HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.18.19 City Council Public Hearing MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
November 18, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Mike Clark, Jennifer Yeh, Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Claire
Syrett, Alan Zelenka, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the November 18, 2019, public hearing of the Eugene City Council.
1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Restrictions on the Use of Polystyrene
Containers and Adding Sections 6.874, 6.876, and 6.878 to the Eugene Code, 1971.
1. Art Farley - shared support for the ordinance on behalf of the Sustainability Commission.
2. Jim Neu - asked council to pass a ban on single -use plastic foodware.
3. Susan Macomson - voiced concern about the impacts of plastic on the land and children.
4. Cynthia Matherly - highlighted the safety concerns of Styrofoam throughout its lifecycle.
S. Karyn Kaplan - urged council to adopt the ban as alternative products exist.
6. Kaelin Kane - supported the ban and spoke to the impact of big business on people's lives.
7. Charmain Rehg - asked council to ban plastic straws and utensils as well as polystyrene.
8. Abigail Keep - spoke about her experiences picking up trash at a local park; supported the ban.
9. Ralph McDonald - said he thought the ban was an important "baby step" council should take.
10. Gregory Hill - noted the health effects of chemicals used to make plastic; supported the ban.
11. Hailey Coleman - said she was fearful for the future and urged council to pass the ban.
12. John Desmarteau Jr. - spoke about the technology for recycling polystyrene.
13. Pete Frost - said polystyrene was toxic; supported a prohibition.
14. Zack Mulholland - urged council to consider banning all single -use food plastics.
15. Stefan Strek- supported the creation of a Styrofoam buy-back program.
Discussion
o Councilor Taylor -thanked the speakers for their comments.
2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Single -Use Checkout Bags, Amending
Sections 6.850 and 6.855 of the Eugene Code, 1971, and Repealing Sections 6.860 and
6.865 of that Code.
1. Stefan Strek - said he did not think plastic bags needed to be banned.
2. Andre Royal -wondered whether ban would apply to delivery services.
Discussion
o Councilor Semple -said she was happy to seethe OSPIRG students participating.
o Councilor Zelenka -asked when the ordinances would take effect and what exemptions
there may be.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council November 18, 2019 Page 1
Public Hearing
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cas Casados)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council November 18, 2019 Page 2
Public Hearing