The debate about fees on grocery bags refuses to decompose.
The city of Durango on Monday verified that a citizens group got the minimum number of verified signatures, 344, or 10 percent of those who voted in the last election, to put the issue on the ballot in November, city officials said.
The group, called Bag Ordinance to Vote, had collected 504 signatures before getting a call about 2:45 p.m. on Monday from a city clerk that they had a sufficient number of verified signatures, said group member Kristen Smith.
The petitions and ballot language will go before the City Council at tonight's regular meeting.
The council will have up to 30 days to either repeal the fee or call for a special election, according to a city memo.
A special or stand-alone election would cost the city $19,000, but costs of the regular Nov. 5 election would not increase if the repeal is put on the November ballot, said City Clerk Amy Phillips in a memo to the council.
Earlier this month, the council voted 4-1 to adopt a 10-cent fee on disposable plastic and paper bags at the supermarket checkout beginning March 1, 2014.
Ellen Stein, a Durango resident, said it was a shame that “a minority” was trying to override a majority opinion since two of the council supporters of the fee, Dean Brookie and Christina Rinderle, were the top vote-getters in the last city election in April.
“I think it's a minority interest that's (trying) to overturn a majority interest and that's concerning,” Stein said.
She predicted that the local environmental groups will get the vote out to keep the fee in place, which would go into effect at Walmart, Albertsons and the two City Market stores.
Proponents view the fee as a way to educate the public about the environment and sustainability while opponents have called it symbolic, an ineffective gesture and a tax.
jhaug@durangoherald.com
