BY BRAD BRANAN
Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003
FAYETTEVILLE - The Fayetteville City Council approved a smoking ban in most public buildings late Tuesday night.
The ordinance passed by a 5-3 vote. Aldermen Robert Reynolds, Robert Rhoads and Bob Davis voted against the ban. The aldermen failed to pass an amendment that would have allowed Fayetteville residents to vote on the ban. The vote was tied to send the ordinance to a referendum. Mayor Dan Coody refused to break the tie, which killed the vote. Coody said earlier that not allowing residents to vote on the ordinance would build more opposition to it. Alderman Lioneld Jordan said the politically expedient thing would have been to put it to a referendum. "I will not leave my responsibility I was elected to do to the people. That's why I will vote for this ordinance," Jordan said. However, Tuesday night's vote isn't expected to end the contentious debate. Members of Free Choice Fayetteville, who were opposed to the ban, said they planned to gather enough signatures to put a repeal of the ordinance to the voters. City Attorney Kit Williams said the group would need to collect about 3,000 signatures to put the issue on a ballot. If the ordinance stands, it will go into effect Feb. 1, 2004. The ordinance bans smoking in restaurants, pool halls, government buildings and other public places. The ordinance exempts bars from the smoking ban. The meeting lasted about five hours Tuesday, with the ordinance passing shortly before 11 p.m. A standing-room-only crowd squeezed into council chambers while others sat outside the chambers and listened to the meeting over an intercom. Many in the audience cheered loudly when the council approved the ban. Before the vote, opponents and proponents spoke for about two hours during the public comment period. Many of their comments were similar to remarks made at earlier City Council meetings this summer. "This has the potential to be devastating to the hospitality industry," said Joe Fennel, owner of Jose's Restaurant & Club on Dickson Street. Fennel and other members of Free Choice Fayetteville say the smoking ban will cut revenue for restaurants along Dickson Street and elsewhere in Fayetteville. Members of Smoke Free Fayetteville said the ban will protect workers from illnesses caused by second-hand smoke and will provide more dining options for nonsmokers. Moments prior to the vote, Coody said the debate had been long and emotional. "It's very important that we don't let this divide us as a city," he said.
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