The Watsonville City Council will consider a plastic bag ban and a new community garden at its meeting Tuesday evening, two efforts to make the city more environmentally-friendly.
The proposed prohibition on plastic bags at grocery stores and other retailers comes on the heels of , which went into affect in March and impacts all stores in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County.
Reducing single-use plastic carryout bags has been touted as a way to eliminate trash and improve the health of the environment, particularly on the Central Coast. Used bags often find their way into waterways and the Monterey Bay, which can be harmful to wildlife.
The city council also is set to approve , a neighborhood near the Watsonville Slough. The proposed garden has gone through a public input process and follows . However, from Watsonville residents who believe using the city-owned land for agriculture will put the delicate wetlands environment in jeopardy.
E-waste disposal and are also on the agenda.
in the City Council Chambers, on the fourth floor of the Civic Plaza, 275 Main St.
In its early session, which starts at 4 p.m., the city council is expected to approve plans for lighting and landscape maintenance on the Gonzales Street Alley, the Bay Breeze subdivision and the Vista Montaña subdivision. That includes levying and collecting assessments to pay for the work, so the council likely will have a public hearing May 22 about the projects.
The city council also will hear a report on the city's .
