City may try to ban smoking at Argosy

Publication Date: 2008-05-06

• Author:Lynn Zerschling
• Publication:Sioux City Journal

The City Council agreed Monday night to authorize the city attorney to draft an ordinance banning smoking at the Argosy. The council members emphasized they don't know how they would vote on the smoking ban, but agreed to hold public hearings.

Under a law enacted by the Iowa Legislature, smoking in most public places will be prohibited effective July 1, including bars, restaurants and nearly every workplace. The main exceptions are for the gaming floors of the 17 state-licensed casinos and for the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown...

"Is this legal?" Councilman Dave Ferris asked.

Mai replied, "Yes. It would be groundbreaking new law. I've done extensive research on it. We'd be the first city in Iowa to do it."

Mai obtained council approval to work with the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium in St. Paul, Minn., on drafting the ordinance.

"The consortium helps cities around the nation draft these ordinances free of charge," he noted.