Morro Bay City Council voted 3-2 last week to ask its city attorney to draft a regulation that would ban smoking in all outdoor public places. [Tribune]
Both Mayor Bill Yates and Councilman George Leage voted against having City Attorney Rob Schultz draft the proposed regulation. Yates said a ban on sidewalk smoking would not be visitor friendly.
Supporters of the ban pointed at protecting public health and keeping cigarette butts out of the reach of children.
Currently, San Luis Obispo is the only municipality in the county that bans smoking outdoors in all public places. Both Atascadero and Arroyo Grande ban smoking in recreational areas.
Statewide, 56 cities and counties have enacted outdoor comprehensive smoking bans.
Morro Bay’s draft ordinance is scheduled to go back in front of the council on March 20.
