AgdaPkt 2013-03-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.2.A. - Page 5 the availability of the draft EIR for comment. The general response from both the business community and the public has been positive, with few concerns expressed. One of the questions raised from the public was whether the 10¢ and 25¢ per-bag amounts reflected the "market rate" for such bags. According to the County, the 10¢ charge was determined in discussions with recycled content paper bag manufacturers, who noted the cost of these bags typically runs from 8¢ to 14¢ per bag. The County agreed with many other jurisdictions that 10¢ would be an approximate average to compensate the retailer for the higher cost of the bag. A concern mentioned by the Chamber group is the short period of time between adoption and effective date, in that businesses may have difficulty "using up" any existing stock of single-use plastic bags. The suggestion was that the City could somehow facilitate the disposition of that stock. Nonprofit charitable organizations, such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, can accept and use single-use plastic carryout bags; outreach to affected businesses will include information about donating excess bags to such nonprofit charitable organizations. The California Grocers Association wrote last year to San Mateo County in support of implementation of a ban on single use plastic bags. Outreach by the City and the County will continue through April of this year, and thereafter as needed. Implementation Period The County has requested that cities passing the ordinance do so with an effective date of April 22, 2013, to coincide with Earth Day. If approved, the earliest Redwood City's ordinance could take effect would be April 25, 2013. However, in the interest of providing affected businesses with a more ample and practical opportunity to use up their existing inventories of single-use plastic carryout bags, a six-month transition period is recommended, with an effective implementation/enforcement date of October 1, 2013. Enforcement Enforcement would be conducted by San Mateo County on a complaint basis. In the City of San Jose, during the first two months of implementation, a total of 201 emails and 170 phone calls of complaint were received. After over one year of the program, San Jose currently averages one email or phone call per month. ALTERNATIVES 1. Adopt the ordinance with changes, which would require the City to prepare a Subsequent or Supplemental EIR at its own expense.