Q: Can the city's smoking ordinance be applied to the public sidewalk surrounding the perimeter of St. Mary's Hospital?

A: Under the city ordinance that took effect in July 2005, every building considered a place of employment must have at least one entrance that is smoke-free. The ordinance defines an entrance as "a doorway and adjacent area which gives direct access to a building from a contiguous street, plaza, sidewalk or parking lot."

St. Mary's Hospital has designated all their entrances as non-smoking, said Steve Sparks, public relations director for the hospital, and that includes the presumably public sidewalk because it leads to the entrance. When you designate a smoke-free entrance, Sparks said, "you are required by the ordinance to allow people to enter without going through a cloud of smoke."

The Madison and Dane County Public Health Department has authority to enforce the ban in outdoor areas surrounding city buildings mentioned in the ordinance, like Central Library and the City-County Building, said Beth Cleary, public health sanitarian for the department. St. Mary's Hospital, however, can enforce it on their own.

Mae Knowles, spokeswoman for Meriter Hospital, said there are similar policies there and at UW Hospital.

- Devin Rose

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