Organizers of a drive to collect signatures for a Fargo smoking ban plan to turn their results in Monday.
Barry Nelson, a member of Share the Air Fargo, said the group plans to turn in petitions with about 3,500 signatures to the city auditor’s office about 10 a.m. Monday.
The petition requests city commissioners to place a proposed ordinance on the June 10 ballot that would eliminate smoking in indoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
Bars and restaurants are exempt under the current city ordinance.
Also Monday, city commissioners may take action on two smoking-ban related proposals that were delayed last summer to wait for a North Dakota Attorney General opinion. Wayne Stenehjem’s response, released last week, allows the city to move forward.
City Attorney Erik Johnson is recommending the city commission deny final approval of a comprehensive smoking ban because the Share the Air Fargo proposal is nearly identical.
He recommends the commission continue with an ordinance to allow the commission to put proposed ordinances on citywide ballots.
Originally written By: Forum staff reports,
The Forum
