At issue in Rohnert Park

At issue in Rohnert Park was the proposal's hefty pricetag and drawn-out process associated with the project, proposed by the Sonoma County Wast Management Agency. Councilmembers said they were committed to environmentally-friendly practices citywide, but decided unanimously that they needed more information to OK the ban.

Mayor Gina Belforte and councilmember Pam Stafford called the proposal "inefficient and cumbersome at best."

"We all understand the problems with plastic bags," Stafford said. "That's not the issue."

"I'm not against getting plastic bags out of the environment," Belforte said.
While Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie said "the evidence is overwhelming one-use plastic bags present a huge environmental disaster," he asserted the issue may be more about economics than education.

There needs to be an economic incentive, like five cents per bag, to spur compliance, he said.

Councilmember Joe Callinan said it should be the consumer's choice whether or not to choose plastic, paper or reusable.

Belforte said she thinks Rohnert Park can reduce or eliminate using single-use carryout bags without the expensive and lengthy California Environmental Quality Act process. The council was reluctant however, to halt the ban entirely; settling on revisiting the issue in the future.

According to an agency report, the ban would cost between $135,440 to $193,240 for a CEQA analysis, legal costs and drafting the ordinance, and an additional $137,000 annually to enforce the ban.

All cities countywide must be on board with the ban in order to move forward. What do you think? Should Rohnert Park comply with the waste management agency's recommendation to forbid the use of
plastic bags? Should it be up to the government to decide, or do you think it should be a personal choice?