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Olmsted County: <br />• Need lots of momentum to pass an ordinance. <br />• Smoking bans take lots of work and partners are needed. <br />What are your recommendationsfor a community exploring smoking bans? <br />• Educate local officials about the issue. <br />. Be prepared for the tobacco industry to be an influence in the community. <br />. Need to have at least two champions. <br />. Keep the educational materials brief, understandable, and use graphics. <br />. Work with public relations and communications staff. <br />. If possible, survey citizens about their attitudes regarding smoking bans. <br />Was a survey done? <br />Duluth - Several surveys were conducted; they were helpful in showing strong public support for <br />a smoking ban. <br />Eden Prairie - Two elected officials did an informal survey of the public. <br />Olmsted County - The newspaper did a survey that was helpful. <br />Are you measuring economic impact of the ordinance? If so, what has been the economic <br />impact? <br />Duluth: The city is tracking sales tax revenues from restaurants and bars. A smoking ban <br />ordinance passed in 2000, but was not implemented unti12001. <br />. 2002 — 5 percent increase in sales <br />. 2003 — economically flat, no losses, no gains <br />. 2004 —17 percent increase in sales <br />Economic losses to businesses have not occurred as a result of the smoke-free ordinance. New <br />restaurants are opening. Duluth panelist stated that arguing the economics of smoke-free <br />environments is a"no win" issue when considering an ordinance. One negative economic story <br />outweighs all the obj ective data. <br />Olmsted County: The panelist did not have access to this information (she is no longer a county <br />commissioner). <br />Eden Prairie: (The ordinance did not pass.) There were a few large businesses that were strongly <br />opposed to an ordinance; at least one of them is no longer in business. <br />What are the successes in your community with tobacco issues? <br />Olmsted County: <br />• Restaurants are smoke-free; also hope that bars and workplaces go smoke-free. <br />• Restaurant workers union supported the ordinance. <br />Duluth: <br />�"The owner of one restaurant was very angry initially about the ordinance but called and <br />apologized later for his opposition." <br />is <br />