started to meet and make these atbags available to merchants across the country, so we are seeing large traditional manufacturers starting to comply as well as seeing a significant amount of new entrants into the marketplace who are looking for the opportunity to meet the demand in terms of compose the ball plastic -- compostable plastered. everyone assumes the a canvas bag like this is the only kind of reusable bag that is available. it makes sense if i am going grocery shopping, but if i am going to the store to purchase items, i might not always have this. we want to be clear that the

options businesses have are quite broad, so you have the kind of traditional canvas bags that meet our definition to the tee as well as a bag that is reusable, you could put it in your bag. it is all around you. here is a small manufacturer who came up with an opportunity to be an entrepreneur and is making a significant sale of these. in addition, people have concerns of the legislation is unique in terms of what municipalities are doing. this legislation contemplates the availability to small businesses and businesses at large, composed of all plastic, very different from path in by

as we cannot recycle, it cannot compos, but there are now products on the market place that are compostable plastics, and we have different opportunities but meets the requirements in terms of being reusable, stronger handles, so again, there was an opportunity to share this information, the ability for small businesses as well as large manufacturers, that these types of products are available today, and they are competitively priced. we believe prices continue to fall as demand increases. i have been talking to some of the large manufacturers. they really feel their manufacturers currently produce everything they need to meet the definition in the legislation.

the last thing i wanted to update the commission on is out of reach. the board of supervisors and the mayor and the delay of this until february essentially gave our department the ability to kind of deep and the level of understanding and education that is necessary. we felt that a lot of the media reports were rather inaccurate in terms of trying to identify what was in the legislation and what was not, so we find this an opportunity to increase the depth and knowledge of the legislation with key stakeholders, so they are committed to work with key supervisors. we have been working with

various stakeholders to make sure we try to get a reverse communities, and similar to how the department worked with consumers around the styrofoam ban, where we continue to work with businesses so they understand what these kinds of products are. we will be putting together opportunities and making those available to businesses so they understand what those requirements are. we did a lot of vendor ferriairs where we brought people to come in and talk to businesses to see there is so well so -- there is a wealth of inventory that meets

the requirements, and we continue to do that here. four out reach, that is a cornerstone of what we do. we look at any legislation within environmental focus, and we are trying to create change. the only way to do that is through education. we feel the opportunity to continue to work with other merchants associations and other businesses in santa francisco really is the ability for us to change behavior. we can do that through out leash -- outreach. we see that as an opportunity for us. you have a tremendous wealth of data with respect to making sure

we reach out to all of the district, not only some of the large traditional advocates for businesses but equally for small merchants who may not have formal associations to try to get out there. we are working with our own department and others to do door-to-door efforts with businesses to try to get this message out as well as to give folks an opportunity to better understand what our requirements are, so we really appreciate the good in vice we have received from the commission staff. we look forward to partnering with you as this legislation moves forward and is back to before the board on the first meeting in february. >> just a quick request. may i see the plastic bags?

i would like to feel them. your fax is not the one they us? >> -- >> is about the one they use the democrats to touch and feel i think is very important, and we continue to work with businesses and to bring the vendors back together so folks have the of readily available. >> where are the largest manufacturers? where are they located? but probably the largest are all over the country. goothey are headquartered mostly outside of california. as i mentioned, that bag was

produced right here in california. these ones are made right here in san francisco. we are supporting local business. there are various options. >> one of my main concerns, are the compostable bags subject to the charge if someone gives you one at a point of sale in the produce market, then they still have to charge 10 cents? >> correct. >> that is a significant change in our small markets. that is one question during your five i think it is

important to clarify n.y. -- that is one question. >> it is important to clarify that if i am a consumer i am not charged for that if the cost is imbedded in the general price, so we will see a general charge for that bag. >> that is what i like about the legislation. the merchant can pass the costs directly to the consumer directly, and as we deal with rising costs for produce, in getting them into the price of food and every other cost, it is increasingly difficult, and i think we have to step up and understand the cost of the things we are using, but what does concern me is lower income neighborhoods, and people who

are on extremely limited budgets. they are my primary concern. it is done in other countries, but that is where outreach education comes in. to be passed on to the consumer is my concern. i just want to verbalize that. >> you mentioned earlier bags in direct contact with food, food items, so does that include food to go from restaurants to? >> the legislation and we looked at in two ways. as a diner who goes to a restaurant, my leftovers would not be considered are charged region -- considered a charge.

