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Group revives anti-smoking initiative in Kirkwood  

For a second time, city voters could decide whether to ban smoking in indoor public places.

Promoters of an initiative announced Monday they are close to obtaining enough signatures to put the ban on the ballot. If their petitions are valid, they hope for an election in November, but a combination of city charter and state election deadlines could put off the election until February.

With very few exceptions, the measure would allow smoking only in private homes, private vehicles and outdoors. Hotels could still designate up to 20 percent of their rooms for smoking, and some private clubs and retail tobacco stores would be exempt under the measure.

The initiative is a revised version of a ballot question voters defeated in November 2006, with 54.6 percent of about 14,300 voters opposing it.

Supporters need 1,036 signatures to start the initiative process. A group called Healthy Air for Kirkwood has collected about 950 signatures, said Debra Cotten, group spokeswoman.

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