HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 2 T PRIDE COMM 12-06-93DATE:
DECEMBER 6, 1993
REPORTS NO. 2
12-6-93
TO' WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: COMMTTNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: TUSTIN PRIDE COM~{ITTEE PROGRAM UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file attached report from the Tustin Pride Committee.
BACKGROUND.
The Tustin Pride Committee was formed nine months ago. One of the
areas of concern of the Committee has been abandoned grocery
shopping carts.
The attached report from the Committee was prepared to inform the
City Council about the Grocery Shopping Cart Retrieval Program.
Rlta Westflel~
Assistant Director of
Community Development Department
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DATE:
DECEMBER 6, 1993
Inter-eom
TO: TUSTIN CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TUSTIN PRIDE COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: GROCERY SHOPPING CART RETRIEVAL PROGRAM
At the direction of the City Council, city staff notified
interested citizens in the community and organized the first ad-hoc
task force beautification meeting.
On March 9, 1993 the "Tustin Pride" Committee was formed.
The purpose of the committee is to promote public interest in the
general improvement and/or maintenance of the environment of Tustin
and to initiate, plan, direct and coordinate programs which "expand
community pride through projects and community action and to
promote a cleaner, healthier, safer, more beautiful Tustin". The
Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council on
programs furthering the goals of the Tustin Pride Committee.
Per the request of Councilman Thomas, we would like to update the
Council on one of the Tustin Pride projects.
On input from several apartment managers and homeowner
associations, the Tustin Pride Committee found a serious problem in
some areas of the City regarding abandoned shopping.carts.
The Committee contacted the 8000 member California Grocers
Association Group through Beth Beeman, Director City/County
Government Relations. On August 17, 1993, Ms. Beeman attended the
Tustin Pride Committee and gave a presentation on the shopping cart
problem. We learned that an average market loses about $20,000 in
shopping carts each year. This loss is picked up through
everyone's food bill at the local supermarket.
The present shopping cart retrieval program has each market
responsible for their own carts, according to Ms. Beeman this
program is not working. A new program is being developed and will
be handled by the California Grocers Association. A contractor
will pick up all carts for all members' stores. The new programis
anticipated to be in place by January 1994 for all of Southern
California. The present program uses a hot line number (800-252-
4613) in order to report abandoned shopping carts; this number will
continue to be the same for the new program.
Memo to Tustin City Council
December 6, 1993
Page 2
Ms. Beeman provided the committee with a video explainin9 the
widespread problem of abandoned carts. We learned that it is
against State law to take shoppinG carts out of parkinG lots. The
law states that it is a misdemeanor, and on conviction, a fine of
up to $1,000 and six months in jail can be imposed. It was
recommended that we request our local cable TV operator to use this
video as a public service information message.
We also learned that some cities in Southern California have
enacted stricter laws on this matter.
The California Grocers Association will be providinG the local
suFermarkets with flyers to inform the customers of the law. The
flyer will be in both EnGlish and Spanish and will be placed in
each Grocery baG, by the store checker. Tustin Pride has mailed
the California Grocers Association a list identifyinG areas of
concern in the City of Tustin recommendinG that these areas be
targeted for extra coverage.
The Tustin Pride Committee is lookinG for more public spirited
pecple to participate on the Tustin Pride Committee. MeetinGs are
he2~ once a month on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.,
at ~he Tustin City Hall, Community Development Conference Room.
The Committee is requestinG that the City Council help us promote
new membership.
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