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• Smoking ban to take effect Dec. 4 

A smoking ban ordinance approved by the Topeka City Council will take effect apparently on Dec. 4, Shawnee County Election Commissioner Elizabeth Ensley said Thursday.

The council voted 6-3 Tuesday to amend city rules by banning public smoking indoors and at places of employment, except in retail tobacco stores; outdoor places of employment; private places; private residences, except when used as a child care, adult day care or health care facility; and no more than 20 percent of hotel or motel rooms that are available to be rented to guests.

Assistant city attorney Braxton Copley said the measure is to take effect after notice of its passage has been published in the official city newspaper, which is the Topeka Metro News, and a subsequent 60-day period has passed.

Ensley said Thursday she'd been informed by the city clerk's office that the ordinance would be published Oct. 5, meaning the 60-day period would end and it would take effect Dec. 4.

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