Ordinance 2020-1797 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, the City Council finds that use of disposable bags has severe impacts on the environment on a local and global scale, including greenhouse gas emissions, litter, harm to wildlife, atmospheric acidification, water consumption, and solid waste generation; and WHEREAS, despite recycling and voluntary solutions to control pollution from disposable bags, many disposable bags ultimately are disposed of in landfills, litter the environment, block storm drains, and endanger wildlife; and WHEREAS, the City's taxpayers are currently bearing the costs associated with the effects of disposable bags on the solid waste stream, drainage, litter, and wildlife; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adoption of this ordinance referring to the voters at the November 3, 2020 election the TABOR ballot issue set forth herein concerning the imposition of a disposable bag tax, will protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and provide revenues necessary to implement the City's sustainability-related initiatives and further the goals set forth in the City's Sustainability Action Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE, COLORADO: Section 1. A special municipal election will be held in the City of Louisville, County of Boulder, State of Colorado on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (the "Election"). Section 2. Pursuant to the applicable provisions of the laws of the State of Colorado and the City Charter, the City Council hereby submits to the registered electors of the City at the Election the ballot issue specified in Section 3 of this ordinance. Section 3. The following ballot issue, certified in substantially the form set forth below, is hereby referred to the registered electors of the City and shall appear on the ballot of the Election: BALLOT ISSUE NO. DISPOSABLE BAG TAX SHALL CITY OF LOUISVILLE TAXES BE INCREASED BY $2,000,000 IN THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, BY IMPOSING, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2022, A NEW TAX ON DISPOSABLE BAGS PROVIDED TO A CUSTOMER BY A RETAILER AT THE RATE OF UP TO TWENTY-FIVE CENTS ($0.25) PER BAG, WITH THE TAX REVENUES BEING USED TO PAY FOR OR REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS INCURRED FOR ADMINISTERING THE TAX OR EXPENDED BY THE CITY FOR OTHER SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS; WITH THE AMOUNT OF Ordinance No. 1797, Series 2020 Page 2of11