By Dan Parker

The Port Aransas City Council has extinguished a proposed public smoking ban – at least for now.

The council voted 4-3 today, Thursday, Dec. 16, to defeat a motion to have city staff draw up a would-be ordinance that could have disallowed smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants.

Voting no on the motion were Mayor Keith McMullin and council members Charles Bujan, Glenda Balentine and John Price.

Voting in favor of moving forward with a proposed ordinance were council members Keith Donley, Rick Pratt and Steve Lanoux.

The vote came after at least 11 citizens addressed the council, speaking against the idea of a ban. Only one spoke in favor of it.

Donley, who put the idea of a ban on the council agenda, said he has no current plans to put the matter back on the agenda.

“The council has spoken,” he said.

But Donley said he might put it back on the agenda if asked to do so by a group of citizens.

An unscientific online South Jetty poll, conducted during a two-week period ending Dec. 14, attracted 787 votes, with 66 percent of respondents supporting the idea of a ban and 34 percent against it.