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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 29, 2016 twenty (20) million dollars per year. Looking beyond costs, if this ordinance is passed the City of South Bend will see a reduction in lung disease, heart disease and cancer. The Councilmembers were given an opportunity to voice their opinion on Bill I I -16. Councilmember Karen White stated this is a tough issue and has been for a number of years. When it came to the Council in previous years she supported it at that time and she continues to believe it is a public health issue. She stated concern about the implementation and she did ask the sponsors for a longer implementation period and thanked them for doing so. During that time a lot can get done working with these businesses and we will always have an opportunity to come back and have further conversations to tweak or edit the ordinance if it is passed. She stated she has met with business owners and managers and will continue to meet with them at any time but she has been very clear about where she is at on this issue. The Council does not want us to lose any businesses and that is not her intent, hopefully by everyone working together strategies can be developed to make sure South Bend does not lose businesses. Councilmember John Voorde stated he has tried to listen and understand the concerns of both sides. Councilmember Voorde was one of the original co- sponsors and also one who thought it was more realistic to extend the implementation date. He stated he was most persuaded by the comments made by the head of the local AFL -CIO, that we have a responsibility to ensure that workers have a healthy workplace. Council President Tim Scott stated he echoes what Councilmember White has already said. He pledged his support to help the bars if this does go forward and help with any type of development or aid we can lend to them. Councilmember Dr. David Varner stated there are without a doubt health issues which have been documented, but despite the efforts to say otherwise there will be economic consequences. Whether it is the relocation of a distribution center from South Bend or the loss of a bar from one side of the street to another there will be some loss of businesses. Smoking is legal in this country and tobacco products are legal, personal property is personal property. He stated he has no problem with what the city or state wish to do with the property they own but the constant badgering of government on personal rights issues has got to slow down or be halted. This is an issue that is difficult for both sides. Four (4) years ago we visited this and we adopted a requirement that all bars that wish to allow smoking place a notice by their entryway and no one walks in to these bars without knowing they are walking into a smoking bar. Councilmember Varner stated he believes over the past four (4) years with employment the way it is that no one has recently been employed in a bar that does not know it is a smoking bar. People are not dragged into these establishments or forced to take a job. If it was my office or my home there is no smoking but this is a personal property issue as much as a health issue and it weighs more heavily on the personal property side of the argument. Yes there will be some people who die from secondhand smoke but they made the choice themselves and are adults. It is not the job of the Council to legislate on behalf of every citizen everything that will be best for them. He suggested the ordinance that is already in affect remain in affect. Councilmember Jo M. Broden thanked everyone for coming out tonight especially the individuals she has had the opportunity to talk to this past month regarding this issue. There is decades of health data to show the negative outcomes of secondhand smoke. Balancing the individual rights of the bar owners and the right of workers and patrons is tricky and where she is having the most trouble. This ordinance would give almost a year to get this right as a community and would involve people on both sides coming together for the better of South Bend. It would mean as partners in city government working with these local business to prevent any detrimental effects to business in South Bend. No one on this Council takes that concern lightly and has been working to balance good health and make this transition in South Bend. Councilmember Broden stated she is looking for partnerships on this and middle ground to work with people because that is what South Bend does best. We work hard but we also work together. She stated she is confident in making this tough decision because she believes these two interests can partner and work together for the better of everyone. Yes it can be tough and yes people can walk away from these businesses and go to Mishawaka or the County. This is about establishing safe working environments across the board and she is not interested in carving out special 14