Item 21 Desk Item Consider Report on Proposal to Amend Smoking OrdinanceTOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT: CONSIDER REPORT ON PROPOSAL TO AMEND SMOKING ORDINANCE.
COUNCIL AGENDA
DATE: 3/6/95
ITEM NO. 21
DESK ITEM
DISCUSSION:
March 6, 1995
TOWN MANAGER
MAYOR AND TOWN OUNCI
i �Y
The staff report dated March 2, 1995, should have noted the proposed amended ordinance had been
submitted by Roger Kennedy, M.D., Chair of Tobacco Coalition of Santa Clara County, Steven Jackson, M.D.
and David Weissman, M.D.
Please add the letter from Margaret W. Leathers, M.S., Executive Director, American Lung Association, dated
March 6, 1995, to your staff report as Attachment 2.
PREPARED BY: LEE E. BOWMA
Planning Director
LEB:DRR:mb 3/6/95 3:52 pm
n:\dev\CNCLRPTS\SMO KI NG.36b
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Proposed amended ordinance
2. Letter dated March 6, 1995, from Margaret W. Leathers, M.S., Exec. Dir.,
American Lung Association.
DISTRIBUTION:
Dr. David Weissman, 15431 Francis Oaks Way, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Calif. Business and Restaurant Alliance, Attn: Stacey Bailey, 2265 Westwood Blvd.,
#481, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Reviewed by: j 5( Attorney Clerk Finance Treasurer
( v
COUNCIL ACTION/ACTION DIRECTED TO:
MAR— 6-95 MON 14:51
P. 01
1469 Park Avenue, a Jose, CA 95128 (408) 998•LUNG
(408) 998.5864
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
of Santa Clara -Sari Benito Counties
t
March 6, 1995
The Honorable Patricf(O'Laughlin
Mayor, Town of Los Gatos
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Dear Mayor O'Laughlin:
As we will be unable to attend the meeting tonight, we would like to submit the following for
you to consider in determining whether to hold a public hearing regarding prohibition of
smoking in bars:
1) Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a Group A Human Carcinogen. It has
been proven to be responsible for more deaths than all other regulated
enironmental hazards combined, including: outdoor pollutants, pesticides,
radiation, hazardous waste, workplace chemicals, and specific hazards such as
asbestos, arsenic, benzene, etc.
2) Bar employees suffer disproportionately from the effects of ETS. Bartenders
have been shown to have blood levels of carcinogens from smoke that are 2-3
times higher than the average for other workplaces. Restaurant and bar workers
may inhale the equivalent of 1 1/2-2 packs of cigarettes per day. Several studies
suggest that bar and restaurant employees have a 50-90% increased risk of lung
cancer due to ETS. After controlling for their own smoking, they are 1 1/2 to
2 times as likely to die from ETS than other groups.
3) Bar employees in Los Gatos currently have no protection against the hazards of
ETS. Santa Clara County has set a model standard by prohibiting smoking in
bars, but the county has no authority to control smoking in Los Gatos. The new
statewide tobacco control bill, A.B. 13, will not cover bars for two more years,
forcing bar employees to continue to suffer disproportionately.
4) Los Gatos has been a leader in protecting its citizens from the hazards of ETS for
many years and should continue to progress at its rate, rather than being held
back by the State.
The Christmas Sea/ People
"IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND BREATH"
MAR- 6-95 MON 14:1
F.e2
5) Los Gatos enjoys such a low incidence of smoking that such regulation would
serve the great majority of residents. Research estimates that only 20% of
Californians smoke, and a smaller 17% of residents of Santa Clara County.
Although there are no firm estimates on Los Gatos separately, one would project
an even lower number for smokers there, based on demographics.
For these reasons,
We ask you to schedule a public hearing on the prohibition of smoking in bars.
Sincerely,
Margaret W. Leathers, M.S.
Executive Director
MWL:sb