DAPHNE, Ala. — A hotel owner spoke out at Thursday’s special-called city council meeting about the new clean air ordinance — and its perceived detriment to hotel businesses.

A revised version of a smoking ban would allow the practice in designated hotel rooms when 20 percent of rooms or less allow smoking.

But Microtel Inn and Suites’ entire fourth floor — about 25 percent of the building, designated as smoking rooms — has a separate ventilation system, Rocco Valluzzo, owner, said.

The expense of the ventilation system and existing building’s set-up disallow the hotel to reduce smoking rooms to 20 percent, he said.

Further, he said, “About 25 percent of rooms at hotels across the nation are smoking rooms.”

Reducing the smoking area would cut into profits, Valluzo said.

“Smoking rooms sell out first; it would be suicide for us to do away with smoking rooms,” he said.

The council asked City Clerk David Cohen to research prevalent percentages of hotel smoking rooms; most city leaders suggested they’d allow an increased percentage in accord with the typical numbers.

The ordinance — which would prevent smoking in enclosed public places — would allow the practice 20 feet from building entrances.

The law would also ban smoking in businesses to protect non-smoking employees. Exemptions would include bars, private residences and private clubs.

A similar ordinance to ban smoking failed earlier this month due, in part, to vague language regarding exemptions.

Councilwoman Cathy Barnette on Thursday submitted definitions to strengthen the ordinance. Among other suggestions for exemption are retail tobacco stores — any retail establishment used primarily for the sale of tobacco products and smoking accessories.

“We need to close gaps on the problems with the ordinance so we know what we’re enacting,” Barnette said.

City Attorney Jay Ross agreed that further definitions are needed.

“That language does clear up arguable ambiguity,” he said.

The council will vote on the ordinance on Monday and will vote on appeals separately. Issues like designated smoking areas and assisted-living facilities will receive special attention, and an opportunity for council members to address complex issues separately, according to Councilman Ron Scott.

“We should adopt the ordinance as it is and take appeals one at a time,” he said.

Some residents voiced support for the ordinance, citing the nonsmoker’s health as the main objective.

“We need to have this ordinance,” said Henry Lawson. “This is a grass-level movement and we have a state right next to us (Georgia) that it (a smoking ban) works in.”

“It’s a health decision. The government has to make laws to protect people whether they like it or not; that’s why we have speed limits,” Ronald Allen said.