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Wildwood to consider smoking ban
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
5/12/2009
WILDWOOD -- A group of Rockwood Valley Middle School students’ award-winning
presentation Monday night persuaded the Wildwood City Council to consider a ban
on indoor smoking in public places.
After hearing teacher Becky Forristal’s seven-graders make their pitch for the
ban, the council invited the students to meet next month with one of its
legislative committees to explore the feasibility of an anti-smoking ordinance.
Clayton is currently considering an indoor smoking ordinance. Wildwood
officials have discussed but never formally proposed a smoking ban, City
Administrator Daniel Dubruiel said.
“We ask you to consider a ban on smoking in public places in Wildwood,” said
student Jillian Pfeiffer, citing the risks second-hand smoke causes poses for
adults and children.
The student presentation, “It’s No Joke, Ban the Smoke,” was packed with
research about tobacco smoke’s risks and health benefits reaped by other
communities that have imposed smoking bans. The project won a statewide
competition sponsored by the Missouri Bar Association’s Project Citizen, a
program that requires students to study public policy issues, propose solutions
and act on their plans, Forristal said.
“A government can and should be concerned about the health of the community,”
student Odessa Magafas told the council.
Alexis Gilner, another student, said 83 percent of the 372 Wildwood residents
who responded to her class survey said they were bothered by second-hand smoke
in restaurants. Wildwood has about 15 restaurants and bars.
The students urged adoption of an ordinance modeled on one in force in Ballwin,
which applies to all public places, including restaurants and bars that make
less than 60 percent of their income from the sale of alcohol.
Former Ballwin Mayor Walt Young joined the students in supporting the smoking
ban. “It’s something you should give some real serious consideration,” Young
said.
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