The Issaquah City Council will consider a six-month moratorium on safe injection sites at its Oct. 16 meeting, the city announced on Wednesday in a press release.

The moratorium would be temporary. If enacted, a public hearing to discuss the moratorium would take place at the Nov. 6 council meeting.

A safe injection site is a place where users of illicit drugs can access sanitary needles, so as to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. There is medical help on hand should an overdose occur, as well as information and counseling about rehab and treatment options.

An initiative on the February special election ballot will see King County voters deciding whether or not to ban safe injection sites in the county.

An agenda bill to ban injection sites in Issaquah had been on the council’s agenda at its Sept. 5 meeting, but after discussing the subject, council members concluded that further review was needed. The issue was then sent to the city’s Human Services Commission.

Other cities in the area, such as Sammamish, Bellevue, Renton, Federal Way and Auburn, have voted to ban safe injection sites.

The city of Issaquah stated that the Human Services Commission will be giving a presentation at the Oct. 16 meeting on opioids and safe injection sites, but that the Sept. 5 agenda bill will not be discussed.

The topic has been a hot-button issue during public comment at recent council meetings, with residents from both sides of the spectrum giving emotional pleas to the city to approve or reject safe injection sites.

Residents will once again be welome to give public comment at the Oct. 16 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 135 E. Sunset Way.