County Delays Action On Restaurant Smoke Law Businesses Would Be Required To Post Warning About Smoking Restrictions

County commissioners took a two-week drag Tuesday on a proposal to warn diners about a restaurant’s smoking status before they even open the door.

They voted 2-1 to postpone making a decision until Oct. 15 so more restaurant owners could sound off on the plan. It was approved Monday by the Spokane City Council.

“What I saw tonight was just limited input from the restaurants,” said Commissioner Steve Hasson, who requested the delay.

The input came from about 20 people - consumers, medical professionals and members of the panel that drafted the proposal for the Spokane County Health Board.

The board is asking the county and its 16 cities and towns to adopt the plan, a mere shadow of last year’s push to ban smoking in all restaurants.

The new proposal requires restaurant owners to use a warning system of traffic-signal colors to let diners know if people are allowed to smoke inside.

Red means smoking is allowed everywhere. Yellow means smoking is allowed in some spots. Green means no smoking allowed.

“This is not something we’re trying to ram down anyone’s throats,” said former City Councilwoman Bev Numbers, who chaired the health board committee. “That’s why we took 11 months.”

Commissioner John Roskelley made a motion to approve the warning system, but Hasson and Commissioner Phil Harris wanted more feedback.

Hasson said he wants letters, which need to be sent to the county within a week to be considered. He heard from several restaurant representatives in person Tuesday.

A woman representing Europa Pizzeria and Bakery, and the general manager of Clinkerdagger said they support the proposal.

So does Stuart Ellison of the Spokane Restaurant Association.

Ellison, manager of The Broadway Truck Stop, said he called about a dozen restaurant owners who actively opposed last year’s push to ban smoking. Most support the new proposal, although one fretted that the proposed signs were ugly.

That aside, “obviously it beats a smoking ban all to heck,” Ellison said.

, DataTimes