The Lakewood City Council agreed to tighten some public smoking rules late Monday night but rejected efforts to take the restrictions as far as health advocates wanted them to go.

The council voted 9-2 to expand the no-smoking “bubble” around building entryways from 15 feet to 25 feet, to ban smoking in most gathering places of public park space, and to block the opening of any more cigar or hookah bars.

Other rules will bar anyone under 18 from entering a tobacco business or a cigar or hookah bar.

Public health officials and citizen action committees wanted more, and with the help of some council members, continued to push for expansion during the Monday meeting. Jefferson County’s public health department, for example, wanted restaurant patios to be smoke-free all the time; one citizen committee had recommended a compromise allowing smoking after 9 p.m.

Even that compromise didn’t pass, after an amendment was voted down 8-3. Another amendment to ban smoking inside tobacco businesses was also voted down, 7-4.

Supporters claimed a partial victory but said the weakened proposals “leave many citizens and employees unprotected” from secondhand smoke.

Jeffco Public Health director Dr. Mark Johnson colored himself “a bit disappointed” that the rules aren’t tougher on smokers and their smoke. But, he added, “in the larger view, this is a real step forward for the City of Lakewood, and it will definitely decrease the overall human exposure to secondhand smoke within their city limits.”

Opponents of new rules still prefer statewide smoking policies to what they call a patchwork of confusing laws that hurt local businesses. But one bar owner said the compromises appeared largely fair, and he was relieved the tougher measures didn’t pass.

Patio rules “should be up to the businesses, so I’m glad they didn’t pass that,” said Chad Hotchkiss, owner of Jose O’Shea’s.

Michael Booth: 303-954-1686 or mbooth@denverpost.com; Twitter: @Mboothdp