Moses Lake City Council is exploring a new community recovery program aimed at addressing the issue of abandoned shopping carts while supporting local businesses. During the recent council meeting, a proposal was discussed that would allow businesses to contribute to a community fund, which would facilitate the collection of shopping carts scattered throughout the city.

The initiative, inspired by a similar program in Everett, seeks to avoid penalizing businesses for cart abandonment. Instead, it encourages them to participate in a community-driven solution. Council member Deanna Martinez highlighted the potential benefits, stating that the program could help clean up the city and generate funds for community projects.

Council member Victor Lombardi raised concerns about previous attempts to engage local retailers in similar initiatives, noting a lack of cooperation in past surveys regarding a recovery system. However, he expressed support for further outreach to retailers to gauge their interest in this new proposal.

The council is considering meeting with representatives from the retail association to develop a feasible plan. The funds generated from this program would not go through the city but would be directed to community organizations, such as the fire or police department benevolent funds.

As discussions continue, the council aims to find a balanced approach that supports local businesses while enhancing the community's cleanliness and safety. The next steps will involve further exploration of the program's logistics and potential collaboration with local retailers.