LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) – A proposed ban on mass releases of helium-filled balloons in Lubbock has gone bust.

The measure would have barred the release of more than 30 gas-filled balloons at a time.

Councilman Paul Beane floated the proposal, saying the ban was about preventing litter and being a good neighbor. The measure passed on first reading July 8.

The second reading would have been Wednesday.

But the proposal was withdrawn from the agenda, after Councilman Todd Klein said he changed his mind and would oppose the ban. That switch gave opponents on the council enough votes to kill the plan.

Klein told KCBD-TV that he heard a lot of citizen opposition.

Critics say council members had better things to do than banter over balloons, such as dealing with the city budget.