On Nov. 9, Florence City Council will vote on a proposed smoking ban in most public places. The ordinance would prohibit smoking in places like restaurants, bars, educational and health care facilities, common areas of apartment buildings as well as many other places.

If three members of Florence City Council have their way, the smoking lamp will be extinguished in certain areas of the city. Council members Octavia Williams-Blake and Buddy Brand are sponsoring a bill to regulate smoking. A co-sponsor is Mayor Stephen J. Wukela.

Florence City Council during a special meeting Monday authorized Community Services Director Scotty Davis to make changes to an ordinance concerning abandoned properties, dilapidated buildings, overgrown lots and appointments to the Housing Board of Adjustments and Appeals.

Florence City Council voted during a special meeting Monday afternoon to impose a 4-mill millage increase beginning in fiscal year 2010-2011.

The South Carolina Ethics Commission lists politicians who owe thousands of dollars in campaign disclosure fines. However, there are not laws that force politicians to pay the fines they owe.

Florence City Councilman Ed Robinson faces $43,600 in fines over late campaign finance reports, a matter he said he’s cleared up with the S.C. State Ethics Commission.

Debate over a proposed teen center continued Monday after members of Florence City Council’s finance committee presented their recommendation that funding for the project be pulled from this year’s capital budget.

Florence City Councilman Ed Robinson will lead two community meetings for his district next week.

Florence City Councilman Billy D. Williams announced a discount drug card available to city residents during a news conference in council chambers late Monday morning.

Florence City Councilman Buddy Brand said first reading of a bill at Monday’s regular council meeting is a vote of no confidence in Mayor Stephen J. Wukela, but the first-term mayor begs to differ.

Florence City Councilman Bill Bradham’s intention was to distribute a copy of proposed changes he thought needed to be made to the city’s travel policy Monday for council to review and comment on at a future meeting.

Florence City Council will hold its second “Town Hall” format meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Northwest Park Community Center, located at Ingram and Clement streets.

Dianne Rowan was looking for a part-time job in 1995 just as the city of Florence was looking for a part-time office assistant.

Florence City Council on Monday approved first reading of an ordinance to establish a daytime curfew for juveniles 6 through 16 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on any school day.

Florence City Council on Monday unanimously approved a letter of support to the Housing Authority of Florence to provide up to $1 million in-kind support for the proposed Rosewood Village along Oakland Street.