[media-credit name=’YANA PASKOVA/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]While Madison cigar smokers could see a change to the city's contentious smoking ban, the environment in Milwaukee is also changing.

A recently proposed Milwaukee ordinance aiming to ban smoking in all enclosed public places within the city — including bars and restaurants — is up for a vote today. Meanwhile the Madison City Council ponders an exemption to allow cigar smoking in licensed establishments.

The Milwaukee ordinance passed through the city's Common Council Public Safety Committee on March 2 after a heated discussion that achieved overwhelming public attendance. The full council will vote on the ordinance today.

The ordinance, however, has recently spurred controversy for both supporters and opponents.

"We believe the bill will improve public health for both workers and citizens of Milwaukee," Cathy Peters, a policy analyst of The American Cancer Society, said. "Other communities that have enacted these ordinances have seen improved health in their cities."

But many fear the implementation of a smoking ban will negatively affect local businesses.

"We want to make sure the businesses that are important to the culture and fabric of Milwaukee stay intact," Eileen Force, press secretary for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, said, adding Barrett is inclined to oppose the ordinance as it is currently written.

Those against the smoking ban believe that it will hurt the businesses within Milwaukee and support those just outside the city's borders — such as in Greenfield and West Allis — according to Pete Hanson, director of government relations for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

"If you have a smoking ban in only one city, you lose customers to the surrounding cities," Hanson said. "If it was statewide, you wouldn't have the border-hopping issue where one business would lose to another right down the road."

Both supporters and opponents of the proposed smoking ban cited Madison in their arguments.

According to Patty Borowski, community advocacy director of The American Heart Organization, Madison has received more applications for new businesses within the last six months.

However, Hanson argued already-established Madison businesses have lost between 5 and 50 percent of their profits.

Even supporters of the Milwaukee smoking ban are voicing concern, due to various exemptions added recently by ordinance author Ald. Joe Davis, District 2, who was not available for comment as of press time.

Anti-smoking organizations say they are especially troubled with a recently added exemption allowing smoking to take place in facilities with acceptable air-purification systems.

"We know that ventilation systems don't work," Peters said. "But bar owners install these systems and get an exemption from the ordinance."

Another exemption will allow bar and restaurant owners two-and–a-half years to adjust to the ban. Anti-smoking organizations, however, maintain immediate enforcement is the most beneficial route to better health in Milwaukee.

"Basically, [a business] could still be a smoking facility for two years," Borowski said.

The future of businesses, though, appears to be the most pronounced concern among the opposition.

"Businesses should decide for themselves whether they will allow smoking for their customers," said Jill Thomas, spokesperson for Ald. Robert Donovan, District 8, who voted against the ordinance in the March 2 committee vote.

And according to state Rep. Jason Fields, D-Milwaukee, the government may be taking advantage of its role.

"I don't know if we should mandate [a smoking ban] for everyone," Fields said. "I think we should find some balance and equity. At some point, we have to balance out how far the government should go."