MURRIETA - Lighting up in Murrieta just got a little tougher.

Aiming to limit the effects of secondhand smoke in public places around town, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a new ordinance that bans smoking in restaurants' outdoor dining areas, children's play areas and schools.

The ordinance also bans smoking within 15 feet of the "main entrance" of a wide range of businesses.

Before voting on the item, council members provided few comments but heard from the city's police chief, who recommended the smoking ban, and a resident who raised concerns about several of the ordinance's provisions.

Resident Steve Porter said he thought that most of what he read in the ordinance was positive because it provided protection from secondhand smoke to those who can't protect themselves, such as children and the elderly.

But he also said that the ordinance was "overly broad" and went too far.

He pointed to barring smoking in outdoor dining areas at restaurants as an example of that.

"I think we should leave it up to (the businesses)," Porter said.

But police Chief Mark Wright said that "there's no teeth" in leaving it up to the restaurants and that the intent of the ordinance is to "prevent people from having smoke forced upon them."

Porter also raised concerns that the ordinance wouldn't allow establishments such as cigar lounges. Porter said he knew of some people interested in opening such a lounge and the city could be losing out on having one of those in town.

"I think it allows an element of class," he said.

To that, Wright said those wouldn't be allowed unless they were cigar cooperatives that didn't have any employees.

Along with barring smoking in outdoor eating areas, schools and outdoor children's areas, the ordinance bans it in other public areas. They include:

• Indoor areas that are open to all residents of an apartment, condominium or retirement home;

• Athletic fields, playgrounds and neighboring seating areas;

• Outdoor waiting areas at businesses, such as ticket lines and bank teller windows.

Murrieta's ban wouldn't take effect immediately, as the regulation still requires a second approval by the City Council.

The ban does not completely mirror prohibitions enacted in other California cities.

It does not bar smoking throughout public parks, something that was done in Solana Beach, for which a smoking ban applies to all public beaches and parks. A similar ban has been in force in Encinitas since 2004 and a new ban in San Diego prohibiting smoking at beaches and other public parks took effect last month. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is scheduled today to vote on an ordinance that would ban smoking in county parks and trails.

According to an Associated Press tally in July, 2,300 cities across the nation have passed such bans. Public officials in those cities have cited a range of rationales, including the blight caused by discarded butts and the health risks of secondhand smoke.

- Contact staff writer Jose Carvajal at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2624, or jcarvajal@californian.com.