Surfrider Foundation’s
Ocean Friendly Community Program
Pilot Program for Huntington Beach
Revised 6.9.2023
____________________________________________________________________________ The purpose of the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Community (SF|OFC), like the Ocean Friendly Restaurants program (OFR), is to recognize communities and cities that demonstrate a long-term commitment to being caretakers and stewards of the ocean and coast, including beaches, wetlands, waterways, parks, open spaces, etc., through their stewardship of the triple bottom line (TBL) of environment, people, and economy.
The SF|OFC Pilot Program for Huntington Beach (HB) is to present to Surf City an opportunity to be an OFC, and to recognize them for their stewardship in protecting the Pacific Ocean and its beaches, waves and estuaries. Just as HB is Surf City USA, HB can now be the Ocean Friendly Community global model and leader.
At its core, SF|OFC recognizes that (HB) is performing and implementing, at the city level in all departments, policies, practices and procedures that will benefit the world’s ocean, waves and beaches. SF|OFC is based on how the City operates, and it is not dependent upon any laws or legislative acts the City mandates upon its businesses or citizens. Rather, through education and implementation, the SF|OFC program should be the model that those within the city follow as a Lead-by-Example Approach.
Each of the following SF|OFC categories have outcomes and milestones for the City of Huntington Beach to attain in order to reach Platinum status over the next 4-5 years. During the course of the Pilot Program, the Surfrider Foundation and the City of Huntington Beach will evaluate the Ocean Friendly Community (SF|OFC) program and determine when, or if, the City has reached the next level of recognition, while keeping in mind this is a pilot program for both the Surfrider Foundation and the City of Huntington Beach that can be modified if deemed necessary.
To reach the Ocean Friendly Community status, complete three items each in Category I, Category II and Category III, and one item in Category IV.
To reach the Platinum Ocean Friendly Community status, complete all items in Categories I, III, IV and at least five items in Category II.
I.SF|OFC Core Elements
1. Ci ty of HB must achieve a TBL-based Stewardship Master Plan that includes a v
ision/mission statement and allocates appropriate resources to advance s
tewardship practices for the benefit of the environment, people and economy.
2. C ity of HB must designate a professional with the role of Director of S
tewardship, Chief Stewardship Officer, or similar officer that advances city operations and the Stewardship Master Plan, and reports directly to the City Manager/Chief Executive.
3. C ity of HB must have a working Board or combination of Boards m ade up of v
arious stakeholders from within the city that are TBL-focused.
4. Where applicable, cities must invest in making sure parks, open spaces, wetlands, waterways and beaches remain open to all and protected from environmental harm within the scope of the SF|OFC program.
II. SF|OFC HB-Focused Programs: Environment
1. City of Huntington Beach must implement policy, procedures and practices resulting in no EPS (expanded polystyrene or StyrofoamTM) products used at City facilities, City sponsored events or at any organized permitted City event.
2. City of Huntington Beach must work towards developing policy, procedures and practices resulting in no plastic bottles, straws, cups, plates or utensils used at City facilities, City sponsored events or at any organized permitted City event. See Surfrider’s OFR program and food ware guide for more specific details on alternatives.
3. City of Huntington Beach must implement a plan for pedestrian, bike, and e-bike friendly mobility infrastructure that includes specific capital improvement project implementation steps, which enhance safer paths of travel between the coast and inland portions of the community.
4. City of Huntington Beach must work towards the incremental conversion to electric and alternative fuel vehicle fleets and the installation of more electric charging and alternative fueling stations throughout the City.
5. City of Huntington Beach must adopt and implement a plan for water conservation and pollution prevention, including water-wise landscaping and runoff controls.[1]
6. City of Huntington Beach must demonstrate implementation of advanced waste management and recycling programs including food diversion programs.
7. City of Huntington Beach must consider opportunities for advancing zero-net energy (i.e. actual annual consumed energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable generated energy) at City facilities and operations, as well as identify and provide on its website links to zero-net energy incentives for residents and businesses.
8. City of Huntington Beach must identify and implement opportunities, where prudent, the following Ocean Friendly Community features in the Stewardship Master Plan:
a. Planting of Ocean Friendly Gardens using natural drought resistant plants. b. Use of LED lighting.
c. Implementation of water conservation technologies and features to reduce pollutants and runoff.
d. Use of waste minimization practices, on-site composting, and segregation of recyclables.
e. Encouragement of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for new projects.
f. Access for all to parks, playgrounds, open spaces, beaches, and outdoor recreation.
III. SF|OFC HB-Focused Programs: People
1. City of Huntington Beach must implement a communication and engagement plan for businesses and residents that: a) provides information on how people can contribute to a more Ocean Friendly Community through practices at their home or business; b) facilitates the development of partnerships with community groups and environmental organizations to guide the Ocean Friendly Community Pilot Program and assist with public education and outreach; c) recognizes and promotes various Ocean Friendly days such as: International Surfing Day, California Surfing Day, World Wetlands Day, World Water Day, Earth Day, International Migratory Bird Day, World Oceans Day, Coastal Cleanup Day or other similar Ocean Friendly days.
2. City of Huntington Beach must hold at least one (with the goal of two) annual Ocean Friendly Events for residents and businesses.
3. City of Huntington Beach must develop and implement a capital improvement program to install and maintain drinking water bottle refill stations in all City facilities.
4. City of Huntington Beach must develop and maintain partnerships with public schools to adopt TBL-focused curriculums.
IV. SF|OFC HB-Focused Programs: Economy
1. City of Huntington Beach must develop and implement a program (e.g. grants, incentives, and other resources) to assist restaurants seeking designation as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant.[2] Grants can be set up to address small, medium and large businesses that wish to be verified as Ocean Friendly. Grant sizes to be determined based upon the size of the restaurant and availability of funding by the City.
2. As part of developing an in-person and on-line One Stop Shop, City of Huntington Beach must develop and implement a specific strategy to encourage and support businesses to apply for California Green Business Networks certification or other green certification awards or honors.
3. City of Huntington Beach must develop an economic development strategy considering the SF|OFC program as an important element of the City’s quality of life.
4. City of Huntington Beach must hold an annual summit focused on economic development and reinforcing the SF|OFC program.
[1] See Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens program for examples. https://www.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-gardens. [2] See Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Restaurant Program.
https://www.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-restaurants.