The city’s Transportation Committee decided Thursday night not to recommend the city council consider a smoking ban in public places in Chippewa Falls.

Instead, after listening to 13 speakers on both sides of the smoking issue, the committee voted 2-1 to wait until the state takes action on a smoking ban.

“I don’t want to wait that long. I don’t think we should wait that long,” said council member Robert Hoekstra.

But council members Brian Flynn and Jack Covill voted in favor of the proposal.

“If it’s a public health issue the state should be making the decision,” said Flynn, who introduced the proposal.

The proposal now goes before the seven-member council at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 30 W. Central St.

Flynn said he expects a close vote on the proposal, with perhaps a vote deciding it.

For more on the committee meeting, see Saturday’s printed edition of The Chippewa Herald.