Council creates ad hoc committee to implement Measure Z sugar‑sweetened beverage tax

The City Council voted to form an ad hoc committee to design the implementation process for Measure Z, the city’s voter‑approved sugar‑sweetened beverage tax. The committee will make recommendations on community outreach, the structure of bylaws and an oversight panel and will work with the city’s Finance Department to prepare an implementation plan to return to the Council for approval.

Deputy City Manager Lisa Murphy told the council Measure Z — a general‑purpose, 2‑cent‑per‑fluid‑ounce tax on sugar‑sweetened beverages approved by city voters — requires a transparent implementation plan, an advisory structure and finance coordination. Murphy said staff will assemble the elements and present a proposed implementation plan to the Council in March.

Committee membership and charge The council appointed Councilmember Trujero, Councilmember Brunner and Vice Mayor Kalantari Johnson to the ad hoc committee. The motion tasks the committee with recommending: - A timeline and process for Measure Z implementation - Bylaws and membership for any oversight or advisory body - Community outreach plans and reporting structures - Coordination steps with Finance to collect and administer the tax revenue

Council comments and timeline Council members praised the measure’s passage and emphasized the need for a transparent process; several members noted past organizing on the item and lauded proponents’ work. Staff said a draft implementation plan and proposed bylaws will come back to Council in March.

Next steps The ad hoc committee will convene with staff support (Finance and Deputy City Manager’s office) to develop a proposed implementation plan and return it to the full City Council for adoption.