Park smoking ban gets nod

City officials weren’t blowing smoke when they asked staff at the July 7 meeting to prepare an ordinance banning smoking in public parks.

The ordinance was ready for review at Tuesday’s meeting and given preliminary approval on a unanimous vote of the council. Then they took a five-minute break as Mayor Kelly Boyd bolted outside the Council Chambers for a smoke.

The ban was sponsored by Councilwoman Toni Iseman.

Means of enforcement and penalties for violations of the ban were not included in the proposed ordinance.

If passed on the second reading, any ordinances or provisions of the city code that are inconsistent with the smoking ban will be repealed to the extent of the inconsistency.

The ordinance will go into effect 30 days after final approval, which won’t be before September because the council canceled its one meeting scheduled in August.