Surfrider Foundation’s San Diego County Chapter is calling on all ocean and beach lovers who live in North County to voice support for single-use plastic reduction ordinances for Vista!
TAKE ACTION
Support Two Plastic Reduction Ordinances in Vista
- Adopt the Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottle Reduction Ordinance — AGENDA ITEM PH3
- Direct staff to draft an ordinance expanding Vista's existing foam ban to include retail establishments and additional foam products —AGENDA ITEM D3
HOW YOU CAN HELP
- Please send two separate emails—one for each agenda item—by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
Agenda Item PH3
Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottle Reduction Ordinance
If adopted, this ordinance would phase out single-use plastic beverage bottles at City facilities and City-sponsored events by:
- Prohibiting the distribution of plastic bottled beverages at City-sponsored events.
- Requiring permit holders using City facilities to comply with the policy.
- Prohibiting plastic bottled beverages at City facilities, including rentals and leases.
- Prohibiting the use of City funds to purchase plastic bottled beverages.
Learn More
- Review the agenda report and draft ordinance HERE
- Read the Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottle Fact Sheet HERE
Sample Email – Agenda Item PH3
Personalized messages are the most effective, but the sample below can be used as a starting point. If you live, work, attend school, or own a business in Vista, be sure to mention that in your email.
Subject: PH3 – Support the Plastic Beverage Bottle Reduction Ordinance
Dear Mayor Franklin and City Councilmembers,
I urge the Vista City Council to adopt the Single-Use Plastic Beverage Bottle Reduction Ordinance to help reduce plastic pollution and protect our environment and public health.
Plastic beverage bottles and bottle caps are consistently among the most common items collected during community and beach cleanups. By reducing unnecessary single-use plastic bottles at City facilities and events, Vista can help keep plastic out of our stormdrains, waterways, and ultimately the ocean. In addition, the City can serve as a model for sustainability and simple solutions.
Thank you for your leadership and your consideration.
Sincerely,
Agenda Item D3
Expand Vista's Foam Ban to Retail Establishments
The City Council will consider directing staff to prepare an ordinance that expands Vista's existing polystyrene foam foodware ban for restaurants to include retail sales and additional foam products, such as:
- Foam foodware sold at retail establishments
- Foam coolers
- Egg cartons
- Foam packing materials
- Foam pool and beach toys not encased in another material
- Foam dock floats and buoys
Learn More
Sample Email – Agenda Item D3
Personalized messages are the most effective, but the sample below can be used as a starting point. If you live, work, attend school, or own a business in Vista, be sure to mention that in your email.
Subject: D3 – Support Expanding Vista's Foam Ban
Dear Mayor Franklin and City Councilmembers,
Please support expanding Vista's existing polystyrene foam ordinance to include retail sales of foam foodware and additional foam products, including foam coolers and other unnecessary single-use foam items.
Polystyrene foam is one of the most persistent forms of plastic pollution. Because it is lightweight and brittle, it easily breaks into small pieces that are carried by wind and stormwater into streets, creeks, lagoons, and the ocean. Once in the environment, foam is extremely difficult and costly to clean up, and it can remain there for decades.
Expanding the ordinance will not only provide consistency across businesses, it will help reduce litter, protect our environment, and encourage more sustainable alternatives throughout our community.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Attend the Meeting
August 11, 2026 City Council Meeting Agenda
Vista City Hall (Vista Civic Center)
200 Civic Center Drive
Council Chambers (Second Floor)
5:30pm
- Complete a speaker slip for each agenda item you wish to address.
- Speaker slips will be on a table in the lobby.
- Give completed slips to the City Clerk.
- When called, keep your comments focused on the agenda item being discussed.
- If speaking on PH3, focus your comments on the plastic beverage bottle ordinance.
- You may briefly mention your support for the foam ban if you cannot stay for that discussion.
- If you begin providing details about the foam ordinance during PH3, you will be asked to stop and save those comments until D3 is discussed.
- Speakers are allotted three minutes (speaking time may be reduced if a lot of people submit speaker slips.)
If you are unable to attend in person, you may participate on Zoom.
Click here to join the meeting via Zoom.
- Join Zoom via telephone at 1-669-900-6833
- Webinar ID: 852 2799 9767 Password: 928585
- Use the “Raise Hand” feature or press * 9 on your telephone when instructed
- Members of the public will not be shown on video
If you have questions about emailing or speaking, please contact Janis at jjones@sandiego.surfrider.org.
Thank You
Every email, public comment, and show of support helps. Together, we can encourage the Vista City Council to take meaningful action to reduce single-use plastic pollution and protect our community and coastline.
When we act together, we can protect our ocean, waves and beaches from plastic pollution!
