Cathedral City table vote on plastic straw ban to Nov. 14

Evening update:

The city council voted 5-0 to table the vote on a ban until November 14. Mayor Pro Term Gregg Pettis, who put forth the ordinance to ban the straws, made the motion to table the vote so the council could get “additional input from the community through a subcommittee and to determine what if any decision the State of California will make on the issue over the next few months.”

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Original Article:

You may soon find plastic straws hard to come by at least in one valley city which is set to vote on whether to ban them. The Cathedral City city council proposed banning plastic straws at a meeting earlier this month with 4 out 5 council members in support. Now they will have a chance to vote on an ordinance.

It would prevent anyone, whether it’s a restaurant or a group that offers drinks at an event, from providing or selling plastic straws.

A key exception, however, is for anyone with a disability that requires the use of a plastic straw in order to safely or comfortably consume their drink, they can still get a plastic straw.

It also says that supermarkets and other stores that also sell groceries are still able to sell plastic straws provided they are in bulk packaging of twelve or more.

This ordinance comes as the state is looking to limit the use of plastic straws. A bill banning restaurants from giving plastic straws unless a customers requests it, passed the Assembly last Thursday and is now awaiting Governor Jerry Brown’s signature.

The city estimates that 81,000 plastic beverage straws are being used every day in the city. If the city’s ordinance is approved, it will take effect in 30 days and there will be a 90 day grace period to educate any beverage vendor on the new rules.