Smoking ban all but OKd

Esther Schiller, executive director for Smokefree Air for Everyone — a grass-roots organization that promotes tighter smoking controls — told the council that provisions for smoking and nonsmoking apartments did not go far enough in protecting tenants from second-hand smoke.

“Disclosure is helpful, but by itself, it’s not enough,” she said.

The draft ordinance, which was modified slightly to include campus perimeters and a ban for the Chess Park on North Brand Boulevard, will come back for a final vote next week, and then become law in 60 days if it passes.

The council also gave tentative approval to a public outreach and education plan to brunt against the likely fines that would no doubt accompany the new regulations.

Under the proposed ordinance, smokers would face a fine if they failed to head a warning or request to snuff out their cigarette or cigar. First-time violations would carry a $100 fine.

A second violation within the same year would increase that to $200 and then $500 for each violation thereafter, according to the city’s code.

Mayor John Drayman appealed to the public for support of the coming regulations, and called for a plan on how the city might work with the three major local hospitals to develop a smoking-cessation campaign.

“The education aspect of this is going to be essential,” he said.

 JASON WELLS covers City Hall. He may be reached at (818) 637-3235 or by e-mail at jason.wells@latimes.com.