Source of the document : I’m a Texas Yankee. A crotchity, stubborn fart that loves freedom, and enjoys life with his wife Equality.
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The city council is planning a town meeting on a proposal to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other public spaces.
However, council members made clear Thursday they are likely to settle for an ordinance that does considerably less.
They hope to use public comments from a meeting next month to fashion an ordinance.
Months ago, the council began tossing around an ordinance banning smoking indoors in all public spaces.
But as members began hearing from business owners and others, they began to soften their stance.
“"I think having a zero-tolerance policy would be harmful to some small businesses",” Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said Thursday.
Councilman Danny Weber said: "“I think a total ban is a bad idea at this point in time."
Most of the other members of the council said they agreed.
Except Jackie Cole.
"“Less than 20 percent of the population smokes,"” she said. "“So you'’ve got 80 percent of the population, — if they choose to go out, they have to be exposed to this."”
Thomas proposed to allow smoking in stand-alone bars. In restaurants, smoking areas would have to be in areas separated from nonsmoking areas with walls and their own air-handling systems.
"We need to give people time to do this,"” she said.
The rest of the council seemed to agree, but that raised doubts about the necessity of a new ordinance.
"“I don'’t know if what you'’ve got right now is any different,"” said Assistant City Attorney Mike Miller.