Details Meeting Name: Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing (inactive) Agenda status: Final Meeting date/time: 6/21/2018 1:00 PM Minutes status: Final   Meeting location: Council Chambers - City Hall Published agenda: Agenda Published minutes: Minutes   Meeting video: Video   Attachments: CLICK ANY FILE # BELOW (in blue) TO ACCESS ATTACHMENTS Meeting Items (7) 7 records Group Clear sorting Clear grouping Group by Type Group by Result Export Export to Excel Export to PDF Export to Word Show: All agenda items Legislation only All agenda items File # Ver. Prime Sponsor Agenda # Agenda Note Name Type Summary Action Result Action Details Multimedia                     Roll call Not available Int 0823-2018 * Joseph C. Borelli     Allowing food service establishments to charge a COVID-19 recovery charge. Introduction Restaurants have struggled since the onset of COVID-19 and the associated in-person dining restrictions went into effect, forcing many out of business with many others barely surviving. However, current rules prohibit restaurants from charging any fees other than the listed price of food and drink, even if such surcharge is clearly disclosed. This bill would help restaurants by temporarily allowing them to add a “COVID-19 Recovery Charge” of up to 10% of a customer’s total bill. The menu and bill would need to clearly disclose this charge. This surcharge would be permitted until 90 days after full indoor dining is once again permitted. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 0823-2018 * Joseph C. Borelli     Allowing food service establishments to charge a COVID-19 recovery charge. Introduction Restaurants have struggled since the onset of COVID-19 and the associated in-person dining restrictions went into effect, forcing many out of business with many others barely surviving. However, current rules prohibit restaurants from charging any fees other than the listed price of food and drink, even if such surcharge is clearly disclosed. This bill would help restaurants by temporarily allowing them to add a “COVID-19 Recovery Charge” of up to 10% of a customer’s total bill. The menu and bill would need to clearly disclose this charge. This surcharge would be permitted until 90 days after full indoor dining is once again permitted. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 0936-2018 * Helen K. Rosenthal     Restricting single-use plastic beverage straws, beverage stirrers and beverage splash sticks, and to repeal chapter 4 of title 16 of such code, relating to rechargeable batteries. Introduction This bill would restrict food service establishments – such as restaurants, cafes, delis, bars, grocery stores and food trucks – from providing single-use plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks to customers. Providing single-use plastic stirrers and splash sticks of any kind would be prohibited. Providing non-compostable, single-use plastic straws would be prohibited except upon request. For customers who request a non-compostable plastic straw, food service establishments would be required to provide one free of charge, without inquiring about the reason for the request. To refuse to provide a non-compostable plastic straw or to inquire about the reason for the request could constitute a violation of the City’s Human Rights Law. Food service establishments would additionally be required to stock non-compostable plastic straws to fulfill customer requests, and would have to post signs advertising the straws’ availability at self-serve stations. Compostable plastic straws would be permitted to be given out upon request only for use on-premises, and only if the food service establishment properly separates and disposes of those straws through a commercial composting provider. Food service establishments who violate the provisions of this bill would be liable for civil penalties. This bill would also repeal Chapter 4 of Title 16 of the Administrative Code pertaining to the recycling of rechargeable batteries, which is currently governed by State law. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 0936-2018 * Helen K. Rosenthal     Restricting single-use plastic beverage straws, beverage stirrers and beverage splash sticks, and to repeal chapter 4 of title 16 of such code, relating to rechargeable batteries. Introduction This bill would restrict food service establishments – such as restaurants, cafes, delis, bars, grocery stores and food trucks – from providing single-use plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks to customers. Providing single-use plastic stirrers and splash sticks of any kind would be prohibited. Providing non-compostable, single-use plastic straws would be prohibited except upon request. For customers who request a non-compostable plastic straw, food service establishments would be required to provide one free of charge, without inquiring about the reason for the request. To refuse to provide a non-compostable plastic straw or to inquire about the reason for the request could constitute a violation of the City’s Human Rights Law. Food service establishments would additionally be required to stock non-compostable plastic straws to fulfill customer requests, and would have to post signs advertising the straws’ availability at self-serve stations. Compostable plastic straws would be permitted to be given out upon request only for use on-premises, and only if the food service establishment properly separates and disposes of those straws through a commercial composting provider. Food service establishments who violate the provisions of this bill would be liable for civil penalties. This bill would also repeal Chapter 4 of Title 16 of the Administrative Code pertaining to the recycling of rechargeable batteries, which is currently governed by State law. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 0965-2018 * Rafael L. Espinal, Jr.     Applications for retail dealer licenses for sale of cigarettes or tobacco products. Introduction This bill would allow businesses selling tobacco products, but not cigarettes, that have not previously registered for a tobacco retail dealer license 180 days to do so. In addition, the Department of Consumer Affairs would be required to notify the persons eligible to apply pursuant to this bill about the application process and deadline. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 0965-2018 * Rafael L. Espinal, Jr.     Applications for retail dealer licenses for sale of cigarettes or tobacco products. Introduction This bill would allow businesses selling tobacco products, but not cigarettes, that have not previously registered for a tobacco retail dealer license 180 days to do so. In addition, the Department of Consumer Affairs would be required to notify the persons eligible to apply pursuant to this bill about the application process and deadline. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available