VENTURA : Debate on Smoking Ban Is Postponed

The Ventura City Council has decided to postpone consideration of a strict smoking ban until next week.

The council on Monday decided to put off debate about the ban because it was late on the meeting agenda and council members said they were too tired to give the proposed ban proper consideration.

The proposed ban is scheduled to be discussed Monday. It calls for prohibiting smoking in virtually all indoor public places and businesses except for bars. Outdoor sports stadiums, theaters and outside restaurant seating would also be off limits.

Smoking would be allowed in hotels as long there are separate ventilation and heating systems in the smoking area, but some hotel owners say it would cost too much to install such systems.