R10993City Council Meeting: September 27, 2016 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER io �I �1� (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA SUPPORTING PROPOSITION 67 WHICH WOULD
UPHOLD CALIFORNIA'S PLASTIC BAG BAN
WHEREAS, California's Plastic Bag Ban Referendum will appear as Proposition
67 on the November 2016 ballot, in which a "yes" vote will be in favor of upholding SB270,
the plastic bag ban and a "no" will be in favor of overturning SB 270; and
WHEREAS, California uses between 13 and 20 billion single -use plastic bags
every year, with 950 million plastic bags ending up as litter in landfills and in our
neighborhoods, or as a danger to marine wildlife; and
WHEREAS, single -use plastic bags threaten California's ocean --dependent
sectors, accounting for an estimated 39 percent of the oceans economy's GDP ($17.6
billion), 75 percent of its employment (368,000), and 46 percent of its wages paid ($8.7
billion); and
WHEREAS, passage of Proposition 67 would protect California's coast and help
support the California economy: recreational equipment suppliers, restaurant suppliers,
hotel suppliers; and
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WHEREAS, Proposition 67 would protect California's $40 billion ocean -based
economy, a failure to pass Proposition 67 would produce more pollution and cause losses
to tourism by harming wildlife, degrading habitats and trashing our coastline; and
WHEREAS, plastic bags are a major source of litter and pollution in California,
costing taxpayers an estimated $34 million to $107 million annually to manage plastic bag
litter throughout the state, as well as cities and counties where costs are estimated at
$428 million to clean up litter and prevent aquatic pollution; and
WHEREAS, according to the California State Department of Recycling, only 5
percent of single -use plastic bags are recycled; and
WHEREAS, plastic bags are a nuisance to try to recycle, costing some cities as
much as $1 million each year due to plastic bag --related repairs in their recycling facilities;
and
WHEREAS, plastic bags are non -biodegradable, clog drains, blow out of landfills,
and end up as litter on streets, and in green spaces; and California requires suffocation
warnings on plastic bags because they pose a threat of death to small children and
babies; and
WHEREAS, there is evidence that plastic bag bans work; cities have reported a
95% reduction in use of plastic bags after bans take effect, as well as an 89% reduction
in storm drain systems, a 60% reduction in creeks and rivers, and a 59% reduction in
streets and neighborhoods; and
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WHEREAS, 150 California cities and counties, including Santa Monica, already
have banned single -use plastic grocery bags independent of the state law representing
over one-third of the state's population; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 67 would continue California's success in phasing out
plastic bags, keeping in place a law passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor;
and
WHEREAS, Proposition 67 will help protect Santa Monica's incomparable
coastline and will further effectuate the City's core values of sustainability and
environmental protection.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council formally supports passage of Proposition 67, the
Plastic Bag Ban Referendum, which will uphold Senate Bill 270, banning single use
plastic bags.
SECTION 2. A copy of this resolution shall be sent to the campaign offices at
genevieveabedon@cawrecyles.org
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MAkS,,HA J NES M TRIE
Cit j_ttor e
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Adopted and approved this 27ffi day of September, 2016.
I, Denise Anderson -Warren, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby
certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 10993 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of
the Santa Monica City Council held on the 27th day of September, 2016, by the following
Vote:
AYES: Councilmembers McKeown, Davis, Himmelrich, O'Day, O'Connor,
Mayor Pro Tem Winterer, Mayor Vazquez
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
JPI
enise Anderson -Warren, City Clerk