[Archived] City of Alexandria Invites Public to Attend Informational Meeting On April 4 To Discuss Proposed Smoke-Free Restaurants

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	March 28, 2007 PIO# 079-07/rdo	Steve Mason, Director of Communications, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Invites Public to Attend Informational Meeting
On April 4 To Discuss Proposed Smoke-Free Restaurants

The public is invited to attend an informational meeting to discuss the City’s proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance to require smoke-free restaurants. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 4, at 3 p.m. at City Hall, 301 King St., in the Sister Cities Conference Rooms 1102A and B. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance that would require all restaurants in Alexandria to be smoke free.

On June 27, 2006, the Surgeon General of the United States issued a comprehensive scientific report concluding that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and that even brief second-hand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm. Almost three-quarters of Americans who live and work in the top 100 metropolitan areas in this country are protected by law from any exposure to second-hand smoke in restaurants and attached bars, including those in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, and now Baltimore.

The Planning Commission and City Council will consider changes to the zoning ordinance to incorporate these requirements for smoke-free restaurants at public hearings on May 1 (Planning Commission) and May 12 (City Council).

For more information or to obtain a copy of the proposed regulations, call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-838-4666 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/planningandzoning.

Persons who are unable to attend can send written comments to the Mayor and City Council, City of Alexandria, 301 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit the City’s Web site at www.alexandriava.gov to send an e-mail to City Council members.

City Hall is served by DASH transit bus lines # AT 2, 4, 5 and 7. For DASH schedule information, call 703-370-DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202-637-7000 or visit www.wmata.com.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Graciela Moreno of the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-838-4666 or e-mail Graciela.Moreno@alexandriava.gov.

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