| |
|
|
|
smoking-ban-heads-for-november-ballot
LIBERTY TRIBUNE
6/4/2009
Liberty voters will get a chance later this year to toughen an existing smoking ordinance, setting the stage for what could be a contentious fall campaign.
By a 7-0 vote, the City Council voted in a special session May 27 to put a smoking ban issue on the Tuesday, Nov. 3, ballot. Councilman Harold Phillips was out of town.
In a statement read at the brief meeting, Phillips praised those who circulated petitions, calling for the referendum and pledged his support for a smoke-free community.
“I trust the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers and the commitment of those who signed petitions will unfold in Liberty just like it did in Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit and other cities throughout Missouri,” Phillips wrote.
At a council meeting May 26, Phillips tried unsuccessfully to delay the vote until Monday, June 1, but Mayor Greg Canuteson was having none of that and called for a special meeting the next night.
“This has been a very divisive issue,” Canuteson said. “On both sides people are very passionate, so it’s appropriate that the voters get to decide.”
However, Canuteson said, he would not be surprised if the council received a second petition from those who would like to see smoking allowed in some businesses. There are 11 businesses that allow smoking in Liberty.
Under an ordinance adopted in March by a split City Council, bars and restaurants that now allow smoking would have until April 9, 2010, to comply with restrictions. Also under the existing ordinance, smoking is allowed in bowling alleys, restaurants that seat less than 50 people, bars that gross less than 10 percent of their revenue from the sale of food and on outdoor patios and designated areas in city parks.
If approved by a simple majority, the new ordinance would take effect 60 days after passage. The proposed smoking ban would prohibit smoking in enclosed public places, including bars and restaurants and bowling alleys. Smoking would continue to be allowed on outdoor patios and designated areas in city parks.
Margie Stambersky, owner of Retro Bowl and an opponent of a smoking ban, said prohibiting smoking would harm businesses. She said there was discussion about circulating another petition.
“I think the people they are discriminating against will get together and decide what to do,” she said.
Earlier a group calling itself Smoke Free Liberty gathered signatures equaling more than 25 percent of the number of voters (3,544) who voted in the mayor’s race in April, triggering the council’s vote to place the issue on the ballot. The council also had the option of adopting by ordinance the proposed smoking ban
|
|
|
| | |
| | |
|
|
