12/17/2019 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12-17-2019 of public input. When we don't do that, we hear about it. We first became aware of County Council's action after they passed the ban. We weren't offered a chance to give input, we were given no prior heads up. Personally, I wasn't contacted by the County and I haven't heard from any of my colleagues that were. I am not aware of any contact with our local retailers and we are one of the top retail economies in Cuyahoga County. Now since this has passed, multiple communities including Cleveland and now Independence just last night have opted out. Last night, after our Special Council Meeting, Mayor Kennedy and I spoke with a gentleman named Mr. Wright. He identified himself as a Communications Consultant working for the County. I have no reason to doubt who he was and I see him here tonight. I don't know exactly what his relationship is with the County. I don't know if it is an ad hoc thing or a permanent position. But, he was the first contact person the County has sent our way. Recently, we became aware the State House has passed pertinent legislation and it is waiting in the Senate. We are told the County has announced or leaked they do not intend to enforce this ban for at least six months and last night the County lobbyist told us the original sponsor will be bringing an amendment forward delaying what they are proposing. This has just been verified by an e-mail before we walked in here. We don't know exactly when they will be voting, they could vote tomorrow, but they might not. We don't know if this will pass or not, I am assuming it will, but we don't know that. The problem is if we fail to pass this tonight, January 1 our retailers big and small may not know if they are breaking the law or not. Nothing stops us from joining the ban in the future. I'd be delighted to revisit this once the County and the State figure out what they are doing. I am glad the discussion is taking place, I look for the County to spearhead some education. I will mention one more thing, I have not had any retail lobbyist approach me at all. Thank you very much. Councilman Brossard voted yes with comment. I want to make it very clear I am committed to helping make the environment a cleaner and better place. You don't need to be an environmentalist or an activist to want that. As with Mr. Schumann I find it troubling that a large retail community such as North Olmsted was not consulted by Cuyahoga County Council during the process of their plastic bag ban. My yes vote this evening is simply a temporary mechanism so that this Council, this Administration, along with consultation and input from North Olmsted residents and North Olmsted businesses can develop a plastic bags plan that not only helps our environment, but makes sense for our community. Now, I finally heard from the County Council for the first time and only time earlier this afternoon and it was to simply inform me that they will be delaying, as we have said, the enforcement of their plastic bags ban until July. So what that means for North Olmsted is even by opting out of the County ban this evening, the chances are very good that following our own very thorough and interactive committee process, North Olmsted would likely have a plan in place before the County's July enforcement date. We will welcome the County's input during our process. Further, we have been advised we can opt in at any time during the County's delay to July 1St. So again my vote is yes. Thank you. Councilman Glassburn voted no with comment. First off, I would like to thank all of you regardless of views for coming out. Far too many of our meetings are to empty pews. Those are repurposed pews you are sitting in. First off, there are already stores in North Olmsted, Aldi's is the most prominent, that don't make use of these bags. Kroger, the largest grocer in the nation, has made a commitment to get rid of these bags I believe G