however, if i asked it been delivered to my place of business, that is a check out bag, so the ban would be applied. >> what about if it is not delivered? i like to stop by. >> take care. >> it is the same vein -- it is the same thing. the issues of concern were are bags that meet the definition available that can withstand heat, that can keep the content there, it is not going to leave? -- leak? many of the compostable bags

meet standards without being able to carry safely a bag of hot food into the car or however you are making your way. >> it will be difficult. let's say i go to a restaurant and order a cup of soup. how do you carry it home without a bag? do we need to bring our own? >> certainly a consumer can bring their own bag, or there will be a charge of 10 cents. >> are you going to reach out to restaurant owners and let them know what alternatives they have? if i buy a cup of soup and it is too hot to hold on to, i know

when you order a soda, they can put it in a box to hold the copups? can they offer alternatives and educates the restaurant owners? >> the restaurant owners are an important constituency. an example is what was done in the past. there was a lot of concern when the city banned styrofoam. a lot of people felt the alternatives would not be as objective for carrying hot but, in fact, we have been able to move away from styrofoam and find alternatives. businesses have been able to continue with a product that is, postal and beneficial for all of us. i think a very similar approach

we're taking with respect to check out bags that there are alternatives available for merchants and store owners to continue to meet their current need and their customer's current needs. >> the alternative, they are using plastic. i get 100 of them at home. >> hopefully, you are reusing them. for example, styrofoam, it can crack or break. there are lots of other opportunities that you can use. >> unlike the styrofoam and the

change where there wasn't a charge to the consumer, what we have heard from businesses is the fact that they don't want to be in the position of educating the consumer at the register on what this new regulation is. i know that there has been a lot of discussion about the outreach to small businesses and those that will be impacted by the legislation. can you speak to the department's plans on education for the consumer? so that when this is enacted, the consumer is informed and the business is not. >> part of the approach that we are taking with consumers is working with the small business owners so that they can comply with the legislation, ultimately, we don't expect them

to have to interpret on behalf of the city, every single requirement that the city has for them at a point of sale. anywhere from if you purchase -- our department is really looking at working with businesses to try to identify. we have contemplated putting together posters that can be available at a point sale, they know why there is a charge associated with this. we talked a lot about really working with media to try to get the message out and get behind his message out. and they will indicate there is a charge specifically required

by the city and county of san francisco. we are exploring the broader range of what the department can do to educate the consumer so that the store owner doesn't fall disproportionately ha. the ideas generated on their part, what they would like to see and some of the traditional ideas that have been very effective, previous changes like what we have done with styrofoam and other activities associated with that. we make sure that all three bands are available, helping consumers understand what the changes are and why they are important. it affects partnership so that it is not burdensome on the store owner, that we collectively share that response. >> in the messaging, i think what would be good it is that

like the three bands, they are part of what the president is required to do. the business is sort of helping in this. it is changing the consumer behavior so that the messaging is really directed toward a target -- targeting the behavioral change. >> really need more people to walk around the reusable bags. i think this commission for the continued support, and we certainly welcome the opportunity. this country last time will be constantly engaged in this effort, engaged in the partnership. president o'brien: i thought it might have been commissioner clyde, but i thought we have suggested a lesser charge --

was that just -- instead of having tiered? and will open it up for public comment. no public comment? public comment is closed. >> this is an informational discussion item with the department as we move forward with this matter. >> commissioners, item 8. presentation from the department of public health on an upcoming business case for lactation accommodation. from the san francisco breast-

