The Madison city council passed an ordinance Tuesday prohibiting smoking in all common areas of multi-family residences. The council also delayed voting on an ordinance banning smoking in all workplaces.

The passed ordinance prohibits smoking in areas such as hallways, lobbies and stairwells.

Many at the council meeting were in favor of extending the debate over the workplace ordinance due to its vague language.

An anti-smoking advocate since 1990, Ira Sharenow said he supported the decision to defer the vote because he felt the language of the ordinance was still too unclear.

“This ordinance is convoluted and amended so many times that some members of City Hall refuse to look at it,” Sharenow said. “I would be dismayed if we take action on it at this time.”

Some expressed that they saw “loopholes” in the workplace ordinance. According to the current draft of the legislation, smoking would still be permitted in privately owned meeting and conference rooms.

“How many smoke-filled meeting rooms will Oscar Mayer be allowed to have if Philip Morris claims it is for the social purpose of smoking?” Sharenow said.

A Madison community member said she believed that the decision should be deferred to clarify the ordinance to more comprehensively ban smoking in work areas.

“What I’m here to ask for is to close the loopholes,” Ronsman said. “I don’t think smoking should be allowed in work sites because there is no reason why nicotine addicts should be harming other people.”

People at the meeting also voiced concerns that significant groups affected by the legislation had not been informed.

Ald. Santiago Rosas, District 15, said he felt trade unions needed to be informed.

“Smoking is still allowed in many work sites,” Rosas said. “They should have been talked to about this.”
Rosas said he opposed the decision to defer the vote on the workplace ordinance because he feels the issue is being overlegislated.

“I’ve been an alderman for nine years and we’ve dealt with some sort of smoking issue at least twice a year,” Rosas said. “I don’t understand why we have not solved this problem yet.”

Mayor Sue Bauman said she supports the ordinance, but that more time may be necessary to clarify it.

“I would like to finally adopt it,” she said. “But I would like to allow time for people to become [satisfied] with the language.”