Boulder likely to impose 10-cent bag fee

Boulder appears likely to begin charging shoppers 10 cents for each paper and plastic bag they use at the grocery store.

The Daily Camera reported city councilmembers voted 7-1 Thursday in favor of an ordinance establishing the fee, which would begin in July. Because part of the original proposal was changed, a fourth reading of the plan is set for Nov. 15.

The fee would apply to paper and plastic bags at food retailers, including convenience stores and Target, but gas station stores would be exempt if food sales are less than 2 percent of their business.

Councilman George Karakehian voted against the proposal in an effort to persuade his colleagues to reconsider the fee and change it to a ban on plastic bags.