When legislation banning the distribution of plastic shopping bags at large grocery stores died in the state Senate in August, Marin County Supervisor and Charles McGlashan vowed to revive his longstanding local effort to do so in Marin.
The Board of Supervisors took the first big step in doing just that Tuesday, moving forward a local ordinance that would ban the distribution of plastic bags at grocery stores, drug stores and convenience stores throughout unincorporated Marin beginning Jan. 1, 2012. For consumers who don't bring reusable shopping bags with them, stores would make reusable bags available for purchase or charge them a minimum of five cents for each paper bag they needed.
The board voted 4-0 to approve the first reading of the ordinance, and will take a final vote on it Jan. 4.
"I'm fired up to see the support we've gotten on this," McGlashan said. "I think we're going to be pretty good to go here."
Both the statewide bill and the Marin ordinance have garnered support from the California Grocers Association, which represents both small and large grocers throughout the state.
But Tim James, the association's government relations manager for Northern California, told the board Tuesday that his group was concerned that the ordinance did not yet include all retailers. He said that imposing a ban on grocers and not all retailers would create "too many inconsistencies within the retail community and also with regard to the state's broader environmental goals" of reducing waste.
McGlashan said that because county officials and many local governments have already reached out to grocers on this issue over the years, sticking with grocery, drug and convenience stores would make it easier for local bodies like the Mill Valley City Council to pass the same legislation.
"We'll get more of the cities to adopt this ordinance since grocers are ready to go," he said.
Supervisor Judy Arnold has objected to including all retailers in the ban. She said the issue had not reached some of her constituents in Novato, including some Novato city officials.
"They had no idea what this was and what it entailed - they are so busy trying to balance their budget," she said. "Right now there are boutique retailers that have never heard of this who are barely surviving. I feel very comfortable taking this first step, but right now this is too soon (to add all retailers.)"
The measure would be enforced by county officials. Violators would receive a written warning first and then fines that would start at $135 and rise to $440 per violation. After the fourth violation, cases would be referred to the Marin County District Attorney's office.
Several supervisors said it was more important for the board to vote unanimously on the issue, and therefore ceded to Arnold's objection to including all retail.
Arnold said San Rafael Community Development Director Bob Brown is organizing a meeting of all city managers in Marin to educate them on the ordinance. Once an effort is made to get local chambers of commerce and business improvement districts on board, the county can think about adding all retailers to the ban, she said.
Renee Goddard, a resident of Fairfax who helped enact a voter-approved ban on plastic bags in 2008, said continued outreach on the issue was crucial.
"We did the Fairfax ban by going door to door," she said. "I know that Fairfax is Fairfax but I do believe we can do it. When people believe they can do something, they make it happen."
Supervisors McGlashan, Steve Kinsey and Susan Adams each noted that the one year before the ban goes into effect allows plenty of time to reach out to all retailers and local business groups.
"We did a lot of great outreach with our grocers and pharmacies," Adams said. "We haven't quite gotten there yet with the smaller boutique retailers and there is a fear that they don't see the benefit yet."
"If we walk our walk and make our case that we've done out outreach to the other retailers, I'm comfortable," McGlashan said. "I'll take it either way."
