The Merriam city council voted 4 to 3, December 28th, 2010 to direct the city staff to start researching smoke free ordinances. Merriam is surrounded by communities that have enacted public smoking restrictions. Merriam is one of the  a handful of communities in the metro without  smoking restrictions in public places and workplaces.  The council plans to begin discussions of a possible ordinance at a work session in February.  A specific date for that discussion was not scheduled.
 
Voting in favor of starting the discussion were council members Bryan Burks, Nancy Hupp, Christine Evans Hands, and Chad Rowe
Voting against consideration of a smoking ordinance were council members Dan Leap, Gayle Stephens  and Pam Bertoncin.
Mayor Sissom stated his objection to regulating smoking.
 
Councilman Leap said he wants to invite a representative of the Kansas City Business Rights Association to testify before the council.  According to reports from the State of Missouri, this association receives its funding from the tobacco industry.