Florence City Council votes down proposed smoking ban
November 9, 2009
Florence City Council members voted 4-3 against an ordinance that would have imposed a smoking ban in most public places.
Voting against it during Council’s regular meeting Monday afternoon were councilmen Ed Robinson, Billy D. Williams, Bill Bradham and Steve Powers. Voting in favor of it were Mayor Stephen J. Wukela, Councilwoman Octavia Williams-Blake and Councilman Buddy Brand.
At least 12 city residents signed up to speak about the ordinance before council members voted, though not all of them did. Of the 10 who addressed council, five were for the ordinance and five against.
The ordinance would have prohibited smoking in such places as restaurants, bars, educational and health care facilities, common areas of apartment buildings, as well as many other places.
The council members who supported the ordinance, along with Wukela, said smoking poses a public health issue. They, and many residents, say smoking bans have worked in other areas across the state and across the country, and many of them believe the ban could work just as well in the city.
Williams Blake said before the vote that the ordinance is not about people’s right to smoke
“This ordinance is designed to protect employees and the public from the hazards of inhaling secondhand smoke,” she emphasized. “The city of Florence has already shown its commitment to a smoke-free work environment for our employees. Since we are protected, we should not feel at rest until every employee in this city has the same protection as each council member.”
Williams-Blake reiterated that the ordinance had been adopted by 28 other cities and counties in the state and has been upheld twice by the S. C. Supreme Court.
“I’m very pleased to see the turnout of supporters and non-supporters we had today,” Williams-Blake said following the vote. “This shows that people are passionate about the issue.
“I’m disappointed that it didn’t pass. I think the new alliance among councilmen Powers, Robinson and Williams is ‘interesting.’ But I don’t think this is the end. I think we can regroup under the spirit of compromise. Nobody here disagreed today that smoking is harmful”
Wukela said he believes it is the right choice for Florence.
Among others, the proposed ordinance would have prohibited smoking in such enclosed public areas as galleries, libraries, museums, bingo facilities, elevators, convention facilities, conference centers, exhibition halls, educational facilities (public and private), health care facilities, hotel and motel lobbies, licensed childcare and adult daycare facilities, and polling places.
Smoking also would be banned in apartment lobbies and hallways, condominiums, trailer parks, retirement facilities, nursing homes and other multiple-unit residential facilities, private clubs when being used for a function to which the general public is invited, restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways, and other common-use areas.
In addition, smoking would have been prohibited in public transportation facilities, including buses and taxicabs and ticket, boarding and waiting areas of public transit depots, retail stores, service lines, shopping malls sports arenas and rooms, chambers, and places of meeting or public assembly, including school buildings.
The ordinance included certain outdoor areas “when the use involves a gathering of the public, regardless of the number actually assembled for the event, performance or competition,” as well. This includes amphitheaters, ball parks and stadiums when in use for athletic competitions or public performances, parades and special events on public streets and city property (although the city manager has the discretion, but not the obligation, to establish designated smoking areas in or in proximity to the parade or event area), dining areas in encroachment areas on public sidewalks, plazas and parks and dining areas on decks, balconies and patios of restaurants and bars, public places and public sidewalks abutting acute care hospital property lines, and zoos.
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Florence City Council members to propose city smoking ban

By Dwight Dana | Morning News reporter
October 21, 2009

If three members of Florence City Council have their way, the smoking lamp will be extinguished in certain areas of the city.

Council members Octavia Williams-Blake and Buddy Brand are sponsoring a bill to regulate smoking. A co-sponsor is Mayor Stephen J. Wukela.

The bill is scheduled to be introduced at the regular Nov. 9 Florence City Council meeting. First reading would be proposed at that time.

“I want the public to know the smoking ordinance is not about people’s right to smoke,” Williams-Blake said, “it’s about protecting employees and the public from the (proven) harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

“I think the public is ready for a smoke-free city. I hope my fellow city council members will not allow absorption in their own personal vices to interfere with what we have been elected as public officials to do, which is protect our constituency.”

Williams-Blake said of the 100 or so people she has spoken with about the ordinance, only one person was against it.

Williams-Blake said the S.C.Supreme Court has upheld all challenges to city smoke-free ordinances, thus validating that it is within Florence City Council’s authority to pass smoke-free ordinances.

Twenty-eight other cities in the state have passed smoke-free ordinances.

