The Norfolk City Council took another look Tuesday at a ban on smoking in city restaurants that was supposed to take effect at the end of this month.

Norfolk would be the first Virginia city with such a ban, which the council approved in October.

But last week Mayor Paul Fraim asked the city attorney to make some changes. The watered-down version includes exemptions for restaurants with 50 seats or less and for those who can prove that a ban has hurt their business.

Council members also will discuss an exemption proposed by Councilman Don Williams last week that would ban smoking in all restaurants, but allow restaurant owners apply to permit smoking as long as they post warning signs on their doors.

Norfolk officials say their city charter allows them to ban smoking.