In the future, citizens of DeKalb might not be able to enjoy a quick smoke at their favorite local restaurant or bar. DeKalbians will have an opportunity to hear proposals and discuss the various pros and cons on the possible smoking ban during a workshop at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St.

Examples of how other cities handled smoking bans will also be explained at the workshop.

A draft ordinance will then be presented to the City Council in late October or early November.

This issue has raised varying opinions from students and politicians alike.

“I’m not a smoker, but I think its a good thing because other people are affected by it,” said Katie Tegtmeyer, junior photography major.

Katrina Catullo, freshman English major, has similar thoughts on the possible ban.

“I would like it if there was a ban,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard for me to breathe when other people are smoking.”

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan is paying particular attention to smoking ban cases throughout the country.

“I haven’t really heard of complications with regard to enforcement in other cities,” Kapitan said.

However, Kapitan realizes businesses in DeKalb have mixed feelings on the possible smoking ban.

Brenden Kisiel, owner of the Wild Rose Bistro, 850 Pappas Drive, believes that he, as an owner, has a right to decide if his restaurant will or will not be smoke-free.

“I chose to have a non-smoking restaurant because of the atmosphere I wanted for [it],” Kisiel said.

Second Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen said enforcement of the potential ban should depend on businesses.

“Businesses should be able to police themselves,” Povlsen said. “If you run a good business and have a good restaurant with good food you won’t have anything to worry about.”

Smoke-Free Illinois, a coalition founded in 2004 and comprised of local groups, health organizations, policy-makers and citizens, has taken a stand in protecting the public’s health in Illinois.

The coalition is particularly concerned with the health issues of public smoking and second-hand smoke.

More than 500 citizens in the DeKalb area signed a petition written from the coalition that supported the proposed smoking ban.

Hundreds of people at last weekend’s Corn Fest also wrote postcards to the DeKalb City Council at the DeKalb Smoke-Free Coalition’s information table.