Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Retail Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Costa Mesa council advances Long Beach‑style self‑checkout staffing ordinance after hours of debate
Summary
After hours of public comment from grocery workers, unions and retailers, the City Council voted 3–2 to introduce a staffing ordinance modeled on Long Beach that sets minimum attendant ratios at self‑checkout kiosks, adds a seven‑day notice‑to‑cure and calls for a one‑year review.
The Costa Mesa City Council on Jan. 20 gave initial approval to a proposed ordinance that would require staffed self‑checkout lanes at grocery and drug stores, adopting a Long Beach–style approach with local modifications.
City staff said the draft ordinance would apply to food retail stores over 15,000 square feet and to all drugstores, require one employee for every three self‑checkout stations, limit self‑checkout transactions to 15 items or fewer and bar use of self‑checkout for locked or theft‑deterrent items. Enforcement would include a private right of action and escalating civil penalties; the staff draft added a seven‑day written notice to cure before litigation could proceed.
Supporters — including United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324 and a large group of grocery workers — urged the council to adopt the measure to protect staff from understaffing, automation‑driven job loss and rising customer confrontations at unattended kiosks. UFCW speakers and several grocery employees described long shifts managing multiple machines and said the requirement would improve employee safety and customer service.
Retailers, grocers and business groups opposed the draft as overly prescriptive and warned of costly store redesigns, legal exposure, reduced customer choice and possible loss of local sales tax if shoppers go elsewhere. Several grocer and trade association speakers said collective bargaining agreements and newly‑ratified statewide labor language already address staffing in many stores.
Mayor Stevens and Council Member Pettis voted against the motion to introduce the ordinance as amended; the motion to proceed passed 3–2 after Council Member Gameros proposed and Council Member Marr seconded modifications that included keeping the 15‑item limit, a seven‑day cure period and a one‑year review of implementation.
What happens next: The vote was an introduction and first reading; the ordinance will return to the council for a formal adoption vote after staff prepares the amended ordinance language and any required findings.
Quotes
"This ordinance is part of labor's approach to addressing automation," said Carlos Camacho of the Orange County Labor Federation, describing the measure as a step to protect workers. "Increased use of self checkout results in fewer workers doing more work."
"This proposal crosses a fundamental line by placing the city in the position of managing detailed operational decisions," said David Hathcock, president and CEO of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
Ending
Council members who supported the motion emphasized worker safety and the ability to revisit the ordinance after one year. Council members opposing it said Costa Mesa lacks the evidence and resources to regulate store operations at this level and raised concerns about competitive impacts and legal exposure.
