St. Pete council will not consider lifting straw ban

A St. Petersburg City Council member’s request to discuss lifting a municipal ban on plastic straws sparked multiple heated exchanges Thursday.

Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. said the committee referral was “more so” about the ordinance enforcement. He also mentioned a recent presidential executive order and questioned the city’s compliance with the federal mandate.

However, as Councilmember Brandi Gabbard stated, the word “lifting” was a “non-starter.” She asked Givens, who assumed office in January, why he would broach the subject.

Givens reiterated his legal concerns and said many people laughed when discussing the ban, which was enacted in 2020. His comments came after several stakeholders stressed the ordinance’s importance during the public forum.

“It’s great we’re having this (debate) because that was the purpose of it – to blow the whistle so we could sound the alarm that yes, this is great, it’s cute and all, but it’s pointless if there’s no teeth in the ordinance,” Givens said. “That was my point.”

The ardent discourse, atypical for committee referrals, then reached a crescendo. Councilmember Gina Driscoll led the city’s efforts to ban single-use plastic straws. She and Gabbard were on the dais when the ordinance passed.

“I try to be tough, but it’s kind of hard when I sit here next to someone who says that people laughed at us,” Driscoll said. “And I sit next to someone who called it cute. But we know better.”

Givens said people with disabilities thought the city should reexamine its ordinance. Assistant City Attorney Michael Dema said it offers exceptions for people with physical or medical issues.

Givens said the ban presents problems for businesses. Councilmember Mike Harting, who owns 3 Daughters Brewing, compared the municipal initiative to the state’s ban on smoking.

“If we did repeal this, no one would change,” Harting explained. “They (hospitality businesses) still wouldn’t use them. It’s a good idea. It just took a little nudging.”

A craft cocktail from a bar in downtown St. Petersburg came with a paper straw. Photo by Mark Parker.

The council was unanimous in its disdain for a formal discussion on lifting the ban or the city’s lackadaisical approach to enforcement. Several members said it highlighted the city’s commitment to environmental protection.

Several public speakers highlighted the tangible benefits. One noted the increasing preponderance of microplastics in the ocean and human bodies.

Jenna Byrne, founder of the Water Warriors Alliance, said wind carries 80% of surface debris into stormwater drains. Her nonprofit network implemented a U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol to track marine trash before the city adopted its ban.

“I have seen a 700% reduction in plastic straws since this ordinance was adopted,” Byrne said. “Again, moving forward and not backward makes the most sense for everyone.”

She said paper straws are now more affordable and durable; some can last 24 hours. Byrne also recommended options made from sugar cane and coconut husks.

Many restaurant owners only provide straws upon request, which typically saves money. Enforcement is complaint-based, and Dema said the first violation results in a warning. Repeat offenders receive a $40 and $80 fine.

“The whole intent was to be educational and induce some behavioral change,” Dema said. “Not to come in with a heavy hand.”

He said the president’s executive order outlaws the forced use of paper straws. It does not apply to the local ordinance.

Jenna Byrne, founder of the Water Warrior Alliance, uses a Watergoat to collect trash from Salt Creek before it connects to Bartlett Lake. Photo provided.

Another public stakeholder said the municipal initiative “managed to slide under the watchful gaze of these state preemption overlords.” Multiple council members agreed with her sentiment.

Gabbard credited Driscoll for “changing the game when it came to plastics” in the city. She also noted that while St. Petersburg is “severely preempted from doing so many things, this is one that even the governor himself” supported in 2019.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, not known for supporting home rule, vetoed legislation that would have negated the city’s efforts. “He said, and I quote, ‘The state should simply allow local communities to address the issue through their political process,’” Gabbard continued.

Givens said the debate did not represent the entire community. He also believes it is “pointless to have cleanups if you only clean up certain parts of the city.”

Givens said his contentious committee referral had a positive outcome as officials agreed to educate event organizers who haven’t followed best practices for environmental stewardship. He then removed his request, which did not garner support for a vote, from consideration.

“Regulations are not the answer – conversations are the answer,” Givens said. “I am happy this came forward, regardless of what direction it goes in, because it shows our implicit biases.”