The Plastic Bag Focus Group was charged with developing a recommendation to the Interim City Manager on how to manage plastic bags in Flagstaff.  The Interim City Manager established this group as a way to gain additional input and as a compliment to the extensive work completed by the Sustainability Commission.  The group was made up of people representing diverse opinions and they were tasked with arriving at a solution that all group members could support.  The thinking was that if this group of 7 could come up with a compromise solution that worked for them, the solution might also work for Flagstaff.  As a result, the group developed a phased approach to reduce usage of point of sale plastic bags in a manner that enhanced civic pride.  Their approach was designed to address litter, behavior, costs and ecological footprint. 
 
Although the passing of recent legislation prohibits the City from taking action, the focus group determined the following phases to address the plastic bag problem in Flagstaff
 
Phase 1  (work is largely administrative during this phase)

• Draft and pass ordinance to reduce point of sale plastic bags. Ordinance will define clear phases, each one triggered by results of the previous phase. All phases will be completed in no more than 5 years. Ordinance will include education program, recycling program and fee or ban, if necessary, to achieve reduction in  point of sale plastic bags.
• Develop metrics of success
• Develop statement to the community
• Develop education program for businesses and community
• Conduct audit/disclosure of bags at retail establishments

     Phase 2

• Ordinance implementation begins including;
  • Recycling program implemented
  • Education Program Implemented (Education program will be implemented fully and continuously through private/public partnerships.)
  • Consistent recycling program at retail organizations

• Conduct evaluation to measure success including business survey
• Results of evaluation may trigger automatic implementation of a fee or a ban

Phase 3

• If indicated by results achieved in Phase 2, a fee or ban may be automatically implemented. It should be pointed out that most members but not all members of the group agreed on an automatic trigger as an element of the ordinance.
• If Phase 3 triggered a fee, the City would continue to evaluate the success of the fee program with the possibility of implementing a ban in Phase 4.

Phase 4

• Determined by results of 3, Phase 4 may not be needed.

Although recent legislation prohibits many of the steps recommended above, staff are evaluating legal, financial and management implications and will provide another report to Council in the future.

Indicate basic financial impact in this box. Expanded financial information should be included on page 2, under Addl. Info.

This issue is not directly represented by a current Council goal; however, it does support the following Regional Plan Goals:

• E&C.2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• WR.6. Protect, preserve, and improve the quality of surface water, groundwater, and reclaimed water in the region
• CC.1. Reflect and respect  the region's natural setting and dramatic views in the built environment
• ED.7. Continue to promote and enhance Flagstaff's unique sense of place as an economic development driver

No.

Informational only.

Inform
Consult
Involve
Collaborate