing it.
The ordinance, which takes effect Jan. 1, bans smoking in restaurants, bars, outdoor seating areas, tobacco stores and private clubs.
During their Dec. 3 meeting, council members will talk about amending it to allow smoking in tobacco stores and bars. They also will consider either rescinding it permanently or rescinding it and putting it on the May ballot.
Complaints from business owners, including the bar and restaurant owners who initially supported the ban, prompted the council to reconsider the changes.
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The ordinance as adopted is one of the strictest in the state. But as it was proposed, the ordinance was more consistent with regulations in other cities, allowing smoking in outdoor seating areas and tobacco stores.
The Galveston Restaurant Association supported the proposed ordinance but said the adopted regulations were too strict. Most restaurant owners wanted to allow smoking in outdoor seating areas.
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