The Golden City Council is considering making its historic downtown core a smoke-free area, a move that would ban both the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes along a four block stretch of Washington Avenue. The council discussed the proposal at its meeting on Thursday night, and while a decision was not reached, the council did agree that any ban would include an exemption for private patios away from public areas. Councilor Saoirse Charis-Graves led the discussion at the council’s study session, which also included discussion of banning smoking in parks, trails and other areas in the city. The Denver Post reports that the push for a ban came from complaints about smoke crossing into outdoor dining areas from people passing by on sidewalks. In nearby Boulder, the city passed a similar ban in May 2013 when it prohibited smoking in its Pearl Street Mall, though not all in Golden see that as an indication they should take the same steps. Business owners expressed varying opinions on the matter based on their clientele and type of business. Golden is home to just under 20,000 residents and is part of Jefferson County, approximately 13 miles west of Denver.
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