R-10500City Council Meeting: 6-22-2010 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 10500 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE BAN ON
THE DISTRIBUTION OF SINGLE USE PLASTIC CARRY OUT BAGS AND
REQUIRING PAYMENT FOR PAPER BAGS
WHEREAS, about Nineteen Billion (19,000,000,000) single use bags are
used annually in California but less than 5% are recycled; and
WHEREAS, about Fifty Million (50,000,000) single use carry out bags are
distributed by retail establishments in Santa Monica each year; and
WHEREAS, .many of these single use carry out bags are made from
plasticor other material that does not readily decompose; and
WHEREAS, numerous studies have documented the prevalence of single
use plastic carry out bags littering the environment, blocking storm drains and
fouling beaches; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica's taxpayers must bear the brunt of the clean-up
costs; and
WHEREAS, plastic bags are a significant source of marine debris and are
hazardous to marine animals and birds which often confuse single use plastic
carry out
bags fcsr a source of food. l°he ingestion of these bags can resu{t in reduced nutrient
absorption and death to birds and marine animals; and
WHEREAS; even though single use paper bags are made from renewable
resouroes and are much Tess environmentally problematio than single use plastic bags,
they do require significant environmental resources to manufacture, transport, and
reoycle andtor dispose of; and
WI-IEf~EAS, from an overall environmental and eoonomic perspective, the best
alternative to single use plastic carryout bags is a major shift to reusable bags; and
WHEREAS, carryout bag fees have been imposed by other jurisdictions and
have proven very effective at generating a major shift in oonsumer behavior toward the
use of reusable bags and significantly reducing bag consumption; and
WHEREAS, there are several alternatives to single use Derry out bags incPuding
reusable bags produced frorr'sustainablematerials; and
WHEREAS, an important goal of the City's Sustainable City Plan is to procure
and use sustainable products and services; and
WF-IEREAS; the City`s environmental goals inolude conserving resources,
reducing the amount of green house gas emissions, waste, beaoh litter and marine
pollution and proteoting local w'sldlife and protecting the public health and welfare.
WHEREAS; to help achieve these goals, City staff prepared a draft ordinance
banning single use, plastic carry out bags at all stores within the City and placing a fee
on single use paper bags distributed by grocery stores; convenience stores and
pharmacies; and
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WHEREAS, that proposed local ordinance was scheduled for Gouncil
consideration on January 13, 20fl9 but consideration was postponed until an
Environmental Impact Report could be completed; and
WI-lEREAS; meanwhile, local Assembly I~tember Julia 13rownley has introduced a
WHEREAS. AB 1998 would help effeotuate the Gity's environmental goals on a
Stafe-wide basis.
NOW; THEREFORE; THE GITY GOUNGIL OF T6-lE GITI' OF SANTA iV1ONIGA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SEGTION 1. The Gity of Santa 11~onica supports A8 1998, the ban on single use
plastic bags, and requiring payment for paper bags.
SEGTION 2. The Gity Glerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and affect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
R H J NES I fJTRiE
Gi Att rn
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Adopted and approved this 22nd day of
_~
Bobby Sh
<n
Mayor
I, Maria Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 1050p (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 22"d day of June, 2010; by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstain:
Absent:
Councilmembers: Holbrook, Davis, McKeown
Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor, Mayor Shriven
Councilmembers: None
Councilmembers: None
Councilmembers: Bloom, O'Day
ATTEST:
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Maria M. Stewart, ity Clerk