Tinley Park Update
Tinley Park smoking ban is back
June 3, 2007
By Christina Biggerstaff Staff writer
Restaurants and bars in Tinley Park now are at least 50 percent less smoky. The village's smoking ban took effect Friday, after being implemented and then delayed in January because of complaints by restaurateurs and tavern owners that their sales were falling off. In April, the village board approved an amendment to the village's clean-air ordinance that allows a business owner to apply for an exemption to allow smoking in up to 50 percent of the public area of a restaurant or bar. Businesses that did not apply for an exemption must comply with the smoking ban, which prohibits smoking in public and commercial buildings. The exemption will enable a business' patrons to light up until Jan. 1, when a statewide smoking ban will take effect. More than 30 businesses sought the exemption, assistant village manager Steve Tilton said. A request alone was not enough to get an exemption. Applicants had to submit a diagram of their establishments and designate smoking and non-smoking areas; smoke-eating air filtration devices had to be installed and operational prior to Friday; and merchants had to install signs in a "conspicuous" place to alert customers that the establishment allows smoking, Tilton said. Most of the bars and restaurants on Oak Park Avenue applied, including Durbin's, Teehan's and Holstein's, he said. However, Ed & Joe's Restaurant and VFW Post 2791 did not. Trustee Dave Seaman, who pushed for the local no-smoking regulations, said "similar businesses applied for exemptions, and some didn't. Each business has a handle on its clientele -- and is trying to best fit its business needs." Neither Tilton nor Seaman expect a repeat of what occurred in January when business owners complained about declining sales, unfair competition from surrounding communities that allowed smoking and that they were caught off-guard by the smoking ban. "Because the statewide smoking ban goes into effect in January, this is the ideal time to go smoke-free," Seaman said. "I would hope that the business owners are thinking longer term -- and start to get their loyal customers used to going outside to smoke." Read
Tinley smoking ban may not be for everyone April 15, 2007
By Jim Hook Staff writer Business owners who still want to allow smoking after Tinley Park's smoking ban takes effect in June could be able to apply for exemptions. Village trustees are expected to vote Tuesday on an amendment to the clean air ordinance that will take effect June 1. If approved, the amendment would allow some establishments to allow smoking through July 1, 2008, or until a statewide smoking ban takes effect. Restaurants, bars and tobacco shops would benefit most from the 13-month exemptions. Businesses seeking an exemption would have to submit an application by May 15. They would have to install an air filtration device for their smoking areas as well as post a sign alerting their patrons that smoking is permitted. Trustee Brian Maher said the 13-month exemption is meant to help businesses adapt to an eventual total smoking ban. "I look at the exemption as a temporary accommodation to the businesses," Maher said. "From the village's perspective, I think we'll be OK in terms of sales tax from the smoking ban. "But I think the (ban) could hurt some small businesses," he said. "This will give them ample warning to adapt and adjust." Trustee Greg Hannon said he hopes lawmakers approve a statewide ban. That way, businesses in communities with smoking bans won't be at a disadvantage competing with businesses in neighboring communities without bans. "That way, we don't have to be the bad guys," Hannon said of the village board. "And all the businesses will be on the same page." The village spent $30,000 earlier this year for a study on smoking bans that told it basically what officials already knew. The study showed that smoking bans did have a short-term negative financial impact on businesses, but those same businesses rebounded. "The bans didn't affect businesses as much as we initially thought," he said. "The study proved what we already suspected." Hannon acknowledged the village could have "done what we've done without the study." "Now we have hard proof to show businesses why we are doing what we're doing," he said. "So it was worth it. But, yeah, it was expensive." The Village Board is slated to meet Feb. 20.
The science of smoking bans January 25, 2007
By Gina Kenny and Kristen Schorsch Staff writer Tinley Park plans to spend $10,000 on a study of the effects of smoking bans. The move comes less than a week after outcry from local bar and restaurant owners forced the village, along with neighboring Oak Forest and Orland Park, to delay implementation of the measures that would ban smoking in nearly all public places. After smoking bans took effect Jan. 2, business owners in those towns complained their customers flocked to nearby Southland communities that still allow public smoking. Tinley Park's study will examine smoking bans in other communities and states to see the long-term impact on businesses, Zabrocki said. The study also will look at the effects of exempting certain businesses, allowing outdoor smoking, and creating incentive programs. Zabrocki said the study will also examine medical journals and university studies to document the public health impact of smoking bans. And the village will consult with bar and restaurant owners, representatives from the American Cancer Society and others to develop a compromise, Zabrocki said. The meetings will take place once the village receives the study results, he said. Tinley Park's smoking ban takes effect again Feb. 21. The mayor said the ban will definitely be back, though it might be amended depending on results of the study. The same night Tinley Park pushed back its ban, Oak Forest and Orland Park also agreed during to lift their smoking bans until March 14. Like Tinley Park, they've offered to consult local business owners on possible amendments. Oak Forest City Council plans to discuss the issue at its Feb. 5 meeting. Some other communities also are fine-tuning smoking bans of their own. Crestwood adopted a smoking ordinance last week but is giving its retail and restaurant owners the choice to allow smoking. "I'm against all these laws coming out and taking our rights away from us," Crestwood Mayor Chester Stranczek said. "We have over 400 small business in Crestwood, all mom-and-pop businesses who have mortgaged their homes and life savings going after the American dream." Smokers in Crestwood will not be able to light up within 10 feet of a public building, school or park. Any business that sells food or liquor or operates a hotel or provides lodging can allow smoking in designated areas with proper ventilation, Stranczek said. Midlothian Mayor Thomas Murawski said the village will approve a smoking ordinance before the Cook County ban on smoking in nearly all public places begins March 15. Thomas said he believes the county's approach to the ban was flawed because it allowed individual communities to essentially opt out of it. Southland businesses were "put on an uneven playing field" when Cook County gave its municipalities the option to approve their own ordinances, Thomas said. Tinley Park OKs ban on smoking
October 19, 2006
By Christina Biggerstaff Staff writer
A villagewide smoking ban for Tinley Park was approved Tuesday despite the pleadings of members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
"This sucks," one VFW member said as he walked out of the meeting after the vote was final.
Arguments against the ban primarily focused on private clubs such as American Legion and VFW halls.
"Veterans who belong to our post say they fought for our country but can't smoke in our own private club," said one man.
Trustee David Seaman said the issue stems from the definition of what is considered a public place.
Because the American Legion and VFW rely on renting their halls for revenue, Seaman said the halls are considered public places.
Trustees unanimously approved the ban, which will take effect Jan. 2.
The ban applied to "any place where a member of the general public would enter," assistant village manager Steve Tilton said.
Smoking will be allowed in designated areas at outdoor venues, such as the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater, and in outdoor dining areas.
Seaman said one reason for approving the ordinance is to give a "level playing field for businesses."
If the village did not adopt its own ordinance, Tinley Park would be subject to Cook County's clean indoor air ordinance, which takes effect in March.
And because some businesses in Tinley Park are in Cook County and others are in Will County, officials want to ensure all are treated equally in terms of smoking regulations. Read
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