DATE: January 8, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Water Utilities Department
TITLE: UPDATE ON MARINE DEBRIS REDUCTION ORDINANCE
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council receive an update on the Marine Debris Reduction Ordinance (MDRO).
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On August 23, 2023, the City Council approved and adopted an ordinance aimed at reducing marine debris by expanding on the State’s current single-use plastic bag ban and adding a prohibition on polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam) sales in the City of Oceanside (Ordinance 23-OR0645-1). A copy of the Ordinance is included as Attachment 2. Key effective dates of the ordinance include the July 1, 2024, prohibition of polystyrene foam products, and the January 1, 2025, prohibition of single-use carryout bags, where businesses may provide a reusable bag or recyclable paper bag for at least a 10-cent charge.
The City contracted with The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce ($10,000), and MainStreet Oceanside ($10,500), to conduct education and outreach to the business community, including engaging stakeholders, magazine and newsletter articles, in-person and online educational workshops, door-to-door outreach and technical assistance, MDRO messaging at two informational kiosks, distributing educational flyers at the weekly Farmer’s Market and via the Downtown Ambassador Program, and social media messaging. MainStreet Oceanside’s contractual obligation has ended, but the Chamber of Commerce’s runs through June 30, 2025.
During the outreach activities, businesses were largely aware of the ordinance and understood the requirements. Currently, non-compliance is addressed on a complaint-received basis, with an education-first approach, where businesses are educated on the requirements of the ordinance and offered technical assistance. To date, there have been only a few complaints received. In those case, the businesses in question were contacted and additional enforcement action has not been necessary.
Below is a summary of key outreach strategies that have occurred since the adoption of the ordinance.
Business Educational Material
• City staff engaged stakeholders to better understand and implement the Ordinance.
• Outreach materials, including a business poster, business education notice, PowerPoint presentation, and FAQs were developed in English and Spanish.
• Business mailings on the new requirements and promotion of the online and virtual workshops were distributed through the City’s Economic Development Division.
• Magazine and newsletter articles and KOCT video segments promoting the upcoming requirements and workshops were published.
• City staff partnered with MainStreet Oceanside and Oceanside Chamber of Commerce to provide two in-person and one online educational workshop to businesses. Although lightly attended, these workshops focused on educating businesses of the requirements and providing tools and solutions for compliance. A recording of the February 29, 2024, Chamber of Commerce in-person workshop is available online for businesses to review.
• MainStreet Oceanside and Oceanside Chamber of Commerce staff conducted door-to-door outreach to 161 affected businesses in their service areas (61 and 100 respectively), and included announcements in electronic newsletters and social media posts, and in printed publications.
• MDRO messaging was shared at two informational kiosks on Pier View Way from May through October 2024. This included MDRO messaging to help visitors and residents remember to bring reusable bags when shopping or be prepared to pay for a reusable bag, and when eating takeout or fast food to skip single-use food service ware or only request food accessories and condiments they will use.
• MainStreet Oceanside distributed flyers from January through June 2024 at the weekly Farmer’s Market information booth and Downtown Ambassador Program.
• Distribution of MDRO outreach materials to affected businesses occurred during recycling technical assistance visits by Waste Management, and edible food recovery technical assistance visits by the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation. Continued messaging will be provided to businesses via social media, publications, and via a business mailing from Economic Development Division. This will include continued outreach through social media posts on a quarterly basis via Green Oceanside publications and Chamber of Commerce social media posts on a monthly basis and in quarterly magazine publications; Osider bimonthly publications; distribution of flyers to Resource Centers, City Hall, and City Library; and four email blasts through Economic Development,
• Messaging to visitors will be provided via Visit Oceanside’s 2025 Visitor Guide.
Collectively, staff believes these efforts have been effective in ensuring compliance with the new requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not have any associated fiscal impact.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
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Prepared By: Ken Prue, Environmental Officer
Approved By: Lindsay Leahy, Water Utilities Director
Submitted By: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Marine Debris and Plastic Bag Ordinance