Irving City Council Considering Smoking Ban Proposal
IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) - The City of Irving could soon join the list of other North Texas cities that have banned smoking. The push is coming from the Board of Health in the city.
The smoking ban proposal is now being considered by the city council.
While smoking is currently allowed in Irving, city workers say the majority of individual businesses have set up their own policies. "Currently we have 1,219 food establishments and 98-percent of those establishments are non-smoking," explained Teresa Adrian, the city's code enforcement director. "So, we're talking about a very small number of restaurants that this would impact."
Adrian said the health board has been pushing for the ban for years. "They are very concerned about the public health," she said. "They want to be able to bring forward some recommendations to the city council that would ban smoking in public places."
Supporters and opponents of the proposal will get their chance to address the leaders on June 27 and July 18. Aiden said, given what local residents and business leaders are expressing, the proposed ban isn't expected to bring a lot of opposition. "The only feedback that we've received so far has been in favor. That [feedback] has been written correspondence from various folks."
Anyone unable to attend the public can also send comments on the smoking ordinance via email to mguzman@cityofirving.org.
The ban would come with some exemptions, including outdoor areas where smoking is currently allowed – like restaurant patios.
If the city council approves the ordinance, businesses would have six months to comply.
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