Council members introduced a policy initiative to study a disposable foodware impact fee designed to recoup costs associated with litter, stormwater compliance and maintenance of frontage roads heavily used by interstate traffic. The proposal drew questions from council and businesses about legal nexus studies, business burdens and potential exemptions for small local establishments.

Why it matters: Colfax is an interstate frontage town with a high share of pass‑through vehicle traffic that contributes to litter and road wear. Sponsors said a narrowly framed fee could generate revenue for cleanup and infrastructure mitigation while exempting local residents.

Council discussion: Council members and staff emphasized that a legally defensible nexus study is required to establish a direct connection between the fee and the mitigation costs. Council also heard written comments from the California Restaurant Association, the California Grocers Association and the local business community asking for more study time and caution about administrative burdens on small businesses.

Council direction: Rather than adopt a fee, council voted to table the resolution and directed staff to provide a cost estimate for a nexus study (staff estimated the study would likely be in the range of $10,000 or less, depending on vendor quotes) and to return the matter for future consideration. Council members asked staff to identify likely revenue scenarios, business impacts, and possible exemptions for small or locally owned establishments.

Next steps: Staff will obtain vendor quotes and a scope for a nexus study, return with cost estimates and likely revenue projections, and agendize the item for a future meeting so council can consider whether to proceed to ordinance drafting and outreach.

Public comment: Local small business owners expressed concern that the fee and associated software tracking could impose significant administrative burdens on small downtown merchants and might deter tourism; residents and other council members said the idea warrants study given the maintenance burden created by pass‑through traffic.