June 16, 2010

The final public hearing for the proposed smoke-free ordinance took place yesterday morning at the San Angelo City Council Meeting.  Based off of public comment at the last 2 public hearings, the City Council made some revisions to the ordinance and have now sent it back to Smoke-Free San Angelo for review.  Smoke-Free San Angelo will vote at their next meeting whether to accept or reject the City Council version of the ordinance.  Click here to see the ordinance and its revisions.  The revised ordinance is also available on the City of San Angelo website.

Smoke-Free San Angelo will host their next meeting on Thursday, June 24 at 5:30pm.  The meeting will take place at the American Cancer Society located on 3223 College Hills Blvd.  

June 10, 2010

The next San Angelo City Council Hearing and Smoke-Free Ordinance Public Hearing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 15 at 9:00am at the McNease Convention Center (500 Rio Concho Dr.).  Supporters are asked to attend if schedule permits.  City Council agenda available here.

June 7, 2010

A second Public Hearing was held at the June 1 San Angelo City Council meeting.  Once again, several community members spoke in favor and opposition of the ordinance.  At this point, the ordinance is in the hands of San Angelo City Manager Harold Dominguez and his staff to revise the public ordinance using feedback from the public comments.  Once revised, it will be sent back to Smoke-Free San Angelo for approval.

Lisa Burger, Co-Chair of Smoke-Free San Angelo, reiterated they are open to revisions but do want to stay true to what petitioners signed.

Next meeting as follows:

Tuesday, June 8, 2010
5:30pm
American Cancer Society
3223 College Hills Blvd
San Angelo, TX

May 28, 2010

A Public Hearing pertaining to the proposed smoke-free ordinance was held at the San Angelo City Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.  The meeting took place at the McNease Convention Center.

Several people turned out in support and opposition of the ordinance.  Those in favor argued the primary point of the ordinance was to protect the health of the community, specifically youth.  One supporter, who happened to be a business owner and smoker, explained the importance of adults providing a voice to youth since they cannot vote in an election regarding the ordinance.

Several opponents to the ordinance were business owners representing a hotel, a pipe and cigar shop, and some bars.  They argued about their rights as tax-paying business owners to choose whether or not their business is smoke-free.

After hearing from the community, City Council members decided the ordinance needs to be slightly adjusted to ensure wording is correct and possibly add some exemptions.  Council Member and San Angelo City Manger Harold Dominguez stated he and his staff will use the feedback from the public to revise the ordinance.  Once revised, it will be sent back to Smoke-Free San Angelo Committee for approval.

Smoke-Free San Angelo Committee Co-Chair, Lisa Burger, explained to City Council they are open to slight revisions but want to ensure they stay true to the original petition because that is what petitioners signed.

According to Carol Kohutek, a representative of Smoke-Free San Angelo, the next City Council meeting with public hearing is Tuesday, June 1, 2010.  Supporters of the ordinance are strongly encouraged to be there if they can fit it into their schedule. The smoke-free ordinance is one of the first items listed on the agenda, so it is believed the public hearing will take place roughly between 9am through noon.

The Concho Valley CARES Coalition is a supporter of Smoke-Free San Angelo.  You can find out more information on http://www.smokefreesanangelo.org/.

May 1, 2010

On April 6, 2010, San Angelo City Council unanimously approved the petition and over 4,400 signatures turned in by Smoke-Free San Angelo. The proposed ordinance has been printed in the city papers, and we now await a public hearing to discuss the proposed ordinance. We are scheduled to appear before City Council on May 18 for the public hearing to debate and discuss the proposed smoke free ordinance. We encourage all our supporters to attend this meeting, and be a physical sign to San Angelo City Council that there is a lot of support for this ordinance.

After the public hearing, City Council will debate the proposed ordinance, and then could offer amendments. They will have thirty days to take a vote on the ordinance, which it will then be turned over to the Smoke-Free San Angelo coalition for their final consideration. The coalition will have twenty days to submit a final proposal to the San Angelo City Clerk and file for a place on the November 2010 ballot.

Smoke-Free San Angelo has put forth a strong ordinance that will protect the employees and citizens of San Angelo. It will prohibit smoking in all indoor work places, as well as outdoor sporting arenas. There is no safe level of second hand smoke, and to prevent hundreds of thousands of unnecessary adverse health conditions this is the most effective ordinance. Some thirty cities across Texas, covering 37% of the population, have enacted this exact ordinance.

You can find out more information on www.smokefreesanangelo.org.