LEWISTON – Councilors are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a plan to distinguish restaurants from bars and function halls in city ordinances.

The council also is scheduled to ask the Planning Board to come up with zoning recommendations for drinking establishments in other parts of the city.

The plan would create four different “special amusement” permits for businesses that sell alcohol. The four would be restaurants, bars or lounges, restaurants and bars that offer entertainment, and function halls.

Restaurants and function halls would be encouraged downtown, but bars, night clubs and lounges could be restricted. The city hopes to encourage nicer bars downtown.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in Lewiston City Hall.

In other business, councilors are planning to vote on a new noise ordinance. It would let police give out summons for annoying noises, such as unmuffled engines, fireworks and loud stereos. Fines would be $100 for first offenses, up to $500 for four or more offenses.

Councilors are also scheduled to review economic development non-compete policies with the city of Auburn. The policies encourage the cities to work together to bring new business to the area, rather than competing against each other.

The changes note Lewiston’s staff restructuring and make some of the non-competition clauses more direct.

For example, a section that discusses expansion of existing L-A businesses would prohibit either city from recruiting businesses from the other. That clause currently requires businesses seeking to move across the river to write a letter saying they are not trying to expand where they are.

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