E-Cigarette Ban Voted Down Tuesday

The Yakima City Council voted down a proposal to ban electronic cigarettes in areas were regular smoking is banned in public Tuesday.

The council on a 4-3 vote shot down the proposal with council members Dave Ettl, Thomas Dittmar and Maureen Adkison voting for the ban. Other council members, including Bill Lover, voted against the ban saying he was not convinced e-cigarettes pose a health problem.

The council also agreed to table discussion until March 18 to end the Yakima-Ellensburg commuter service and Sunday bus service in Yakima. Both are funded by state grants that run out soon and the city does not have the money to continue the services.

The delay comes as state efforts to gain more funding are underway.