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Oceanside receives update on marine debris reduction ordinance; staff and Surfrider recommend app reporting, harmonization with state law
Summary
City staff reported outreach results and enforcement outcomes for the Marine Debris Reduction Ordinance (MDRO). Staff recommended allowing the state's 2026 bag law to supersede local bag provisions; Surfrider and other speakers urged app-based reporting, clearer reporting contacts, and a follow-up in 6–8 months.
City staff told the Oceanside City Council on Jan. 8 that the city’s Marine Debris Reduction Ordinance (MDRO) outreach has reached more than 160 businesses and generated 10 complaints from five people, and staff recommended the council receive the update and defer any ordinance changes until closer to the state bag-law transition in 2026.
Ken Prew, the city’s environmental officer, said the ordinance (amendment to Chapter 13 adopted Aug. 23, 2023) has been supported by outreach through Main Street Oceanside, the Chamber of Commerce and Waste Management technical-assistance staff. Prew said Main Street posted MDRO messaging in two informational kiosks, and staff used Solana Center for Environmental Innovation and Waste Management to reinforce messages to affected businesses. He told the council that staff had received 10 complaints to date (from five individuals, one anonymous) and that complaints are tracked in the city’s TrackIt system.
Surfrider Foundation representative Mitch Silverstein and retired educator and Surfrider volunteer Janice Jones urged the council to add an MDRO-specific reporting option to the MyOceanside app, to include clear reporting contacts in outreach materials, and to schedule another staff update in six to eight months so the city can assess compliance with the carryout bag prohibition that went into effect nine days before the meeting.
Water Utilities Director Lindsay Leahy told the council staff could explore adding an MDRO reporting tab to the MyOceanside app and said the department prefers to consolidate outreach visits so staff and franchise partners can cover multiple compliance topics on a single visit. Leahy recommended allowing the city’s bag ban language to sunset on Jan. 1, 2026, when the state’s SB 1053 takes effect, rather than repeatedly amending local code; she said that approach would not affect the MDRO’s polystyrene (foam) prohibition.
Councilmembers asked for additional data at the next update, including results of spot checks and more information on outreach volume. Staff reported that of the ten complaint cases one escalated to a written warning and that all ten cases were closed. Staff said the Chamber reached about 100 businesses and Main Street reached 61; outreach by Waste Management and Solana Center was not tracked to a specific count. Council consensus was to receive the report and for staff to return with additional data and/or an ordinance amendment timeline, with a likely follow-up item in August 2025.