feeding promotion coalition. >> my name is jackie and i am he been working with the breast feeding coalition. this kind of stems from the surgeon general's action to support breast-feeding. one of the items she mentions as a barrier to breast feeding the way the american academy of pediatrics recommend exclusively for the first six months and continued for the first 12 months is going back to work. the research has shown that when employers provide accommodations, they continue to breast feed. we are recognizing a free community forum for businesses and it will be on march 28 and it will be in the morning at the

federal building. it is really geared toward the business professional to help them better employment the laws that are in place and provide better lactation accommodations. we will be discussing the health benefits of breast-feeding, what laws are in place, and various strategies to implement these accommodations. and information on how to create policies. we will be providing a tool kit for those in attendance, breakfast and continuing education credits for a tour professionals. i wanted to inform me that this forum is coming out in march, and also, if any of you are interested, we are having a discussion tomorrow with business professionals to get some feedback on what we are planning to offer as long as it

meets the needs of businessees in the area. it will be tomorrow from 1:30 until 3:00. it will help us provide effective tools. we brought some say vashti -- save-the-date flyers. that and i have some cards for the meeting tomorrow. i am open for questions now. commissioner clyde: i just want to thank you for your presentation, it will be great if when you develop these materials, make them available both on the department website as well as on the office of small business. thank you for your advocacy for new mothers. this is a really important piece of advocacy.

>> this is an example of the work we're doing to help businesses provide accommodations. commissioner clyde: think you, it's important. president o'brien: i am curious, a community forum to help implement the laws regarding accommodation, and i understand that currently there are laws that are in place that are not being adhered to? >> there are various levels of the appearance that are in place -- of adherence that are in place. there is some confusion because there are federal laws and state laws. there are also some businesses that are doing above and beyond, meeting the gold standard of accommodating the breast-feeding employees. there are others that are doing

the bare minimum. president o'brien: director? >> chris schillman will be attending this. if there are lots of ideas, he will be able to report back as well. with anything like this, the larger an entity is, the easier it is to facilitate an accommodation. i am just informing you that chris will be attending, who and he will be able to bring more information to the commission as well. president o'brien: i will open it up for public comment. any public comment on this matter? public comment is closed. thank you for the presentation.

>> thank you for waiting to the meeting. -- through the meeting. >> commissioners, i will call item nine, presentation of b lab on b corporations in the staete of california. in due to a scheduling error, they were not able to make it today and made a request to present at the next meeting which i will discuss with the director and the president. for procedural reasons, it puts us on items 10 and 11. the director would like to go through the procedures for the election of officers.

>> can we take a couple minute recess and check on the commissioners that had to step out for a moment? mr. president, can we please take -- president o'brien: i would like to take a recess for five minutes. we gosh we are back at the smal business commission meeting. we are about to call items 10 and 11. i believe the director would like to review the election procedures with the commission? >> we call each position separately, so we do the president first, the vice president. for each position, an individual may nominate themselves are have another individual nominate

them. and in the order of nominations, the commission secretary will invite the nominee to be able to say a few words. and in by the nominee to say a few words. at that particular time, we take public comment on that particular item. excuse me, we take public comment on the individual nominees when that individual goes up for the vote. >> commissioner comments and then the nomination? >> and then public comment. what it is, each commissioner is able to make their statement of why they are interested in this position, and in the order of which the nominations are made leave the -- will be the roll

call for a vote. prior to the roll call, we have public comment. >> commissioner comments come in where? >> prior to the vote. commissioner comment, public comment, vote. this allows the nominee to be able to make their statement before each nominee is voted on. it does require four votes for an individual to be selected and elected as president or vice- president. we have six commissioners, it should be a tie. there will be the discussion of whether you want to carry over the decision and the election to the february meeting.

>> thank you, director. commissioner, item 10 is a election of president to the small business commission. this allows a member of the commission to -- but it requires a motion and a vote. it is an action item. the first thing we will do now, we will: nominations -- we will call nominations by members of the commission. commissioner clyde: i would like to nominate steve adams for president next year. or this year. >> do we need a second? >> no, are there any other nominees? president o'brien: seeing non, we go to the