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MINUTES <br />Eugene City Council <br />Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue <br />Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br />November 18, 2019 <br />7:30 p.m. <br />Councilors Present: Mike Clark, Jennifer Yeh, Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Claire <br />Syrett, Alan Zelenka, Greg Evans <br />Mayor Vinis opened the November 18, 2019, public hearing of the Eugene City Council. <br />1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Restrictions on the Use of Polystyrene <br />Containers and Adding Sections 6.874, 6.876, and 6.878 to the Eugene Code, 1971. <br />1. Art Farley - shared support for the ordinance on behalf of the Sustainability Commission. <br />2. Jim Neu - asked council to pass a ban on single -use plastic foodware. <br />3. Susan Macomson - voiced concern about the impacts of plastic on the land and children. <br />4. Cynthia Matherly - highlighted the safety concerns of Styrofoam throughout its lifecycle. <br />S. Karyn Kaplan - urged council to adopt the ban as alternative products exist. <br />6. Kaelin Kane - supported the ban and spoke to the impact of big business on people's lives. <br />7. Charmain Rehg - asked council to ban plastic straws and utensils as well as polystyrene. <br />8. Abigail Keep - spoke about her experiences picking up trash at a local park; supported the ban. <br />9. Ralph McDonald - said he thought the ban was an important "baby step" council should take. <br />10. Gregory Hill - noted the health effects of chemicals used to make plastic; supported the ban. <br />11. Hailey Coleman - said she was fearful for the future and urged council to pass the ban. <br />12. John Desmarteau Jr. - spoke about the technology for recycling polystyrene. <br />13. Pete Frost - said polystyrene was toxic; supported a prohibition. <br />14. Zack Mulholland - urged council to consider banning all single -use food plastics. <br />15. Stefan Strek- supported the creation of a Styrofoam buy-back program. <br />Discussion <br />o Councilor Taylor -thanked the speakers for their comments. <br />2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Single -Use Checkout Bags, Amending <br />Sections 6.850 and 6.855 of the Eugene Code, 1971, and Repealing Sections 6.860 and <br />6.865 of that Code. <br />1. Stefan Strek - said he did not think plastic bags needed to be banned. <br />2. Andre Royal -wondered whether ban would apply to delivery services. <br />Discussion <br />o Councilor Semple -said she was happy to seethe OSPIRG students participating. <br />o Councilor Zelenka -asked when the ordinances would take effect and what exemptions <br />there may be. <br />MINUTES - Eugene City Council November 18, 2019 Page 1 <br />Public Hearing <br />