KC Council approves smoking ban

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City City Council on Thursday approved a measure that bans smoking from most restaurants and from the Truman Sports Complex but would allow smoking in bars.

The council also repealed an earlier proposal to put that plan on the April 8 ballot.

The action left just one smoking measure for voters to consider. That proposal, placed on the ballot by a citizen petition, would extend the smoking ban to bars, tobacco stores and pool halls. It would allow smoking on casino floors, but only until smoking is banned from casino floors in neighboring cities.

The smoking restrictions take effect in 60 days. But if voters approve the ballot measure, it will replace the council-adopted measure.

"It is a step forward. It is not as far as a lot of people would like to go," Councilman John Sharp said in supporting the council's move to prohibit smoking from establishments that serve children. He said the council had to consider both public health and the livelihood of small businesses.

But council members Bill Skaggs, Cathy Jolly, Beth Gottstein and Jan Marcason disagreed.

Jolly, an advocate for the petitioners' ban, said the council should not have short-circuited the democratic process.

The council measure, which passed 8-4, includes bans on smoking in all city facilities, restaurants that do not have liquor licenses and the Truman Sports Complex, including in open-air concourses. Bars whose primary purpose is liquor sales would be exempt from the ban. Smoking would also be allowed in pool halls and tobacco stores and on casino floors.

The council measure also would ban smoking in restaurants with liquor licenses, except from 9 p.m. until closing in establishments that limit admission to those over 21 during those hours and that post signs on that policy.

Ordinance sponsor Ed Ford said families with anyone under 21 years old would have to leave a restaurant if smoking were allowed, even if they hadn't finished eating.

Jolly said that was "ridiculous."

"What are restaurants going to do at 8:45 p.m.? Announce last call for food for families with children?" she said.

Spokesmen for the Chiefs and Royals said the teams were surprised they were not consulted about the new restrictions for the Truman Sports Complex.

Chiefs spokesman Bob Moore said smoking now is banned in the stands and bathrooms but allowed in the concourses. Moore said he would like to look at what other NFL stadiums do and take that into consideration in Kansas City.

Royals spokesman Mike Swanson said smoking is currently allowed at Kauffman Stadium in designated areas, which he said are away from the concourses.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com