Correspondence - Item 28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart Instacart S Beale Street, Suite 0 San Francisco, CA 94105 May 5, 2026 Mayor Amezcua Santa Ana City Council 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Formal Comments on Proposed Self-Checkout Ordinance - Agenda Item # 28 Dear Mayor Amezcua and Members of the City Council, On behalf of Instacart, I write to express our concerns regarding certain provisions of the proposed self-checkout ordinance, and to highlight the potential unintended consequences for customers seeking affordable grocery options. Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America. One of the technologies we have worked to bring to our retail partners is our Caper Carts, designed right here in California. These mobile smart carts are intended to help enhance the in-store shopping experience by increasing accessibility, affordability, and convenience, while also serving as a tool for retailers to combat retail theft. Caper Carts feature real-time spending totals, loyalty program integration, and digital coupons empowering customers to stay on track and maximize their grocery dollars—particularly those on fixed budgets such as seniors or low income families. As a trusted partner to local retailers, we share the city's goal of addressing theft and promoting safe work environments across retail and grocery stores. However, the ordinance's current wording inadvertently categorizes our Caper Cart technology as self-service checkout, resulting in unintended outcomes. For instance, under the current language, the ordinance appears to require a single employee to follow around a customer using a Caper Cart throughout the shopping experience in order to supervise its "operation". This severely limits its use and discourages adoption, despite the demonstrated benefits of Caper Carts in saving customers money, improving the in-store experience, driving growth for brick and mortar stores, and aiding in both safety and theft prevention. Importantly, state legislation addressing self-checkout systems is in the final stages of development this legislative session. This effort aims to create uniform standards across California's grocery sector. Instacart has been an active participant in this statewide process, working closely with the bill's author and key stakeholders to craft thoughtful solutions that address key issues, including theft prevention and workplace safety.