TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Quinn M. Barrow, City Attorney
Jim Arndt, Public Works Director
Sona Kalapura, Environmental Programs Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Draft Ordinance No. 13-0009 Prohibiting Distribution or Sale of Prepared Food in Polystyrene Food Service Ware.
RECEIVE AND FILE; SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 21, 2013
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council receive and file the draft Ordinance No. 13-0009 and direct the City Manager to schedule a public hearing to receive input on the prohibition of distribution or sale of prepared food in polystyrene food service ware in the City of Manhattan Beach.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The recommended action has no fiscal impact upon the budget. Staff time will be incurred in meeting with stakeholders.
BACKGROUND:
The City's Strategic Plan for 1/24/2013 to 7/15/2013 contemplates that the City Council consider an ordinance banning polystyrene food packaging. The goal of the ordinance would be to further restrict use of polystyrene food service containers, shift to multiple-use containers when possible, encourage the use of recyclable or compostable food service containers, keep waste including polystyrene from landfills, and reduce polystyrene litter and threats to natural ecosystems.
The City of Manhattan Beach adopted its existing prohibition on the use of polystyrene plastic products by takeout food vendors in 1988. The prohibition is codified as Chapter 5.80 of Title 5 of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code. The existing regulations limit the types of polystyrene products that may be distributed by takeout food vendors. At the time of adoption, these regulations were intended to reduce ozone emissions and thereby protect the environment.
In recent years, polystyrene products have raised broader enviro...
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