City Manager Ford Patton told the council that the city could approach the drafting of the ordinance two ways. One would be for the council to ask the city staff to prepare an ordinance for their consideration. The other would be for the council to appoint a committee that could prepare an ordinance by researching exiting plastic shopping bag ordinances and taking input from community members and people from the retail community.
Patton said Building Inspector Lanny Holland had recommended including representatives from the retail community.
“If this is to be successful, they have to be involved,” Patton said of the retail community.
The city manager urged councilmen to keep the number of committee members to a minimum. He recommended appointing three people from the retail community, two of whom would come from the city’s largest retailers and one would come from one of the city’s smaller businesses.
Patton then recommended adding one member of the Ad Hoc Committee, which originally studied the plastic shopping bag situation. Then he suggested that the council appoint two members of the city staff to the committee.
Councilman Jimbo Martinez said he had spoken to some small business people in the community who were interested in having some input on an ordinance.
Patton suggested that Martinez and the other council members report their suggestions at a future meeting and go ahead then and appoint a committee.
The city manager also recommended that the council call one or two public hearings on whatever proposed ordinance the committee drafts to allow ample input on the subject from citizens.
The Ad Hoc Committee recommended banning the use of plastic shopping bags after holding 10 meetings on the subject since it was appointed last summer.
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