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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDirect the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to reduce theFrom: Joe Carchio, City Council Memre Date: October 15, 2013 Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEOCTOBER 29, 2093, CITY COUNCIL MEETING — EN OF 90-CENT CHARGE FOR PAPER BAGS BYnlOVE, STATEMENT OF ISSUE: As the deadline of November 1 is fast approaching when plastic bags will be eliminated in stores that are 10,000 sq. ft. and have gross sales of $1 million, the idea of a 10-cent charge to the consumer for an indefinite period of time is not being well received by the community. Everyone would agree that the abuse of single -use plastic bags is not acceptable to the environment. However, to continue with the 10-cent charge to the consumer for paper bags indefinitely is not acceptable. In meetings with the grocery industry representatives, it was stated by them that the 10- cent charge is a threshold they have arrived at that would discourage the consumer from using paper bags and to use reusable bags. The general feeling was that it would take a period of time to educate the public to use reusable bags. By businesses and organizations supplying reusable bags at no cost, the general public will shy away from paper bags. It was determined that this could be accomplished in six months after the law is initiated. My recommendation is to leave the 10-cent charge for paper bags from the onset (November 1) for a six-month period through April. From May through October, it would be reduced to 5 cents. At year-end (November 2014), the 10-cent charge for paper bags would be eliminated. I feel that within the year, the public will be educated enough to eliminate both plastic bags and paper bags. Now that plastic bags will be eliminated in Huntington Beach, it is time to reduce the use of paper bags since they are more damaging to the environment than plastic bags. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to reduce the paper bag cost from 10 cents to 5 cents on May 1, 2014, and from 5 cents to free on November 1, 2014. xc: Fred Wilson, City Manager Ken Domer, Assistant City Manager Jennifer McGrath, City Attorney `1.6r7-7 07701J 7`J pG��Stf /C) /_ ,Vr �Abe. /, _ o A3 /��6A5 3 - o / 14. Subm' d by Councilmember Carchio - Direct the City Attb-rney to draft an or 'nance to reduce the paper bag cost from ten (10) cents to (5) ,Zcents on May 1, 2014, and from five (5) cents to free on Novernber-1, 2014 2014. Substitute motion to abolish ten (10) cent paper bag costs as of "013, or as soon as possible. FaiHardy, Boardman, Shaw, Katapodis Not COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS (Not Agendized) Hardy, Harper, Shaw, Katapodis, Boardman reported ADJOURNMENT — 9:05 PM The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority is Monday, November 04, 2013, Room B-8, Civic Center, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, California. INTERNET ACCESS TO CITY COUNCIL/PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY AGENDA AND STAFF REPORT MATERIAL IS LOCATED UNDER THE "GOVERNMENT" TAB AT http://www. huntin-qtonbeachca.go v N Esparza, Patty From: Surf City Pipeline [noreply@user.govoutreach.com] Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 4:27 PM To: CITY COUNCIL; Agenda Alerts Subject: Surf City Pipeline: Comment on an Agenda Item (notification) Request # 16165 from the Government Outreach System has been assigned to Agenda Alerts. Request type: Complaint Request area: City Council - Agenda & Public Hearing Comments Citizen name: Tom Elliott Description: Hi City Council, I just heard the city of Huntington Beach wants to ban plastic bags starting November 1. I don't agree with this ordinance, government should not tell a business and a shopper how to package purchased merchandise. If citizens choose to use reusable bags, that is the individual citizens decision, we should not be forced into purchasing reusable bags by the city or pay a 10 cent fine. Furthermore, the 10 cent a bag fine is not applied if you are on WIC or EBT punishing the responsible and rewarding the irresponsible who can continue to use paper bags at no cost to them and no incentive to buy reusable bags. The 10 cent fine should be for every citizen -equal justice under the law. Reusable bags have been known to cause bacterial infections such as E-coli from rotten meat juice left in the reusable bags leading to death. If there is a chance to save one life this ordinance should be banned and sanitary plastic non reusable bags or paper bags should be the standard without any p unitive cost to the consumer. Regards, Tom Elliott Expected Close Date: 10/22/2013 Click here to access the request Note: This message is for notification purposes only. Please do not reply to this email. Email replies are not monitored and will be ignored.