2nd Phase of South Lake Tahoe Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance to be Delayed

After lengthy debate during Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting, a 3-2 vote changed the direction of the second phase of the plastic bag ban.

In January, 2014, a ban on single use bags was implemented for all grocery stores and food vendors in the city limits. That portion of the ban has not changed. What has changed is the second phase which was going to expand the ban to retail stores starting on October 15, 2014.

It was a 3-2 vote that carried the ban forward last fall, but a change in opinion by Mayor Hal Cole moved his vote over to the other side than previously voiced. Council members Angela Swanson and Brooke Laine continued their opposition to the use of plastic bags at the point of sale and Council members Tom Davis and JoAnne Conner continued their opposition to the ban.

The Council's vote directs City staff to create a change to the ordinance. This change will need two readings at the City Council meetings, the first of which will be on July 1. The ban can still move onto the second phase in October should the Council change their vote.

During the public comment portion, community members spoke out in favor of the single use plastic bag ban, and nobody present at the meeting spoke out against it.

South Tahoe High ASB President Bryce Kortge told the Council that "the future of the lake is in our hands." He cited the major environmental projects at the high school as proof that the student care. Brooke Laine said his comments demonstrate the level of consciousness in our youth and said she appreciated the perspective of young people.

Jim Warlow, owner of Cork and More, told council he supported the bag ban. He said that we're trying to do something for our environment and leave a legacy by removing plastic bags. He says he gets positive comments all the time from his customers that a bag ban in place is a good thing.

"B" Gorman, Executive Director of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce said they did a survey of their membership and that 73% of them are in favor of the ban continuing for all outlets. She said that retailers are more concerned about the summer influx of craft shows that they are about having to provide non-plastic bags at the point of sale. Gorman said that the Chamber isn't hearing any complaints about the ban. "If small retailers were concerned about the plastic bags," said Gorman, "they would be here today."

Mayor Cole said he said a bag ban would hinder Meek's and other lumber and hardware stores when people buy nails and screws.

The plastic bag ban does not hinder the use of bags used inside stores, near produce, meat, and small hardware sections. The ban only covers plastic bags used at the point of sale (check out).

Brooke Laine, Mayor Pro Tem, said "this is the environmentally correct this to do," when speaking in favor of the ban. She said that as a consumer "we've become lazy." Laine said she wanted to give the message as a community that we're giving the message that we care.

Council member Davis said he's support the proposed statewide ban but doesn't support a citywide ban.

Council member Conner said the same thing as she did during last fall's vote: "we have a community that walks and wants to carry their plastic bags with them, then get home and line their waste baskets with them." She said she didn't want to hurt the small businesses who are already struggling.

Angela Swanson, Council member, said a lot of her customers at a local retailer prefer not to use bags and that the store is seeing a desire by the consumer to change, both locals and visitors.

Despite the comments from those in attendance, Cole, Conner and Davis voted for delaying the implementation of the ban while Swanson and Laine voted against delay.

The public can still comment on the situation when it comes up for vote next month.