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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 2/8/2022 - Memorandum From Molly Saylor And Katy Mclaren Re: January 25, 2022 Work Session Summary - Disposable Bag OrdinanceEnvironmental Services 222 Laporte Ave. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6600 fcgov.com/environmental services MEMORANDUM Date: January 28, 2022 To: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers Thru: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsay Ex, Environmental Services Director Caroline Mitchell, Waste Reduction and Recycling Program Manager From: Molly Saylor, Lead Specialist, Environmental Sustainability Katy McLaren, Lead Specialist, Environmental Sustainability Re: January 25, 2022 Work Session Summary: Disposable Bag Ordinance Attendees: All Councilmembers were present. Purpose: Staff presented options for Councilmembers to consider as an update to the Disposable Bag Ordinance that will take effect on May 1, 2022. Key discussion points General support for the recommended changes to the existing Disposable Bag Ordinance and for staff to bring revisions and an updated version of the Ordinance forward for Council consideration at the February 15 Council meeting. Councilmembers indicated support for: o Maintaining existing adoption date for large grocers of May 1, 2022 o Reducing fee to 10 cents and adapting the fee structure to a 60-40 split (City-grocer) with the City retaining 6 cents per bag for program implementation o Maintaining fee exemptions for participants of Federal, State, County and local low-income assistance programs o Adding language allowing the City Manager to create further exemptions by administrative rule o Updating definitions and non-substantive elements to align to the policy Councilmembers shared support for the City Manager to notify Council prior to administrative changes relating to exemptions before they take effect Councilmembers supported strong outreach and communications campaigns to support the community in the transition to the new rules Encouraged exploration of programmatic approaches to o Offer alternatives to community members who rely on grocery pick-up and delivery (e.g., bag deposit systems; leveraging cardboard boxes from shipments, etc.) o Provide reusable bags to community members in need that supports a sharing economy (e.g., bag - events; "bag systems, etc.) Next steps: Feb. 15 First reading of the Disposable Bag Ordinance March 1 Second reading of the Disposable Bag Ordinance Ongoing communication and partnership with grocers and disproportionately impacted stakeholders prior to May 1 Ordinance implementation 2 Communications and outreach to community members, including exploration of inclusive communication methods, such as storyboards (recommended by People First) Continue to explore policies and programs that reduce plastic pollution through a comprehensive approach