Smoke ban compromise?

A compromise on the city’s smoking ban may be in the works.

Supporters of the smoke-free ordinance approved at the polls in April sent a letter to City Council on Friday outlining a limited number of exemptions they will accept in order to preserve “the will of voters and the rights of workers.”

The concessions come as council considers whether to approve an initiative petition submitted by the group Live Free Springfield that seeks a total repeal of the ban.

According to the City Charter, council must either approve the petition or give voters the chance to do so at the June election.

Council held a public hearing on the matter Monday night. At a meeting Tuesday, several members suggested striking a compromise of some kind by approving the repeal then adopting an amended version of the April ban incorporating additional exemptions.

A workshop to discuss possible changes is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

As recently as Tuesday, a spokesman for One Air Alliance said the group would oppose any changes. The alliance and other groups supporting the ban have argued the City Charter requires an unanimous council vote to repeal or amend the voter-approved ban.

Friday, spokesman Stephen Hall said the groups “were taken by surprise” when the idea amending the ban appeared to gain traction.

“We realized there is a lot at stake here ... The intent of this ordinance could be undermined and gutted,” he said. “This is our attempt to reach out and compromise.”

In a joint letter to City Council, One Air Alliance, the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Lung Association outlined three tightly-worded exemptions — for electronic cigarettes, private clubs and tobacco shops — they could accept.

As a condition, the groups want Live Free Springfield to withdraw its petition calling for the repeal of the ban.

That does not appear to be legally possible short of a court decision.

A petition can’t be willingly withdrawn once signatures have been certified by the City Clerk. But City Manager Greg Burris said the city might be able to have the petition dismissed by a judge — negating the need for an election — if Live Free Springfield approved.