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SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS In Apri12004, interviews were conducted with several individuals to determine opportunities and barriers in passing a local smoke-free workplace ordinance. Bloomington Public Health staff and Advisory Board of Health members conducted the interviews. These interviews were conducted before the Minneapolis and S� Paul City Councilsproposed smoke free workplace/restaurant and bar ordinances. The following were interviewed: Jill Birnbaum, Director of Advocacy, American Heart Association, Greater Midwest Affiliate Bonnie Carlson, Presidentand CEO, Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau Don Eslinger, Pastor, Normandale Hylands United Methodist Church, member of Bloomington Ministerial Association Jeremy Hanson, Public Policy Director, Minnesota Smoke-Free Coalition Neil Peterson, Executive Director, Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Kevin Sawatsky, General Manager, Ramada Inn Airport & Thunderbird Convention Center Janel Waldock, Community Policy Project Manager, Blue CrossBlue Shield of Minnesota Jeanne Weigum, President, Association for Nonsmokers, Minnesota Informational Interview Key Findings * All persons interviewed are very interested in this issue and the outcomes of this study. � Bloomington is viewed as a progressive community that supports tobacco prevention initiatives. Many believe that if Bloomington enacts a smoke-free workplace/restaurant and bar ordinance, other metro communities will do likewise. + On apersonal level, all of those interviewed understand the relationship between secondhand smoke and negative health effects, are aware of the widespread adoption of smoking bans in other cities/states, and appreciate smoke-free environments. * Most of those interviewed believe that the state will not enact a smoking ban until several communities have done so. "If local government doesn't do it, it won't happen." ■ Some interviewees may not publicly support a local ban; but when given a choice between a broad workplace smoking ban, including restaurants and bars, and a narrower restaurant and bar-only smoking ban, all interviewees favored a broader workplace smoking ban to avoid singling out a particular category of business. • The focus of a local smoking ban must remain on "protecting the public's health." + The success factors identified in gaining support for a local ban were (1) positioningthis issue as one the vast majority of the public supports and (2) engaging citizen support in the process. 12