The South Bend Common Council passed Bill 21-12 requiring businesses exempt from state smoking laws to post a sign indicating whether they allow smoking.

Councilman David Varner originally presented the bill in opposition to Bill 24-12, which would have banned smoking in nearly all public places including bars.

"We just don't need the government to make all of these decisions for us knowing that not everybody's going to make a right decision, but for the most part I think people will make a decision," said Varner. "I think in the long term will convert to non-smoking, that's my sense."

The bill passed 6-3 with Fred Ferlic, Gavin Ferlic and Valerie Schey voting against it. The three are co-sponsors of Bill 24-12 and said they believe the comprehensive ban is more necessary.

"I don't want to complicate things for business owners and so I will continue to work on communicating with business owners the benefits of the comprehensive smoking bill," said Schey.

Bill 24-12 was later continued indefinitely. The co-sponsors could try to bring it forward again later or it could be voted down by the full council in January.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg is expected to sign off on Bill 21-12. It will then become law about 30 days later.