RATHDRUM - The Rathdrum City Council tonight will hold public hearings on a street name change request to honor a fallen city police officer and a proposed law banning minors from having e-cigarettes.

Mayor Vic Holmes and council members Fred Meckel and Debbie Holmes - all re-elected during November's election - will be sworn in.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 8047 W. Main.

John Franco, father of former Rathdrum Officer Jonathan Franco who died in September at 27 due to a motorcycle crash while off duty, is requesting to change the name of Lauren Loop near Betty Kiefer Elementary to Jonny Franco Loop in honor of his son.

John Franco was the original developer of the Genesis Gardens subdivision where the streets are and named the first three streets after his children - Lauren, Natalie and Jonathan. Jonathan and Lauren streets were later merged and re-named to Lauren Loop.

Franco said his daughter, Lauren, supports the request and Jonathan built a duplex on Lauren Loop and lived there for more than five years. Jonathan was a positive influence in the neighborhood, the father said.

Franco submitted a petition with 65 signatures supporting his proposal and one was opposed. The city also received two written comments from residents on Lauren who are opposed due to any possible costs and inconveniences such as notifying agencies, banks, relatives and others of the address change.

City administrator Brett Boyer said there is also the option of naming a new street after Jonathan or doing something else to honor him.

"Changing the street name is a significant event and should be considered carefully," Boyer said. "There will be costs associated with changing the address in time and some money."

The hearing on a proposed law banning minors from possessing e-cigarettes comes after the council heard a presentation from the Panhandle Health District on the dangers.

Other local cities, including Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Hayden, have adopted such laws. E-cigarettes look like cigarettes, but use a battery to provide a nicotine delivery system by creating vapor, not smoke, from a nicotine cartridge.

"Our police department had not encountered any (e-cigarette issues)," Boyer said. "However, there are some health risks and some attractive qualities for minors on this product and getting out in front of it at the request of our health department seems reasonable."