The Lewiston City Council has delayed action on a proposed smoking ban in parks.
The council on Monday was expected to have a third reading and consideration of adoption of the ordinance affecting more than two dozen 26 parks and public spaces. However, councilor RJ Johnson voiced concerns that a religious exemption for American Indian and Alaska Native Ceremonies wasn’t broad enough, and could be seen as discriminatory.
City Attorney Jana Gomez said that while such language is common in similar smoking bans in other cities, she offered to work on language to expand the exemption.
The council voted 5-2 to delay action until March 13th. (Lewiston Tribune)
