City of Evanston Blog
Newsy Items on Monday City Council Agenda
1. Township Board is meeting to discuss next steps in possible dissolution of Township. Staff is proposing that we be directed to draft a ballot proposition for the March 20, 2012 general election for dissolution while continuing to work in Springfield on clarifying issues if General Aid administration. If Board agrees, Township Attorney will return with proposed ballot language in early December.
2. Discussion of Disposable Bag Issue and recommendation of Environment Board for 5 cent tax on plastic bags.
3. Continued discussion on TIGER III grant application.
4. Discussion of 2012 Water Main Replacement and Street Resurfacing Program.
5. Consideration of Police and Fire Pension Actuarial Report.
6. Review of Options on Commonwealth Edison franchise issues, pending state legislation on ComEd smart grid issues and consideration of investigation of electric municipal aggregation options.
7. Consideration of amending Class AC alcohol permit (alcohol in movie theaters) to allow for alcoholic beverages to be consumed in movie auditoriums for PG-13 and R rated films.
8. Consideration of proposed cable television franchise agreement with Comcast.
9. Consideration of bed and breakfast application for 300 Church Street.
Regarding Agenda item 2
I'm a resident of Evanston, and I've recently learned that the city council is considering an ordinance that would limit consumer choice by taxing plastic grocery bags.
No one likes litter and litterers should be punished. But with all the issues facing our community and our state, doesn't the city council have more important things to focus on than taxing shoppers at the grocery store?
In addition, plastic bag recycling is a growing green industry that employs more than 10,000 Americans. In this economy, why would our city pass a law that hurts American jobs?
I urge you and your colleagues to oppose this proposal, which limits the freedom of all local shoppers and increases our financial burden when we can least afford it. If you really want to address litter in Evanston, let's try cracking down on litterers and encouraging people to recycle.
October 27, 2011 3:30 PM