Lewisville could be smoke-free soon

The city of Lewisville could be smoke-free in as little as three months if the city council approves an ordinance change.

"I feel like we're achieving something that's been in the works for a long time," said Councilman TJ Gilmore. "My inbox is 10 to one in favor of this ordinance passing. I think that if there wasn't a shot of getting the three votes to pass it, it wouldn't be before the council."

During Monday's Lewisville City Council meeting, council members will vote on an ordinance amendment that would prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars and hotel and motel rooms with certain exceptions and within 25 feet of any opening to a place where smoking is prohibited.

The amended ordinance, if passed, would hold the owner of the establishments responsible for posting no smoking signs, advising someone who is smoking that smoking is not allowed and the ability to request the removal of a person who has been advised that smoking is not allowed yet continues to smoke. Certain places would be exempt from the ordinance including unenclosed outdoor seating areas that serve food as long as smoking is prohibited within five feet of any opening where smoking is prohibited.

The proposed amended ordinance also deletes certain language from the current ordinance. It states that restaurants with indoor seating for less than 50 patrons and a physically separated bar area of a restaurant are also included in the smoking ordinance. The proposed amendments also state that public places and/or restaurants less than 500 square feet will also be subject to the ordinance. Under the new ordinance, violators would be fined Violators fined up to $500. The proposed effective date for the nonsmoking ordinance is Oct. 1.

As always with any ordinance change, the public is invited to attend the council meeting and give their input on the ordinance. The Lewisville City Council will meet for its workshop session at 6 p.m. Monday and for the regular meeting at 7 p.m. at Lewisville City Hall, 151 W. Church St.

"I'd encourage people to come out and give their opinion. In the end, it's all about community standards and what the people want," Gilmore said. "I think this ordinance looks good; there might be some things to change in the future, but it's good. It's very similar to Highland Village's ordinance."

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