City Council Minutes 2020 07 28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes July 28, 2020 Page 4 of 7 Mayor Stolzmann asked for clarification on how the tax is set. City Attorney Kelly stated both versions put forth a ballot question allowing for a tax of up to 25 cents. The first version would start the tax at 25 cents but allow the Council to lower that by ordinance if they choose. The second version of the tax would start at 10 cents and allow the Council to raise it by ordinance up to 25 cents. Public Comments Tess Weltzin, student from Louisville Middle School, stated the environmental impact of these bags is huge and needs to be addressed. Council should be bold and write it for 25 cents for all businesses. RJ Harrington, 457 East Raintree, stated surveys have shown Louisville residents want to address this and we should be bold and start at 25 cents. Connell Harrington, stated he supports approval and encouraged 25 cents to start. Tiffany Boyd, 550 Grant Avenue, agreed with the previous speakers that residents are looking to the Council to be bold on this issue. This is a baby step and a way to educate the public about climate action. Councilmember Lipton asked if the bag definition includes a tax on all bags regardless of what it is made of. Hogan stated that is correct. Councilmember Fahey asked if the Council wants to consider exempting restaurants. Mayor Stolzmann stated she is supportive of the original version with the 25 cent tax, however she stated she could support the new version as it gives Council the option to go up to 25 cents if needed. She feels the community would support applying this to all stores. Mayor Stolzmann would like an amendment to both options that would restrict the revenue from the tax to being used only for administering the tax or for sustainability programs. She would strike the section that also allows use of the funds "for other general purposes of the City." Councilmember Dickinson stated he would support both options to get this on the ballot but would much prefer to be bold and go with the 25 cent fee imposed on all retail businesses. He also supports restricting the revenue as proposed by the Mayor. Mayor Pro Tern Maloney stated it is clear all of Council supports putting something on the ballot. He thinks keeping the language that allows Council some flexibility for setting the tax is preferable. He likes the idea of starting at 10 cents and being able to go to 25 cents as it gives the Council somewhere to go if it isn't getting results. He stated he leans towards only applying it to food stores.