Item 4: Ordinance on Suspension of Paper Bag Pass-Through Charge

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From: City of Eugene [mailto:DoNotReplyToThisEmail@ci.eugene.or.us] Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 7:43 PM To: Eugene PDD Code Compliance Inspectors Subject: Nuisance or Zoning Complaint A Nuisance or Zoning complaint has been submitted from the web: Violation Address - Walmart on Green Acres Location Description - I'm not sure if this is the right place to file a complaint about the plastic bag ban and new .5 cent charge for a paper bag, but hopefully you can forward it to the right place. I find it ironic that people with food stamps should have to pay for bags. Many do not have cars and are Now forced to pay additional fees just to Carry their food home, yet people with WIC vouchers do not have to pay. Please revisit this option. Thank you * From: Brenda Brainard [mailto:brendalee.brainard@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 1:44 PM To: CLARK Mike Cc: *Eugene Mayor, City Council, and City Manager Subject: paper bags Good Afternoon Councilman Clark: I read your Letter to the Editor this am re: paper bags. I would like to add my thoughts for your comments and am asking that you share them in discussion with the City Council as they revisit the plastic bag ban. I am okay with the plastic bag ban, but here is my point of contention: Until May 1 all grocery, etc. bags were "free". Well, not really free, but the cost of using bags (plastic and/or paper) had been included in the price of the good being sold. However, after May 1, when the City allowed the outlets the opportunity to charge for bags, the bags became .05. However, I have not noticed a drop in prices of goods in light of the fact that money is now being charged above the price of the items for the inclusion of the sack. Additionally, 1,000 bags at Cash and Carry cost less than $9.00. That is .0009 for each bag, leaving the store a .0491 profit ON EACH BAG. Times this by the thousand bags a day at Walmart and see how much money the City Council is putting into big corporation's pockets (or Fred Meyer or Safeway or whomever). So, who wins from this. Of course, the grocery/outlet item. Certainly not the consumer or the overall good (for whom the ban is to protect and help). To me, it feels like City Council is looking out for the retail (mostly giants) with their decision.