Council Says Yes to Outdoor Smoking Ban

BY BILL KOENEKER

The Malibu City Council, on a 4-1 vote with Mayor Andy Stern dissenting, agreed to direct the staff to prepare a smoking ban in many of Malibu’s outdoor venues.
The council’s action was prompted by a recent state of tobacco control report card that gave the city an “F” grade.
Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich brought the matter before her colleagues to consider a smoking ban much like in other cities such as Glendale, which scored an “A” grade.
After much debate about the details, the council agreed to have the staff draft an ordinance that would outlaw smoking in outdoor dining areas and outdoor public events with the proviso that a smoking outpost be established. The smoking area was defined as a site away from the public where smokers could congregate to puff away.
“We should be able to accommodate those weak-willed addicts and give them a place to smoke,” said Councilmember Sharon Barovsky, who is a smoker.
Currently, the city has smoke-free outdoor areas in entryways, meaning around public buildings and recreation areas, such as the city’s ban on smoking at the beach.
Stern did not elaborate on his dissenting vote.