Lolita Harper
COSTA MESA -- A meeting on Wednesday designed to coordinate efforts to
rid city streets of abandoned shopping carts served to educate grocers
and city officials and forge commitments to work together in the future.
Although no clear-cut solution was agreed upon, retail store
representatives said they have a better understanding of the severity of
the shopping cart dilemma and are willing to work with the city to
alleviate the problem.
"If we all work together to find a solution, we will all walk away
winners," Mayor Linda Dixon said.
Sandi Benson, the code enforcement manager for the city, invited 32
retail companies, including grocers, drug stores, clothing and lumber
stores. Representatives from 10 of them showed up.
In August, the council unanimously agreed to solicit a company to pick
up abandoned carts around the city. The city could spend up to $7,000 a
month for a retrieval service. Rather than spend taxpayer money,
residents said they wanted grocery store officials to take responsibility
for their own carts.
It was that City Council meeting that prompted Wednesday's meeting at
the Neighborhood Community Center.
Representatives from eight of the companies said they already had
agreements with a cart retrieval agency -- California Cart Retrieval --
to pick up errant carts.
"We have a guy [from California Cart Retrieval] who works for us seven
days a week. He's our guy, and we pay him good money," said Alfred
Espinoza, the district manager for Stater Bros.
Nick Ellena, from Growers Direct, said he had a deal with the same
company but that his carts were less likely to be picked up because his
business is small.
"They would be more willing to get [the carts from a big business]
because they'll get paid for 30 than pick up one of my carts," Ellena
said.
After some back and forth, everyone decided to hold another meeting
and agreed to invite a representative from the cart retrieval company to
join the discussion.
"I think we need to get them involved also," said David Kokx, the
manager of Vons on 17th Street.
Councilwoman Libby Cowan said she agreed it would take a group effort
to solve the problem but reiterated that the city should not be expected
to bear the brunt of the cost.
"It's not a financial burden that should be taken on by only the
city," Cowan said. "If we're not getting reimbursed, then we don't think
it is fair."
Cowan suggested the city take over the individual contracts for cart
removal, so it can demand that all carts be picked up regardless of the
