1.16.2019 City Council Work Session Minutes

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MINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8�h Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 January 16, 2019 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark. Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor. Greg Evans Councilors Absent: Claire Syrett Mayor Vinis opened the January 16, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council. WORK SESSION: Single -Use Containers and Utensils Solid Waste Analyst Michael Wisth presented information about single -use plastics, their impacts on the environment, and potential strategies to reduce or eliminate their use. Council Discussion • Councilor Semple - supported the proposed ban and said the time is right to take action on this issue; supported moving the issue to a public hearing and considering a ban that goes further than those enacted in test case cities. • Councilor Clark- expressed frustration that the only option being presented is to vote yes or no; more helpful to outline all pros and cons of those votes; legitimate concerns raised on both sides of the issue, including sanitary and equity/cost considerations. • Councilor Zelenka - asked questions about limiting access to plastics at the retail level; data analysis about the life cycle of materials; effects of polystyrene ban in Portland. • Councilor Evans - asked questions about and urged consideration of emerging technologies that could replace current materials; best practices in other communities; and organic - based alternatives. • Councilor Pryor - thanked staff for the good, myth -busting presentation; said it's important to act but to consider when and at what scale; expressed concern about the undue negative consequence on lower-income population who may rely on the use of banned materials. • Councilor Taylor - agreed that it's important to consider the unexpected consequences of a ban; noted that not all cardboards are compostable; supported ban on polystyrene. • Mayor Vinis - stated that the proposed ban represents a request for behavior change; plastic is cheap to manufacture and that factor should be considered when comparing to other products; it will be helpful to recommend alternative when presenting the proposed ban. • Councilor Zelenka - said that charging for alternative materials adds value to them and helps change behavior; encouraged addressing food waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; noted that most compostable materials must be processed at a commercial facility. • Councilor Taylor - expressed concern that if restaurants charge for to -go containers, customers will decline to take their leftovers, resulting in more food waste. • Councilor Clark- said legitimate issues and questions were being raised; encouraged council to return for more robust conversation about the potential impacts of their decision to ban single -use plastics. • Councilor Semple - supported providing free bus passes, the use of paper bags and reusable containers, and continued efforts on the food waste issue to address climate goals; said a public hearing will provide the council with good information. MINUTES — Eugene City Council January 16, 2019 Page 1 Work Session