Branson releases revised draft of proposed smoke-free ordinance: Smoking to be allowed on outdoor patios

The city of Branson released the third draft Monday of a proposed smoke-free ordinance. Among the major changes in the draft is that smoking would be allowed on outdoor patios.

Mayor Raeanne Presley had asked for the newest draft to be available to the public before the city's Sept. 23 board of aldermen meeting. The ordinance is not on the agenda for that meeting, but now that the newest draft is available to the public, members of the public will have a chance speak out about it, according to Presley. The plan now is for the ordinance to be voted on during the city's Oct. 14 meeting. It is possible that portions of the ordinance could be amended at that time. If approved, the ordinance would go up for a final vote Oct. 28.

The Branson Board of Aldermen recommended several changes to the smoke-free ordinance during a study session Thursday, Sept. 18.

At the session, Planning & Development Director Joel Hornickel introduced several items for the board to consider, based on feedback from the public.

Among the changes the board decided to make:

Smoking would be allowed on outdoor patios. Several aldermen were interested in simplifying the ordinance as much as possible to allow smoking outdoors, but not indoors. Previously, the ordinance would not have allowed smoking on patios where employees served customers.

Smoking would not be allowed within six feet, rather than 10 feet, of door or window. The aldermen also decided to specify that smoking can be allowed on decks and balconies, where a six-foot distance is not possible, as long as the door is closed.

To allow outdoor smoking at RV parks and campgrounds, but it will continue to not be allowed in common areas, such as swimming pools or a laundry.

Hotels can allow up to 20 percent of rooms to be designated as smoking rooms. The previous draft ordinance would not have allowed any smoking rooms at nightly rental hotels.

The ordnance would now clarify that each violation is a $25 fine. Previously, the ordinance only referred to city code that specified a fine of up to $500, which would have been the highest in the country for smoking.

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Branson releases revised draft of proposed smoke-free ordinance: Smoking to be allowed on outdoor patios