Allegheny County Council and the county Board of Health yesterday promised to work together to craft a comprehensive smoking ban for most indoor workplaces.

The two government bodies have become entangled in power struggles in the past, but both now seem willing to build momentum on the smoking issue.

"I think we're in agreement on the general principle," Dr. Bruce Dixon, director of the county Health Department, told a council committee meeting. "We need to do something."

Council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, this month proposed a bill that would outlaw smoking in restaurants, most bars and any casinos built in Allegheny County.

The bill would allow smoking in some private clubs and bars that earn less than 10 percent of their revenue from food sales.

Dr. Dixon said the health board would prefer the "absolute abolition" of smoking in workplaces, including all bars and private clubs. He and council member Michael Finnerty, chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, agreed to organize a meeting between the two bodies to address those concerns.

Kevin Joyce, president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, encouraged council to wait for the state Legislature to pass a ban for all counties and municipalities.

"We don't want 75 different laws in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said Mr. Joyce, owner of The Carlton Restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Council, the health board and county Chief Executive Dan Onorato also prefer the statewide approach, but Mr. Fitzgerald said he doesn't want to wait for Harrisburg legislators, who have moved at a sluggish pace in their handling of several anti-smoking bills.

A county bill, however, may face legal challenges. County Solicitor Michael Wojcik has said that the state's Clean Indoor Act prevents most local governments from approving their own bans.

Mr. Fitzgerald said that shouldn't be a deterrent, noting that council last year moved ahead on major changes to the property assessment system despite the threat of lawsuits.

Council's Health and Human Services Committee will again consider the smoking ban Aug. 15. If the committee recommends the bill, all 15 council members could take a final vote Aug. 22.