City of Mill Valley – Community Input on Shopping Bag Regulations Survey

Governor Jerry Brown has generated a ton of attention in recent days for signing into law what the City of Mill Valley is already doing at its local supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies to reduce waste: banning single-use plastic bags and require a minimum fee of 10 cents on paper and compostable bags.

The single-use disposable "shopping bag ordinance" is an example of the City's sustainability programs, and is among City Council's top priorities as part of its mission to preserve a high quality of life for its residents, businesses and visitors.

Mill Valley's shopping bag ordinance has been in effect at grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores since November 2013, and currently requires these stores to charge five cents for single-use paper bags. The City is interested in collecting feedback from the community about applying the shopping bag ordinance to a larger number of stores and/or increasing the paper bag fee. Based on the recently adopted State law, the City's fee must be increased to at least 10 cents by July 2015.

Your input is valuable to us. Results from the survey will be communicated back to City Council and assist the City in possible modifications to the ordinance.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this quick survey.

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* 1. Tell us about yourself. (Check all that apply) Do you:

Live in Mill Valley

Work in Mill Valley

Visit Mill Valley on a regular basis

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* 2. Full Name (optional)

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* 3. Address (optional)

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* 4. Email Address - If you would like to be notified about updates on the “plastic bag” ordinance.

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* 5. Do you generally support the bag ban, restricting the distribution of single-use bags and encouraging the use of reusable bags?

Yes

I'm not sure

Additional Comments

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* 6. Would you like to see the City’s bag ban applied to other retail stores besides grocery stores, convenience stores and mini-marts?

Yes

I'm not sure

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* 7. If you answered yes, check all that you would like the regulations to apply to:

Only large stores with more than $1 million in annual revenue

All retail stores

All retail including restaurants

All retail operations including farmers markets and City-sponsored events

Additional comments or suggestions

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* 8. The current ordinance excludes “product bags” from the ordinance, which are bags used to protect goods such as greeting cards or to carry items in the store such as produce, meats or other bulk items.
Should these bags continue to be excluded from the ordinance?

Yes

No, ban plastic bags associated with “product bags” (produce, bulk items, greeting cards)

No, charge a fee associated with paper “product bags” (produce, bulk items, greeting cards)

No, charge a fee associated with pharmacy paper bags

I'm not sure

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* 9. Would you or your store support increasing the amount charged for paper bags?

Yes

I'm not sure

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* 10. If you answered "Yes" - How would you like to see the fee increased?

Establish a 10-cent fee per bag

Establish a 25-cent fee per bag

Establish a bag fee that is consistent with other jurisdictions in Marin County (currently 10 cents)

Establish a phased approach that would initially start at 10 cents and then increase to 25 cents within a given timeframe?

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* 11. Do you have any other suggestions to modify/clarify the ordinance or to assist with implementing the ordinance?

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* 12. Do you own a store in Mill Valley? If no, please stop here and submit your survey. Thank you.

Yes

If Yes, please tell us the name of your business and any additional contact information.

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* 13. Is your store currently regulated by the "plastic bag ban" ordinance?

Yes

No (go to Question 8)

I'm not sure

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* 14. If Yes, do you see more of your customers bringing their own bags to avoid the fee?

Yes

I'm not sure

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* 1. Tell us about yourself. (Check all that apply) Do you:

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* 2. Full Name (optional)

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* 3. Address (optional)

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* 4. Email Address - If you would like to be notified about updates on the “plastic bag” ordinance.

Question Title

* 5. Do you generally support the bag ban, restricting the distribution of single-use bags and encouraging the use of reusable bags?

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* 6. Would you like to see the City’s bag ban applied to other retail stores besides grocery stores, convenience stores and mini-marts?

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* 7. If you answered yes, check all that you would like the regulations to apply to:

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* 8. The current ordinance excludes “product bags” from the ordinance, which are bags used to protect goods such as greeting cards or to carry items in the store such as produce, meats or other bulk items.Should these bags continue to be excluded from the ordinance?

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* 9. Would you or your store support increasing the amount charged for paper bags?

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* 10. If you answered "Yes" - How would you like to see the fee increased?

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* 11. Do you have any other suggestions to modify/clarify the ordinance or to assist with implementing the ordinance?

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* 12. Do you own a store in Mill Valley? If no, please stop here and submit your survey. Thank you.

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* 13. Is your store currently regulated by the "plastic bag ban" ordinance?

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* 14. If Yes, do you see more of your customers bringing their own bags to avoid the fee?

* 8. The current ordinance excludes “product bags” from the ordinance, which are bags used to protect goods such as greeting cards or to carry items in the store such as produce, meats or other bulk items.
Should these bags continue to be excluded from the ordinance?