The Hood River City Council has directed its staff to develop an ordinance to prohibit retail establishments from distributing single use plastic carryout bags and to encourage the distribution and use of reusable bag options.  Councilors are using an ordinance adopted in Corvallis as a model, which includes a requirement for retail stores to charge not less than five cents for recyclable paper bags.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says the ordinance would include a chance for business to prepare.  Wheeler expects an ordinance will be ready for a public hearings process in the next two months.  Mayor Paul Blackburn has been recommending adoption of the ordinance, calling plastic bags a significant source of waste creating long-term landfill degradation issues.