Jump to full article: The Idaho Statesman, 2009-06-25
Author: KATY MOELLER
Intro: In an unexpected change of course, a proposed ordinance that would have made Eagle the first community in Idaho to prohibit smoking in all public areas was tabled Tuesday night. Idaho law bans smoking in restaurants but exempts businesses with fewer than five employees and bars.
The ordinance was previously approved by the council, after Mayor Phil Bandy broke a 2-2 tie vote of the council. But Eagle City Councilman Michael Huffaker had a change of heart Tuesday, when the council was to hear the second and third reading of the ordinance.
The proposal was tabled after a 3-1 vote Tuesday. Eagle City Councilman Al Shoushtarian was the lone vote in favor.
Huffaker said he was persuaded by the arguments of council members Norm Semanko and Jeanne Jackson-Heim, who opposed the ordinance. He said there were a number of issues, including a sense that the issue was something that should be handled at the state level rather than one city at a time.
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