Proponents of a smoking ban in Kansas City bars and restaurants have enough signatures to force the City Council to act or place the issue on the ballot.
Election officials today certified that the initiative petition effort gathered 4,568 valid signatures of registered voters out of more than 6,000 turned in. The effort needed 4,237.
City Clerk Millie Crossland said that means an ordinance will be introduced, probably at this week’s council meeting. The council could enact the no-smoking provisions or put the matter before voters.
Council members have 60 days to consider. They must decide by Jan. 24 if they want to place the issue on the ballot in April. If they miss that deadline they can opt for a June ballot.
The smoking ban would not apply to casino gaming floors in Kansas City but would apply to other bars and restaurants at the city’s casinos.
Critics of the smoking ban say it would infringe on the rights of bar and restaurant owners and could hurt their business by driving customers away. Proponents say it is a health issue.
Smoking bans in bars and restaurants already are in place in Olathe, Independence and Lee’s Summit. They go into effect Wednesday in Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood and Shawnee. |
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