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6.2.A. - Page 4 system by 40% by 2014 (70% by 2017, and 100% by 2022). If such an ordinance is adopted by the City Council, it will provide a credit to the City towards meeting the 40% trash reduction goal. The County notes that an evaluation of a similar ordinance (effective 1/1/12) in the City of San Jose found that the ordinance had an observable effect on reduction of plastic bags in the environment: • Decrease of 89% in storm drains • Decrease of 35-50% in downtime from plastic bag damage at recycling facilities • Increase in reusable bag use from 4% up to 62% • Decrease in plastic bag use from 3 to 0.3 bags per customer per visit to stores Health Concerns It has been contended by some that reusable bags may pose a danger to public health - if they become dirty they may harbor potentially dangerous bacteria. In a statement responding to such concerns, San Mateo County's Health Officer notes that: o There is nothing about reusable bags that renders them more susceptible to bacterial contamination than other common items that consumers encounter every day. o Other jurisdictions which have banned disposable plastic shopping bags have seen no increased rates of bacterial infections associated with the increased use of reusable bags. o There is no study that suggests reusable bags could be considered a public health threat or a notable source of disease. Further, in an abundance of caution the County's ordinance requires retailers' reusable bags to be machine washable or made from a material that can be cleaned or disinfected. Periodic washing of reusable bags for hygienic purposes would be the responsibility of the individual customers, and it is assumed that individuals would generally continue to practice good hygiene. Outreach Redwood City held two information meetings on the proposed ordinance (February 13 and February 19), which were lightly attended. These meetings were preceded by two direct mail invitations to the approximately 236 affected businesses in Redwood City, as well as a general news release and multiple email distributions. Presentations were provided to the Downtown Business Group and the Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Committee. The County sent information on the proposed ordinance to all affected Redwood City businesses. Additionally, in 2012 the County sent out information to make businesses aware of the County scoping meetings for the multi-agency EIR (including one which was held in Redwood City on May 3, 2012) and