Voices for and against a 10-cent fee on plastic and paper bags at supermarket checkouts will be heard June 4, the date of the first public hearing for the proposed ordinance as set Tuesday by City Council.
Proponents for the fee argue that it will go a long way toward the reduction of disposable bags and the spread of litter. City staff members estimate 7.2 million bags are distributed annually or about 431 bags per person.
Councilor Keith Brant, the only opponent of the fee on the council, has called the proposed fee a symbolic gesture because plastic bags take up less than 1 percent of the landfill. He has argued that government should not impose its values on the public.
In other action, the council authorized $139,750 for lawn-care equipment and organic materials for a pilot organic parks program to be implemented this fall. The expenditure will be offset by a $51,000 donation raised by the Turtle Lake Refuge and organic parks advocates.
The parks selected for the program are Pioneer Park, Brookside Park, Riverfront Park, Iris Park, Schneider Park, Needham Park, Fanto Park, Riverview Sports Complex and Folsom Park.
The parks were selected to be representative of the city park system. They include passive neighborhood parks, elementary school playgrounds and athletic fields.
jhaug@durangoherald.com
