2019-12-17 CC Agenda - Public Communications related to Item #11 - PlasticHarada, Patricia
From: Shilling, Mona
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 2:02 PM
To: Harada, Patricia
Subject: FW: Plastic straws, stirrers, and utensils "upon request" - CA Restaurant Association
Attachments: EI Segundo - Upon Request Policy.pdf
Patricia,
Public Communication for Item No. 11 on the December 17, 2019 City Council Agenda.
Thank you,
Mona S
From: David Juarez [mailto:djuarez@calrest.org]
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 11:50 AM
To: ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS
Cc: Allen, Jasmine; Berkman, Ken
Subject: Plastic straws, stirrers, and utensils "upon request" - CA Restaurant Association
Honorable Members of the EI Segundo City Council,
Hope this message finds you well.
Please see attached a letter on behalf of the CA Restaurant Association in regards to the proposed plastic straws,
stirrers, and utensils "upon request" policy in tomorrow's city council meeting.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at (323) 774-2559.
Sincerely,
David Juarez
Director of Local Government Affairs
Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Kern Counties
California Restaurant Association
P.O. Box 32482
Los Angeles, CA 90032
T: 323.774.2559
di uarezO,calrest.org
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CALIFORNIA
RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION
Membership matters.
Check out the CRA Member Benefits video here!
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CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
LOS ANGELES
CHAPTER
December 16, 2019
EI Segundo City Council
City of EI Segundo
EI Segundo City Hall
350 Main St,
EI Segundo, CA 90245
RE: Plastic Straws, Stirrers, and Utensils "Upon Request"
Dear EI Segundo City Council,
On behalf of the members of the California Restaurant Association, I am writing to express our position
on the proposed plastic straws, stirrers, and utensils "upon request" policy for the City of EI Segundo
and offer suggestions that we believe will help change behavior, reduce the environmental impact of
plastic straws, stirrers, and utensils and at the same time allow the local restaurant community to
continue to focus on running their business.
As an industry that shares the ongoing concern over litter by routinely partnering on litter abatement
efforts at the state and local levels, the restaurant community is also concerned about overburdening
landfills and has engaged in public policy to encourage recycling and reduce food waste. Comprehensive
efforts should be aimed at reducing all composition of material in the landfill and littering in our beaches
and waterways. To these goals, CRA has maintained a long-standing history of supporting and
advocating for packaging mandates that require all food -packaging materials to be recyclable or
compostable.
As the City begins to review single use plastic straws, stirrers and utensils "upon request" policies, we
ask that you consider the following:
1. Upon request policy should include the self -serve dispensers at casual dining and quick service
establishments.
The CRA worked to create statewide legislation, AB 1884, as a first step to abate the
unnecessary distribution of plastic straws by enacting an "upon -request" only model for full-
service restaurants. Key elements of this workable "upon request model" include the ability to
self-select a straw from a receptacle, so as not to disrupt restaurant operations, while creating
consumer awareness of straw use and waste. We believe this solution mitigates the negative
reactions from patrons that become agitated that they have not received a straw from the
restaurant and allows them to choose whether or not they want a straw. This policy can also
apply to plastic stirrers and utensils.
Quick service establishments with drive thru service must be able to provide or at the very
least offer straws and other food service products.
California Restaurant Association
P.O. Box 32482, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Drive thru service is most challenging for our community in relation to food packaging
restrictions. Restricting a restaurant's ability to provide drive thru customers with the products
they will need to consume the food and drink they have purchased while in their vehicle will
cause significant customer inconvenience, frustration, and backlash towards employees once
they have driven away from the restaurant. Additionally, there is concern for the safety of our
customers while consuming food and drink in their vehicles if not given the expected food
packaging materials. For these reasons, we believe that drive thru windows should be excluded
from the "single -use plastic straws and utensils upon request" policy or instead have it be an
"upon offer" policy that allows the restaurant to offer straws and utensils to customers.
3. Any upon request policy should include a public awareness campaign period in which
enforcement is delayed to allow the time for the industry and customers to change behavior.
We know that this policy is driven by the desire to abate the use of unnecessary single use
plastic and the impact on our environment. We also recognize that changing public behavior is
difficult and takes time. It is essential that as the City moves forward with a policy that it
includes a public awareness campaign and a delayed enforcement to allow the industry and our
customers to become accustomed with the new rules. We suggest including in the ordinance
something similar to what the city of Los Angeles did and implement the policy in various
phases. Have this policy take effect in restaurants with 26 or more employees in three months
and restaurants with 25 employees or less in 6 months. This will allow the city to do thorough
outreach to all restaurants and other food establishments in the city.
For these reasons, we respectfully request that any upon request food packaging policy considers the
issues we have addressed in this letter and appreciate your time and consideration of our position.
We remain committed to working cooperatively to help the Council design food packaging policy that
will create a public awareness of the environmental impacts. We believe a workable policy that
considers the impact on our hard-working employees and the business community is a win-win for our
industry and the environment.
If I can be of any assistance when drafting the upon request policy or educating our members in EI
Segundo of a new regulation please don't hesitate to contact me at (323) 774-2559 or at
divarez@calrest.om.
Sincerely,
David Juarez
Director of Local Government Affairs
California Restaurant Association
cc: EI Segundo City Council
California Restaurant Association
P.O. Box 32482, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Harada, Patricia
From: Shilling, Mona
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 8:47 AM
To: Harada, Patricia
Subject: FW: City council meeting agenda #11 - PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Patricia,
Public Communication for Item No. 11 on the December 17, 2019 City Council Agenda.
Thank you,
Mona F. Shilling
-----Original Message -----
From: Kimberley Pierce -Lynne [mailto:kimberleyepierce@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2019 8:43 PM
To: ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS
Subject: City council meeting agenda #11
To all -
As a resident of EL Segundo, I very much agree with agenda item 11. 1 have always disliked being given plastic
utensils,etc. when I have not requested them. I have drawers of them that are not used and it's so wasteful. There is
definitely no need for plastic straws or stirrers anymore. Many other biodegradable options to choose from.
It's upsetting that so much plastic is being given out for no reason.
Please consider!
Best,
Kimberley Lynne
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