CC 2016-02-09_09c Supplemental Info No. 1MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TERESA McCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
AGENDA ITEM 9.c. -FEBRUARY 9, 2016 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE REGULATING
EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOOD CONTAINERS AND PRODUCTS;
LOCATION -CITYWIDE; APPLICANT -CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2016
Attached are the results of the Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce
survey of local businesses regarding regulation of expanded polystyrene (EPS)
products. The survey results did indicate concern' from local business regarding
shipments received that are packaged in EPS. It should be noted that EPS packaging
products that are received from sources outside the City are exempt from the
regulations and those businesses would not be penalized.
cc: City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Public Review Binder
From: Judith Bean ••••••••
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2016 11:39 AM
To: Dianne Thompson
Cc: Dalebout, Kenneth -AGCH
Subject: Survey Results
Hello Dianne,
I wanted to share our survey results with you so you can incorporate what we found out in your report. I have a meeting
on the North Coast this afternoon, so I'm not sure I'll make it back for the meeting.
We received 105 responses.
24 said they use or receive shipments of Styrofoam products.
Three people marked "heavy" use, 8 marked moderate, and 24 marked minimal use. 70 didn't respond to this question.
61 reported this would not affect their cost of doing business in Arroyo Grande.
15 reported this would have minimal affect
10 reported it would moderately or materially affect their doing business in Arroyo Grande. Half of those said their costs
would double or triple by switching to an alternative. All of the 10 were small, family-owned businesses.
Most did not offer a time line for compliance, but out of the 32 that responded, over half would like to see at least six
months to a year of transition time.
Interestingly, a large proportion of respondents said they've already taken steps to reduce or completely eliminate the
use of Styrofoam products.
There was concern expressed by several respondents who receive shipments packed in Styrofoam or sell products (other
than coffee and to-go containers) that come packed in Styrofoam from the manufacturer. How does the ban affect
them?
One respondent wondered how it impacts the bottom line of restaurants and if it-affects the price of food/drink. One
restaurateur said it was not an option for them to pass the cost along to their consumer. A couple others said they
couldn't make it work unless they raised prices.
We agree with one respondent who would have liked to see the city mount an educational campaign before mandating
change since we heard from several who are proud of their efforts to reduce or eliminate use entirely because they felt
it was the right thing to do. Here's a quote: "we did it because it's the right ecological move to make -having a better
stewardship of God's creation. The coffee cups cost us 4 times more, so now we have less expensive cups for water."
One suggested the City offer incentives for those small businesses that find it difficult to make this transition.
Judith Bean, ACE
President/CEO
Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce
800 A West Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
(805) 489,1488 Fax: 489,2239
http://www.aggbchamber.com
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