City staff gave the Encinitas Environmental Commission an overview of work-plan projects and near-term schedules at the October meeting, including a joint hearing date for the draft native plant ordinance and updates on compostable food-service work, sand placement from lagoon dredging, the five-year climate action plan update and an internal eco-purchasing policy.

Staff said a joint public hearing with the Environmental Commission and the Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) is scheduled for Nov. 4 to discuss the draft native plant ordinance. Staff described the process: the draft will subsequently go to the Planning Commission and City Council for possible adoption.

On the five-year Climate Action Plan, staff said they plan to brief the City Council in the fall on draft greenhouse-gas reduction measures and seek feedback on the proposed measures and emissions accounting.

On coastal projects, staff reported that sand dredged from the San Elijo Lagoon in July was placed south of the lagoon inlet in front of restaurants, and the August dredging of the lagoon mouth produced sand placed on the westerly side of the Cardiff living shoreline.

The commission received an update on the food-service plastic ordinance subcommittee’s pilot work. The city contracted with I Love A Clean San Diego to engage five restaurants in a pilot to test compostable or reusable foodware; staff said the subcommittee is awaiting a cost-analysis toolkit from a consultant (expected to allow restaurants to compare current costs to compostable or reusable options). Because a state decision on compostable labeling was delayed by roughly 18 months, staff said the subcommittee tentatively delayed a commission recommendation to City Council until the toolkit results are available.

Staff also reported ongoing internal work on an environmentally preferable purchasing and contracting policy covering city procurement. The policy is intended to guide purchases across a wide range of items, from office supplies to capital project materials, and staff said implementation and reporting mechanisms remain under development.

During the updates the commission approved the monthly work-plan update. Commissioners also noted one personnel change: Commissioner Fletcher submitted a resignation; staff said the vacancy can be addressed during the regular recruitment window in December.

Staff invited members to suggest speakers for future meetings; commissioners mentioned potential presentations on tobacco-product waste, the resource-management element update, and green-waste and battery/e-waste programs.