NORMAL - An ordinance for a nearly total ban on smoking in public places will be considered by the Normal City Council on April 3.

"We have received a tremendous amount of input on this - more than on any other issue," Councilman Adam Nielsen said at Monday night's council meeting.

"We've gotten enough to make a decision," he said. "Rather than wait for Bloomington - or the General Assembly, I suggest we move ahead and put it on our agenda by the end of April."

Councilmen Parker Lawlis and Jason Chambers said they also were ready for a decision in the matter, which has been the subject of two public input meetings and a joint meeting of Normal and Bloomington city councils.

Normal pub owners hope a town ordinance would be mirrored in Bloomington to give a level playing field for all businesses.

Mayor Chris Koos asked the town staff to develop a draft ordinance for the council to review at the April meeting.

"It's pretty clear what the public wants," Koos said. "We're looking for a total ban with some exceptions. We can either add or subtract from there."

Koos said the draft likely would allow smoking in designated hotel rooms, at businesses whose sales are predominantly tobacco and at such places as assisted-living facilities - provided it is agreed to by all residents living in the smoking areas.

Koos said there is a sense by council members to move in tandem with Bloomington, so Normal would propose a joint work session with the Bloomington City Council after the town comes to a consensus on a proposed ordinance.

Earlier this month, Bloomington Alderman Mike Sprague proposed taking the issue to the voters through a November referendum.

Nielsen said a referendum is not his preferred option.

"I've gone well over the 100 mark for e-mails (on the topic)," he said. "We owed it to the community to discuss and debate this. Now we owe it to the community to do something."

Two cities, one community

Terry Stralow, owner of Pub II in Normal, said he hopes whatever is done is done by both municipalities so there will be an even playing field.

However, he admitted it will be tough because Bloomington allows bars and Normal does not. Normal requires an establishment serving liquor by the glass also to be a restaurant.

Stralow said one of his customers said a similar situation happened in twin cities in Wisconsin. One of the municipalities passed a ban on smoking in public places, the other didn't.

"There was a dramatic decrease in business for the nonsmoking bars," Stralow said. "Some even went out of business."

Angel Jaros, co-owner of Lunker's in downtown Normal, agreed.

"It would be a big disadvantage if Normal passed a smoking ban and Bloomington didn't," she said. "So many people can't smoke at work. - They want a place to unwind and have a cigarette."

Jaros might support a ban that would be lifted after restaurant hours. "After our kitchen closes, 90 percent of our customers smoke," she said.

Koos expects the council would take a final vote on the issue this spring.