Grand Forks City Council members are divided over whether to seek a public vote to expand the city's smoking ban policy despite a poll that show overwhelming support for the proposal.
Some council members, such as Vice President Eliot Glassheim, said the council should just pass a law itself. "We know the mood of the public. They're ahead of the politicians on this."
A survey, conducted by UND's Social Science Research Institute late last year, found that 75 percent of adults in the city wanted to expand the ban to include bars, casinos and truck stops, the last public places where smoking is allowed.
Two council members, Mike McNamara and Terry Bjerke, said they didn't feel the council should be initiating a ballot measure.
If the Grand Forks Tobacco Free Coalition, which commissioned the survey, wants it, group members can gather signatures like any other group, McNamara said. "I don't think a study ought to compel the council to put something on the ballot."
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Council member Doug Christensen said doing nothing, in light of poll results, wouldn't be appropriate. The best thing, to him, he said, was for the council to put an advisory vote before the public. "I don't see any reason we should duck this issue."
The council Tuesday heard a presentation about the survey by the research institute's director, Cordell Fontaine.
Council members ultimately agreed to defer further discussion until a work session, where they can focus only on the issue.
Reach Tran at (701) 780-1248; (800) 477-6572, ext. 248; or send e-mail to ttran@gfherald.com .
