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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-23-2018 Work Session Meeting MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA ) ( COUNTY OF BALDWIN ) ( The City Council met in a Work Session at 4:30 p.m., Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chamber, 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama 36532, on Monday, 23 July 2018. Present were Council President Jack Burrell, Councilmembers: Jay Robinson, Jimmy Conyers, Robert Brown, and Kevin Boone, Mayor Karin Wilson, and City Clerk Lisa A. Hanks. City Attorney Marcus E. McDowell was absent. Council President Burrell called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The following topics were discussed: The Discussion of the Negative Impact of Single Use Straws was presented by Kate Murray who read the attached handout. Council President Burrell commented that she was a wonderful speaker and gave the cost of straws. He asked staff to research any ordinances and how other Cities dealt with this issue. The City Council applauded Ms. Murray's mission; and thought this should be a grass roots issue. The Discussion on Installation of Seasonal LED Lights was next on the agenda. Purchasing Manager Jillian Baffle explained the need to stay with the present vendor due to time constraints. Operations Manager Richard Peterson also stated it was too late to rebid and explained the use of the sealed lights that are good for three years. Councilmember Conyers questioned labor and possibility of employing two or three people for this task. Councilmember Robinson said employees told him they were disappointed without getting the overtime. Council President Burrell questioned using seasonal employees. Public Works Director Richard Johnson said we need to identify labor pool and equipment. Councilmember Boone reminded everyone that we had a storm last year and a crew was sent to help from our Electric Department. Midtown Medical Clinic Board Discussion was presented by Bob Mannich. He explained the need to close out the account and dissolve the Board, but the City Council needs to appoint members. Mr. Mannich said there was approximately $117,743.00 in the account at this time. The Yacht Club and Channel Dredging Discussion was discussed next by Public Works Director Richard Johnson and Ellis Ollinger with the Yacht Club. Mr. Johnson stated we are checking with our attomey on public good and public need; and make sure no issues with any Public Works Bid Law. The City Council questioned additional work being added to the dredging and why Fly Creek was not included in this project. I want to thank Mayor Wilson and City Council for giving me the opportunity to speak about the negative impact that single use straws are having on the environment. My name is Kate Murray and I have been a Fairhope resident all my life. I have lived within walking distance to the bay and like many of you, I have enjoyed fun filled activities such as: Kids Fishing day at Weeks Bay, and Earth Day at the Fairhope Pier. These events have shaped me into the young adult I am today and I believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience them. However, if the environmental crisis continues these events will not exist. In addition, these single use plastic straws are detrimental to oceans and the sea creatures that live there. Each year, sea turtles and other sea animals are ingesting more and more plastic that is killing them in tremendous numbers. We as a community can make a difference and help create an environmentally cautious town that will benefit us all. I am here today to respectfully urge the City of Fairhope to consider banning single use straws in our community. Establishments with the need for these supplies have numerous eco-friendly alternatives that can be used. For example, paper straws rigid enough to NOT break down in your drink, bamboo straws, AND a more favorable option, bendable stainless steel straws. These alternatives are manufactured from practical and sustainable materials allowing them to be used time and time again. I knew I had to take action in this matter after reading an article titled “A Moment on the Lips, a Lifetime in the Landfill”. In America alone, 500 MILLION straws A DAY are being thrown away in our landfills. And they do not go away. There are only 10 cities in California that have taken responsibility and have recently created a city ordinance that bans plastic straws. Only five other states have single use straw bans in a couple of their cities. I want to take the initiative and request a community viewing of the documentary “STRAWS,” by Linda Booker. Booking a screening of STRAWS in our community will bring people together to start a movement about ending plastic straw use. If you are interested in the film you can watch a short trailer that gives a brief history on the origin of the straw and how it is a huge contributor to landfill pollution and the destruction of sea life. There are simple and easy ways that you, as an individual, can start making a difference. When dining out, refuse the plastic straw with your drink, if you order takeout and are going home to eat, refuse the plastic cutlery. I personally have started making a change by carrying these eco-friendly paper straws in my mom and dad’s car, so I have one handy, when I refuse a straw at the fast food drive thru. The change starts with us. By refusing this single use plastic straw, not only are we saving one more straw from ending up in our oceans and landfills but we are also letting the culture of that restaurant shift. I have spoken to local restaurants and they are willing to pledge against the use of plastic straws. I do believe, our community as a whole, will be receptive to this change, but we need to bring awareness to our community members. I did not give it much thought until I picked up that magazine. The HALF A BILLION number of plastic straws A DAY in America alone is what blew me away!! I am confident that you will agree of the urgency to take action on this matter and that in the near future the screening of the documentary “STRAWS” will be viewed by our community and a conversation will get started. Fairhope has already been voted one of the best cities in the country to live in, let’s put it on the map again by making it the first city on the Eastern Shore that pledges to ban single use straws. Thank you Mayor and City Council for giving me the time to speak about this environmental topic that impacts not only Fairhope but the world. Strawsfilm.com → Documentary Fun Fact: August 14, 2006, Fairhope took the initiative to ban city smoking in Baldwin County (ordinance No. 1311)