With the fate of a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in question, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is backing a measure that would ensure the new rules go into effect in Sacramento as scheduled.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bag ban into law earlier this year, but plastic bag manufacturers are gathering signatures in an effort to place the measure up for a vote in 2016.
If they succeed in qualifying the measure for the ballot, it will automatically place a freeze on the proposal until the voters have their say in November 2016. The ban is otherwise scheduled to go into effect in July 2015.
Proponents of the referendum have until December 29 to submit more than 500,000 signatures. That will trigger a counting process from county election officials, who will determine if there are enough valid signatures to place the measure on the 2016 ballot.
Sacramento is not going to wait, says Johnson. Johnson said he would propose a ban to the City Council that is identical to state restrictions. That means Sacramento shoppers would be subject to the ban regardless of what happens with the referendum process.