DATE: August 20, 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.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On August 23, 2023, the City Council approved and adopted the Marine Debris Reduction Ordinance (MDRO), 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). 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 and MainStreet Oceanside 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,
* messaging via social media.
On January 8, 2025, staff provided an update to City Council regarding the implementation of the MDRO and the related education and outreach provided to businesses. Staff reported ten public complaints received at that time and did not recommend an additional level of enforcement based on these numbers. At the time of the update, City Council directed staff to evaluate the public requests made, implement the reasonable actions and provide an update in August. Since the January 8, 2025 update, City staff continues to educate businesses on the Ordinance through Green Oceans...
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