KC COUNCILWOMAN SEEKS FEB. 5 PUBLIC VOTE ON SMOKING BAN
A Kansas City councilwoman wants residents to vote Feb. 5 on
banning smoking in the city's bars, restaurants and casinos.
Fourth District at-large Councilwoman Beth Gottstein introduced
the measure at Thursday's council meeting. Her proposal is
scheduled to be debated in the council's Public Safety and
Neighborhoods Committee on Wednesday.
If approved, the ordinance would pre-empt a petition drive to
force a public vote next year on a smoking ban. A successful
public vote would override a law the council enacted in 2004
that banned smoking from most workplaces but exempted bars,
restaurants and casinos until similar rules were in place in
cities with 85 percent of the metropolitan area's population. .
. .
others are proposing modifications.
"Personally, I favor a smoking ban in restaurants, but not bars,
casinos or bowling alleys," Councilman Ed Ford said.
If those businesses and Sprint and Kemper arenas are included in
the ban, then it should also cover Kauffman and Arrowhead
stadiums at the Truman Sports Complex, he said.
