At the October 2, 2019 Commission meeting an ordinance to prohibit the sale or distribution of plastic straws in Oakland Park was brought before City Commissioners for a first reading. The City Commission passed the ordinance by a vote of 4-1. Commissioners Bolin, Carn, Lonergan and Vice Mayor Sparks voted in favor of the ban. Mayor Guevrekian voted against it.
At last night’s Commission meeting the ordinance passed on second reading by a vote of 4-1. Commissioners Bolin, Carn, Lonergan and Vice Mayor Sparks voted for the ban and Mayor Guevrekian voted against it.
The approval of the vote on second reading made the plastic straw ban in Oakland Park official as of October 16, 2019.
What the Prohibition of Sale or Distribution of Plastic Straws Ordinance States
The ordinance states “That Chapter 8 entitled “Miscellaneous Offenses and Provisions,” 8 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Oakland Park, Florida is amended by creating Article IX, entitled “Prohibition of Sale or Distribution of Plastic Straws”.
The Article contains four sections, 8-135, 8-136, 8-137, and 8-138.
The first section 8-135 provides for definitions relating to the ordinance. The second section, Section 8-136 states “(1) A Plastic Straw shall not be sold or distributed within the City of Oakland Park in or by any commercial establishment or at any City Facility or City Property or by any Special Event Permittee”. Section 8-136 continues by describing exceptions to the prohibition.
Section 8-137 details a public education campaign regarding the plastic straw ban. “Following adoption of this Section and for a period of six (6) months, the City shall engage in public education efforts deemed appropriate by the City to inform commercial establishments of the provisions of this Section and to provide assistance in identifying alternatives to Plastic Straws”.
After 6 months of this public education efforts commercial establishments are to cease providing plastic straws. After this 6 month grace period code enforcement officers can begin enforcing the ban by fining establishments.
Section 8-138 provides for enforcement and penalties. Section 8-138 states that “(1) Commencing one (1) year after the adoption of this Ordinance, the City’s Code Compliance Officer(s) shall commence enforcement violations of this Section 8-138. (2)Penalties for violations of the provisions shall be considered as a Class III violation 14 as set forth in Section 24-234 of the City’s Code of Ordinances“. A Class III violation fine is $100 for the first offense, and $300 for repeat violations.
