Eagle councilman has a change of heart and derails proposed smoking ban

In an unexpected change of course, a proposed ordinance that would have made Eagle the first community in Idaho to prohibit smoking in all public areas was tabled Tuesday night. Idaho law bans smoking in restaurants but exempts businesses with fewer than five employees and bars.

The ordinance was previously approved by the council, after Mayor Phil Bandy broke a 2-2 tie vote of the council. But Eagle City Councilman Michael Huffaker had a change of heart Tuesday, when the council was to hear the second and third reading of the ordinance.

The proposal was tabled after a 3-1 vote Tuesday. Eagle City Councilman Al Shoushtarian was the lone vote in favor.

Huffaker said he was persuaded by the arguments of council members Norm Semanko and Jeanne Jackson-Heim, who opposed the ordinance. He said there were a number of issues, including a sense that the issue was something that should be handled at the state level rather than one city at a time.

“First of all, are we really helping anybody by passing the ban, or are we causing more problems for ourselves. Or should we let the state handle it,” said Huffaker, noting that there aren’t any stand-alone bars in Eagle.

Huffaker said other issues included problems with the clarity of the language in the statute, difficulty of enforcement, the public’s impression that the city was banning smoking throughout Eagle, and the impact on local businesses.

Semanko on Tuesday proposed that the city send a letter to the state Legislature, asking them to consider expanding the state’s smoking ban.

Huffaker said the American Cancer Society brought the proposed ordinance to the city in the spring. The issue is essentially dead in Eagle, unless the council decides at some later date to revisit the proposal.

The group Smokefree Idaho expressed disappointment in the outcome Wednesday.

“Secondhand smoke is a known public health hazard and no one should have to choose between a job and good health,” said Shauneen Grange, Smokefree Idaho Campaign Manager, in a press release. “All credible evidence we’ve seen from other states and cities demonstrates these laws don’t hurt businesses – in many instances, they have a positive effect on business.”

The group plans to continue discussions with cities throughout the Treasure Valley to institute strong smoke-free laws that protect the rights of all Idaho residents to breathe clean air.