Editor's note: The Sustainability Council's report on ways to reduce or eliminate the use of plastic bags will be moved to a November City Council agenda due to scheduling conflict for the councilor, Holly Tilton Byrne, who requested the report. The meeting agenda change was announced Sunday by Mayor Keith Corbett.
BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council next week will consider a report on ways to reduce or eliminate the use of plastic bags. The council will also consider sidewalk repair assessments and hear a presentation on the Street Department.
The city council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Brookings City & County Government Center, at 520 Third St.
Plastic bags
“The Sustainability Council has created and will present a report on the pros and cons of plastic bag bans, the current use of plastic bag ordinances, a list of communities who have banned plastic bags, and alternative tactics to reducing the use of plastic bags which do not require a plastic bag ban,” according to an attachment to the agenda, which is available on the city’s website.
“The Brookings Sustainability Council will present findings on reducing and/or eliminating the use of plastic bags,” according to a memo by Jennifer McLaughlin, chair of the Brookings Sustainability Council.
“While there are both benefits and drawbacks to plastic bag bans, reduction strategies can be employed to reduce the use of the plastic bags in the community. Reduction strategies include spotlighting local businesses who are utilizing sustainable practices, working with private sector outlets for plastic bag recycling, and continually educating the public on the impact of plastic bag use,” according to McLaughlin’s memo.
“An additional alternative to a plastic bag ban would be to consider the use of a disincentive fee for the use of plastic bags. This fee could range from 5 cents to 25 cents on the use of some or all single-use bags,” according to McLaughlin’s memo.
The Brookings Sustainability Council is recommending that the city adopt a multi-faceted bag reduction strategy, according to McLaughlin’s memo, including:
• Education to help consumers reduce their use of plastic bags (and reuse/recycle when reduction isn’t feasible);
• Showcasing local business initiatives in this area to encourage other businesses to take action;
• Supporting incentives for reducing plastic bag use by both consumers and businesses;
• Partnering with businesses that offer plastic bag recycling or providing plastic bag drop-off locations.
“Additionally, the Brookings Sustainability Council recommends that the City adopt policies, strategies and actions that support an overall Reduce-Reuse-Recycle culture with an emphasis on reduction for all single-use plastics and not just plastic bags,” according to McLaughlin’s memo.
The agenda includes a list of cities with a plastic bag ban; most are in California and Massachusetts. Many of the cities also ban other plastics or have a fee for the use of plastics. There are no South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota or Nebraska cities listed.
There is a Plastic Bag Reduction/Elimination Report attached to the agenda. It covers concerns with plastic bags, current status of plastic bags in the USA, pros and cons of plastic bag bans, plastic bag ordinances and those currently in place, cities around the USA that have banned plastic bags, considerations other than a ban or fee program, including encouraging and incentivizing reduce-reuse-recycle, and notes to consider should the city proceed with a plastic bag ban or other plastic bag program.
Sidewalk assessment
Tuesday’s agenda includes a public hearing on a resolution levying assessment for the 2018 sidewalk repair sites.
The city mailed each property owner a notice of the public hearing and a copy of the assessment roll which details the cost of the sidewalk repairs at their address, according to the agenda attachment.
Other topics
There is a spot on the agenda for a report on the Street Department. It is part of the council’s program to hear an update from one of the city’s departments every month.
City Attorney Steve Britzman will also be recognized for receiving the South Dakota Municipal Attorney’s Association Distinguished Service Award.
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
