West Columbia City Council holds public meeting September 15, 2008

Roll call

The West Columbia City Council hosted a public meeting on Monday, September 15, 2008 to get the community's input on a proposed ordinance to ban smoking in workplaces in the city of West Columbia. Attending were Mayor Bobby Horton, Mayor Pro- Tem Tommy G. Parler, Eric L. Fowler, L. Dale Harley, Boyd J. Jones, Marsha J. Moore, Cathy Shannon and B.J. Unthank. Councilman Jack L. Harmon was absent, as he continued to recover from surgery.

The public's perspectives

Suzanne Sanders of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control spoke on the department's role in eliminating secondhand smoke. Sanders explained that the agency was ready to help West Columbia with the matter.

A local restaurateur wanted to know the motives behind the city's ordinance.

A representative of the American Heart Association explained that smoke free workplaces have been proven effective.

Amanda Str ickland of the American Lung Association spoke on the effectiveness of other ordinances around South Carolina, including Charleston's smoke free ordinance.

Gina Lane of the South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative shared her organization's belief that everyone has the right to breathe smoke free air and thanked council for its work.

Lauren Vincent with the University of South Carolina emphasized that many college students work in the food services industry, and the smoke free workplace ordinance would help preserve the health of college students in the area.

Caroline Elliott of S.C. Hotline, a political blog, spoke on the negative economic impact of a smoking ban in workplaces. She noted that in California where a similar ban took effect, bars and restaurants increased growth at half the rate of California's economy.

Ian Hamilton of the South Carolina Cancer Alliance spoke on the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Tommy Howard of Howard's Sports explained that he felt his father's death compelled him to come and speak. Howard noted that his father lived until age 95 and did not smoke. Howard explained the smoking ordinance was the right thing to do and that this was the time to do it.

Lawrence Simmons, a West Columbia attorney, argued that those who go into restaurants, including students who work in the food services industry, choose to take a risk that they breathe air containing smoke. Simmons felt it would be more practical to exempt bars from the ordinance. He took issue with the proposed ordinance's language about private clubs. The section of the ordinance on private clubs, after noting several other areas that smoking would not be regulated in, reads: "Private clubs with no employees, except when being used for a function to which the general public is admitted."

Jeffrey Sewell of S.C. Hotline praised his colleague, Caroline Elliott, and her comments. He argued the proposed ordinance was an expansion of government and thanked council for its hard work.

Greg King, a West Columbia moped dealer, argued the government should not tell business owners how to run their private business.

A West Columbia restaurateur questioned the timing of the proposal.

A West Columbia woman who had previously tried to quit smoking and failed shared her view that smoking costs everyone in the end through increases in healthcare premiums. She noted that lack of smoking on airplanes does not stop people from flying.

Philip Smith of the Rooster's Den said he supports the law overall. He also believes that private clubs should be exempt.

James Moore argued that everyone who spoke was passionate, but that city council was not elected to regulate business in this manner.

Council's thoughts and adjournment

Mayor Horton thanked the speakers and said that sometimes city council must make difficult decisions. He added that council always strived to do what was right for the citizens of West Columbia. He then allowed members of council to share their thoughts.

Councilman Unthank explained his issue with the ordinance was less about smoking and more about the erosion of liberties. He added that council would be overstepping its authority if the ordinance passed.

Mayor Pro- Tem Parler felt council should mandate that businesses have a smoke free workplace.

Councilwoman Moore suggested before council passes the ordinance, it should first make City of West Columbia offices smoke free.

Councilman Unthank spoke of an article by Thomas Lambert that said the free market would equalize the smoking/nonsmoking issue. Interested readers may find the article (from the Cato Institute, a policy think tank) at the following www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/ regv29n4/v29n4-4.pdf

The article also appeared in shorter form in a 2006 Washington Post op-ed.

Mayor Horton told the public council would consider the ordinance in the coming months and would strongly take the public's comments into consideration. He reminded that no vote on the matter would take place that night and that the vote on the ordinance would be a public vote. The public meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.