“One of my fellow council members said ‘he doesn’t care what they do in other cities,’” Williams-Blake said. “What he fails to realize is Florence is not an island unto itself. We are interrelated with all other citizens of this state and nation.

“Forty percent of South Carolina workers are protected in their workplaces against secondhand smoke. The citizens of the city of Florence deserve no less.”

Among others, the proposed ordinance would prohibit smoking in such enclosed public areas as galleries, libraries, museums, bars, bingo facilities, elevators, convention facilities, conference centers, exhibition halls, educational facilities (public and private), health care facilities, hotel and motel lobbies, licensed childcare and adult daycare facilities, and polling places.

Also, lobbies, hallways, and other common areas in apartment buildings, condominiums, trailer parks, retirement facilities, nursing homes and other multiple-unit residential facilities, private clubs when being used for a function to which the general public is invited, restaurants, restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and other common-use areas.

Also, public transportation facilities, including buses and taxicabs and ticket, boarding and waiting areas of public transit depots, retail stores, service lines, shopping malls sports arenas and rooms, chambers, places of meeting or public assembly, including school buildings.

The ordinance also includes certain outdoor areas “when the use involves a gathering of the public, regardless of the number actually assembled for the event, performance or competition.”

This would include amphitheaters, ball parks and stadiums when in use for athletic competitions or public performances, parades and special events on public streets and city property (although the city manager has the discretion, but not the obligation, to establish designated smoking areas in or in proximity to the parade or event area), dining areas in encroachment areas on public sidewalks, plazas and parks and dining areas on decks, balconies and patios of restaurants and bars, public places and public sidewalks abutting acute care hospital property lines and zoos.
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Florence City Council leaves smoking choice to restaurant owners

Dec 2, 2005
By TRACI BRIDGES
Morning News

FLORENCE - The general consensus regarding a proposed smoking ban in local restaurants after Florence City Council's work session Thursday was that the decision should be left up to restaurateurs.

"I don't smoke and I don't like to be around it, but I certainly think the owner of the restaurant should make that decision," Councilman Bobby Holland said. "I think we have too much government in life anyway."

Florence City Councilman Buddy Brand brought the matter to council for discussion after he was approached by a Pee Dee Healthy People board member.

He said he, too, thinks the question should be decided by restaurant owners, not City Council.

"I think we need to always explore the options, and I think that this group is doing the right thing by simply asking restaurants if they would consider going smoke-free," Brand said.

"I think most of us would love to go into a smoke-free restaurant, but that doesn't mean it's our place to tell these restaurants what to do," he said. "I'm not for it or against it. I'm just providing the information."

Councilman Billy D. Williams echoed his fellow councilmen's sentiments and said he does not think it's council's place to impose a smoking ban.

"I don't think City Council should be involved," Williams said. "That's out of line for us. We're the governing body, but not for private property. If I don't want to be around the smoke, I don't have to go there."

Councils in Columbia, Charleston and Spartanburg are taking a look at similar citywide bans.

Some local restaurateurs already are taking measures to eliminate smoke from their establishments.

As of Jan. 1, the 301 Drive-In in Florence will be entirely smoke-free. Co-owner George Nikolakakos said customers were the catalyst for the change.

"We were getting complaints about the smoke. We even have a couple of customers who've said they won't come back until it's smoke-free," Nikolakakos said in an interview Wednesday.

"The main problem here is we can't have separate smoking and nonsmoking areas. The building's not designed for it," he said. "But the main thing is you have to change with the times and these days, people are into a more healthy lifestyle. They want a healthier environment."

Florence resident Gerald Griffin attended council's work session Thursday to speak in favor of the ban. He said City Council and South Carolina as a whole need to follow the lead of other cities and states and ban smoking in public places.

"Research has shown that smoking causes cancer so anybody exposed to secondhand smoke is going to be exposed to cancer," said Griffin, a former athletic director at Francis Marion University. "So many places have already banned smoking - Florida, Vermont, the city of New York. Ireland banned it, even in the pubs. So why don't we have responsible government in Florence, South Carolina?"

Murray Jordan, who also attended the work session, suggested that council put the question to a referendum.

"Let the people of the city decide," Jordan said.

After the discussion, council agreed to accept the proposal as information but took no action.

"It seems to be the will that this is as far as we go with this right now," Mayor Frank Willis said.