Some council members urge narrow fixes, caution against micromanaging departments

Council Member Ramirez and others said they support transparency but expressed concern the ordinance could micromanage departmental operations. Ramirez asked whether an alternative approach would be to require MOUs come to council or to ban chemical recycling outright rather than broadly requiring council approval for any recycling-related contract or program.

"I'm a little bit concerned about trying to micromanage, city department," Ramirez said, and suggested the committee consider narrower language directed at MOUs or targeted restrictions on chemical recycling. Council Member Carter and others described the prior MOU arrangements as lacking necessary operational elements and said the specific past programs are not active now; the conversation closed with Martinez saying he'd work with colleagues to refine definitions, notice requirements and what constitutes a major policy change.