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RECOMMENDATIONS At the Advisory Board of Health meeting on May 25,2004, the following recommendations were made based �r 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: Ban smoking city-wide in the following areas: � workplaces, including restaurants and bars (indoor and outdoor) • public places, including outdoor bars and eating areas • entrances (within 25 feet) to workplaces 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 Indoor Air Act. These study findings and recommendationswill be presented to the Bloomington City Council for consideration at the June 28,2004, study meeting. CONCLUSIONS The Advisory Board of Health spent four months studying the issue of secondhand smoke and considering options for smoking bans in workplaces and/or restaurants and bars. Members of the Advisory Board of Health and public health staff have had numerous discussions with representatives from other cities, organizations, businesses and citizens about the different issues surrounding smoking bans. Smoking restrictions are being widely debated in council chambers, bars, coffee shops, meetings, and in homes across Minnesota. During the course of this study the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul began public deliberations on smoking bans. Earlier this year a bill was introduced in the House and Senate that would have greatly modified the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, requiring all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, to be smoke-free. The bill was heard in the Senate but not brought forward in the House. Ten other states and many other cities in the U.S. have eliminated smoking in all workplaces and/or restaurants and bars. Viewpoints about smoking bans are often polarized. Opponents of smoking bans believe that government should not be involved in decisions affecting private business. Many restaurant and bar owners fear they will lose revenues if they are forced to ban smoking. "Smoker's rights" groups maintain that government should not restrict individuals' rights to smoke where they please. Proponents of smoking bans are committed to protecting the public's health. They cite the scientific literature that demonstrates conclusively the harmful effects of secondhand smoke to children and adults and that restaurant and bar smoking bans do not cause significant economic loss to businesses. Supporters believe it is government's role and responsibilityto enact rules and regulations to protect the health and safety of citizens if private business does not. They ��