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a. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco €,tt�k�. ' b. Accarding to a Hennepin County population health �#u�i}�.' 86 percent of Bloomington adults have one or mare risk factars for heart disease. Based on a recent CDC recommendation, people with heart disease risk factors should avoid smoky environments." c. Some populations are especially at risk for problems caused by secondhand smoke such as infants, children, and others with chronic diseases (e.g., asthma). d. Employees in workplaces that permit smoking are at increased risk for various health pr�bl �m �_' � 3. The government's role of protecting the public's health includes the responsibility to implement community-wide measures to improve the health of its residents (e.g., food safety, water sanitation, childhood immunization requirements). a. Several cities in the metropolitan area and Greater Minnesota are proposing smoke- free ordinances or currently studying the issue. b. The number of city and state smoke-free workplace/restaurant and bar ordinances is increasing across the United States. 4. Numerous well-researched studies report either no impact or a positive economic impact to restaurants and bars in communities that adopt smoke-free workplace ordinances.'-" 5. Employees and customers of restaurants and bars are not protected from secondhand smoke under the rules of the 1975 Minnesota Clean Indoar Air Act (MCIAA). 6. Recent polls conducted in Minnesota and Minneapolis show broad public support for implementing smoking bans in public places, including restaurants and bars. Recommendations At the Advisory Board of Health meeting on May 25,2004, the following recommendations were made based on the premise that all employees and customers should be protected from secondhand smoke exposure and be able to work or dine in a smoke-free environment. The Advisory Board of Health recommends the following: 1. Ban smoking city-wide in the following areas: • warkplaces, including restaurants and bars (indoar and outdoar) public places, including outdoar bars and eating areas � entrances (within 25 feet) to warkplaces and public places 2. Continue to allow hotels and motels to designate guest rooms as smoking and non- smoking as provided under the Minnesota Clean Indoar Air Act. These study findings and recommendations will be presented to the Bloomington City Council for consideration at the June 28,2004, study meeting.