Park Ridge Update
Restaurant complaints relight smoking debate
Park Ridge aldermen will resume discussion of the city's public smoking ban, following complaints from three restaurant owners that their businesses have been adversely affected by it. The restaurant owners spoke briefly to the City Council Monday night, prompting Mayor Howard Frimark to ask the aldermen if the smoking ban should be brought back before the Procedures and Regulations Committee. Alderman Jeannie Markech agreed that it should, and made a motion for the discussion. Eight aldermen voted in favor of the issue going back to committee and five voted against. One alderman was absent. The next meeting of the Procedures and Regulations Committee is Oct. 3. It was this committee, at the request of Alderman Kirke Machon, that worked with city staff to develop the smoking ban. The ban was approved by the City Council in March. In May, it went into effect for all public places and restaurants. On Sept. 3, restaurants with bar areas were required to comply. And that is where the problem lies, according to Thomas Gangas, owner of Bailey's, 10 N. Cumberland Ave., in Park Ridge. Gangas told the City Council that he received no complaints when his dining area became smoke-free in May, but when he was forced to eliminate smoking from the bar area, customers disappeared. "The result is we have lost 50 to 70 percent of our bar patrons," Gangas said. Bul Saavedra, owner of Hay Carumba, 120 S. Prospect Ave., said he too has noticed a drop in bar customers since smoking was prohibited in that area. He estimated a 15 percent drop in bar business this month. "A few people who used to come and smoke do not come now," he said. Gangas said customers have even asked Bailey's employees for names of other establishments in the area that will allow them to smoke inside. Alderman Don Crampton asked if the restaurant owners could document their loss of business and prove it was related to the smoking ban. Alderman Rich DiPietro asked if city staff could contact the Northwest Municipal Conference to find how many other suburban communities have passed smoking ordinances. Towns that have approved smoking bans within the past year include Chicago, Skokie, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Evanston, Oak Park and Vernon Hills. Smoking bans are being discussed in Arlington Heights, Northbrook, Hoffman Estates, Wheeling, Lincolnwood, Mount Prospect and other communities. This year, the Cook County Board passed a countywide smoking ban that will take effect in March, 2007. Municipalities in Cook County that do not have their own smoking ordinances will have to comply with that law. Neighboring Niles is considering establishing its own ordinance to address smoking in public places. A committee studying the issue has expressed interest in continuing to allow smoking in certain public places, according to Village Trustee Andrew Przybylo. Several residents who attended public meetings, however, have expressed support for a smoking ban. Read
Smoking Ban In Park Ridge June 22, 2006 By a vote of three to two, the Village Board says no more smoking in restaurants. A Village Official says they passed the ban for the health of the customers, as well as the workers. The new ordinance is the result of months of planning resulting in a village wide restaurant smoking ban. One of the businesses affected is the Park Ridge Cafe One of the owners says she has tried to work with the board on a compromise to help keep her customers. Ann Ananiadis, the owner of the Park Ridge Cafe says, "I went to the board with a compromise to go smoke free three days a week during our busiest times, and they pretty much laughed in my face and said no go." The ban will start August 1st. Only three restaurants will be affected because Park Ridge only has 3, The Park Ridge Cafe, a Subway, and The Silver Coach. There is a catch though. If the 3 restaurants can prove they've lost 30% of their business in the first month, or 10% over three months they can file for an exemption from the ban for one year. Read
Aldermen approve public-smoking ban
March 8, 2006
Dean Geroulis
PARK RIDGE -- After rejecting a last-minute effort to permanently exempt private clubs and banquet halls, Park Ridge aldermen this week passed a citywide smoking ban for public buildings.
The ordinance, approved by a 12-2 vote Monday night, includes exemptions for private clubs and banquet hall space leased for private functions, but those will expire on July 1, 2008. An amendment sponsored by Ald. Jeannie Markech to take out the sunset provision was defeated 11-3.
Park Ridge Country Club and Crystal Palace Banquets are the primary beneficiaries.
Markech supported the smoking ban but said regulating private functions in banquet halls is no different than trying to regulate private homes.
"I see little difference between leasing an apartment for a year or a banquet facility for three hours," she said.
Crystal Palace owner Sam Markos said the ordinance "would put me at a tremendous disadvantage" against competitors in towns such as Niles and Des Plaines.
The ordinance goes into effect in about two months. Restaurants with lounges or bar areas will have 6 months to comply.
Read Park Ridge ban history on Page 1
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