The Kenai City council last night didn’t add their support to State Senator Peter Micciche’s Senate Bill 1, which would prohibit smoking in certain areas like restaurants, clubs, and places of employment.
Councilor Terry Bookey started the conversation, saying he couldn’t support the ordinance because it would prohibit smoking in private clubs, like the Moose Lodge, where members know the standards before they join.
Councilor Ryan Marquis compared the bill to the recent relaxing of marijuana laws and ask why the city would take a step back in the pursuit of “freedom.”
Cm. Marquis: “This is an issue that local municipalities can take care of on their own. I also think the private sector can take care of it on its own. We always talk about how we want local control of issues, I felt this was a situation in which we would be giving up local control.”
The discussion got tense when Mayor Pat Porter called an at ease and approached Councilors Bookey and Marquis to discuss the ordinance. Both questioned whether the move was a violation of the open meetings act.
With building opposition to the resolution, Mayor Porter then moved the issue until November, after the State has voted on SB 1. Marquis, Bookey, and Molloy voted against the postponement, but it was approved.
Previously, the Soldotna City Council unanimously passed a similar measure with little debate.