The Eugene City Council will decide tonight whether to wipe out smoking in public establishments entirely, but the decision may still be put before voters.
The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, but the vote on the ordinance is fifth on the agenda.
On Sept. 25 the council passed two of the three tobacco-related ordinances set before it. The first ordinance tightened laws pertaining to tobacco sales, and the second banned smoking in business establishments with two or more employees but excluded bars and bingo halls for a separate vote.
The third ordinance, which Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey said should pass tonight, would ban smoking in bars, taverns and bingo halls.
“I believe now there are enough councilors to vote yes to pass it,” Torrey said.
Taking into account both business interests and the health considerations of non-smokers, the council added an amendment to allow bars a separate smoking room.
But Torrey said there is a strong possibility the council will delete the option from the ordinance.
“All of this has to do with second-hand smoke and worker protection,” Councilman Gary Rayor said. “Things like smoking rooms and clean-air technology should have been done a long time ago.”
If the ordinance is passed, it is unlikely the ban will go into effect on July 31 without a fight. The Bingomania bingo parlor and several local bars have been vocal in their opposition to the ban.
“We have formed the Eugene Freedom Choice Committee and have been working on [collecting signatures to put the smoking ban to vote],” Bingomania employee Cory Fisher said.
Torrey said it is possible for citizens to collect about 4,000 signatures and put the ordinance on the ballot.
“If they get 10 percent of voters, then it will be on the March ballot,” Torrey said. “The council could opt to refer it to the voters, but I will urge them to make a decision.”
Torrey said if the ordinance is put to the voters, the results will depend on the strength of the arguments, and those promoting smoke-free businesses have already made a vocal push for the ban.
“In my opinion, it will be awfully hard to overturn this ordinance,” Torrey said.