LEWISTON- Voters this November will have the final say on amending the city’s syringe service program ordinance.
City Councilors made the decision at their July 7th meeting.
If approved, the amendments will mandate a strict 1-to-1 needle exchange ratio, require each provider to operate from one fixed location, and prohibit all mobile exchange units.
The measure was brought to the Council via a successful petition drive led by former City Councilor Eryn Soule.
Organizers had 60 days to get a minimum of 941 signatures, starting on May 7th.
966 signatures were collected by June 23rd, two weeks before the July 6th deadline.
Most Council actions are subject to a citizen’s petition process, which is initiated when 10 registered Lewiston voters sign an application at City Hall.
Whenever a citizen’s petition receives the required number of signatures, the City Council must vote to either adopt that measure immediately or send it to voters at the next regular election.
Councilors unanimously chose to give voters the final say on this issue.
The syringe service program ordinance was approved by the previous City Council last fall after a contentious and lengthy process.