Less than four months after Ames’ smoking ban took effect, a proposal for a similar ban in Iowa City narrowly cleared its first hurdle.

The Iowa City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday in favor of the ban, which still has to pass to more council votes.

If it is approved, the ordinance would ban smoking in any restaurant that serves more food than alcohol. In Ames, a business is exempt only if its food brings in less than 10 percent of its total revenue.

Supporters cited the same benefit of a smoking ban as the proponents of Ames’ smoking ban – a healthier dining environment.

But the ban’s opponents – including three council members – say a 50 percent cutoff is too strict.

“I am concerned that in Iowa City, and probably in Ames, too, [there are] a lot of restaurants that turn into bars around nine or 10,” said Councilwoman Connie Champion.

“I think their businesses would be affected – and will be affected. I think a lot of the public thinks it’s too stringent to start out with.”

Champion said she supports a more lenient ban, excluding businesses that make 35 percent or more of their revenue from alcohol.

“There’s a lot of community support out there for smoke-free restaurants,” she said. “When we were talking about the 65 percent food, 35 percent alcohol ban, I got very little feedback. But there’s been a tremendous amount of negative comments about the 50-50.”

University of Iowa Student Government President Nick Klenske said the student government hasn’t taken an official stance on the ban.

“I guess students would probably go both ways on this,” he said. “I think a lot of people have been concerned with the distinction between a bar and a restaurant and that they will probably lose a lot of business.”

Many students, Klenske said, don’t agree with the ban in principle – but they don’t strongly object to it.

“There’s a lot of people who don’t really agree with it, but they wouldn’t mind it,” he said.

A lawsuit over the Ames smoking ban is still pending after several local businesses asked for an injunction, claiming the ban is “inconsistent, irreconcilable and in conflict with the state law,” according to the legal request for a temporary injunction.

Ames

The smoking ban applies to all public places unless nonalcoholic food and beverage sales at the establishment are less than 10 percent of the dollar amount of its total sales. Under the ban, a food establishment can designate a smoking area between 8:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Areas 15 feet from the main entrance to a food establishment are required to be smoke-free.

Iowa City

The smoking ban would apply to all restaurants except those that seat fewer than 50 people and those where on-premises alcohol sales make up more than 50 percent of gross monthly sales during a year.

– Compiled by Carrie Kreisler