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INFORMATIONAL MEMO <br />Page 2 <br />While grocery stores remain open, there is a health benefit to the use of clean, store -issued <br />bags during the health crisis. The City of Burien implemented a plastic bag ban on January 1, <br />2020 but suspended it for the duration of the emergency proclamation to protect the health <br />and safety of grocery and retail workers, as workers were concerned about handling reusable <br />shopping bags brought from people's homes. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The COVID-19 emergency has disrupted city government and businesses in numerous ways. <br />The City's Economic Development staff weighed in to express concern with the original <br />September 1, 2020 target date, believing that businesses should focus efforts on reducing <br />transmission of COVID-19 and preparing for re -opening instead of spending energy on <br />sourcing new bags and updating point of sale systems as the long implementation period was <br />intended to allow. Also, many retailers have been closed and so unable to use up existing <br />plastic bag stock. <br />The City of Tukwila is striving to help its business community navigate this crisis, and this is <br />one step that can help in this unprecedented time. Reducing plastic bag waste is still an <br />extremely important goal and staff can prepare for implementation accordingly in alignment <br />with the State of Washington. <br />At the April 13, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting, the City Council discussed options <br />moving forward and directed staff to repeal Ordinance 2619 and redirect implementation and <br />outreach measures in coordination with the State of Washington, effective January 1, 2021. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff is seeking a Committee recommendation on the draft ordinance and suggests <br />forwarding it to the June 1, 2020 Regular Consent Agenda for possible action. <br />IN <br />