RESOLUTION NO. 26-77
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, CALLING UPON THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO TAKE SWIFT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS MICROPLASTICS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE FROM FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRIES, INTENTIONALLY ADDED MICROPLASTICS IN COSMETICS, AND MICROFIBERS WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente recognizes that microplastics, plastic particles smaller than five millimeters, are pervasive contaminants found in waterways, soil, food systems, drinking water, marine ecosystems, and the air; and WHEREAS, studies by Zhang et al. (2020) and Hernandez et al. (2019) have detected microplastics in seafood, bottled and tap water, tea bags, coffee pods, salt, and other commonly consumed food and beverages, raising significant public health and environmental concerns; and WHEREAS, microplastics are shed from a variety of consumer products including but not limited to plastic-based tea bags, synthetic kitchenware and cutting boards, food and beverage packaging, and synthetic textiles that release microfibers during washing; and WHEREAS, California has historically led the nation in environmental protection and pollution prevention, including landmark plastic reduction policies and extended producer responsibility frameworks such as SB54; and WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente takes pride in being a sportsfishing destination for both local residents and visitors, and seeks to protect the safe consumption of locally caught seafood by controlling microplastics at their source before they can enter the marine food chain; and WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente also invests heavily in protecting its coastline through beach nourishment projects, and strives to locate and secure surplus sand that is free of contaminants, including microplastics; and WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente is home to a surfing community and hosting parts of the 2028 Olympics and wants microplastic free beaches; and WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente already takes local action to maintain and enforce a citywide prohibition of the use or distribution of polystyrene, a significant contributor to microplastics pollution, at City events and by food service establishments located within the City, but cannot control sources of pollution from outside its City limits; and WHEREAS, protecting public health, safeguarding California’s waterways and coastline, and advancing environmental justice requires urgent, science-based action to prevent microplastic pollution at its source; and WHEREAS, local governments lack sufficient regulatory authority to comprehensively address the manufacture, distribution, and sale of products contributing to microplastic pollution and therefore call upon the State of California for coordinated statewide leadership.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Clemente hereby finds, determines and resolves as follows:
SECTION 1. The recitals above are true and correct and incorporated fully herein as findings.
SECTION 2. That the City Council calls upon the Governor of the State of California to take swift and affirmative action to support legislation to prohibit or phase out intentionally added microplastics in cosmetics, personal care products, and household goods, and to require microfiber filtration in new washing machines and support retrofit incentives for existing appliances, if and when successfully passed by the California Assembly and Senate.
SECTION 3. That the City Council supports clear labeling standards to inform consumers about products that may release microplastics, as well as extended producer responsibility requirements for manufacturers whose products contribute to microplastic pollution.
SECTION 4. That the City Council also calls upon the Governor to coordinate with state agencies, including but not limited to the California Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board, to implement enforceable microplastic reduction targets.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of April, 2026.
_________________________
Rick Loeffler, Mayor of the City
of San Clemente
ATTEST:
__________________________
CITY CLERK of the City of
San Clemente, California
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) §
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE )
I, LAURA CAMPAGNOLO, City Clerk of the City of San Clemente, California, do hereby certify that Resolution No. 26-77 was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Clemente held on 21st day of April 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Clemente, California, this _____ day of _________________, ________. _______________________.
_________________________
CITY CLERK of the City of
San Clemente, California
Approved as to form:
___________________________
Elizabeth A. Mitchell, City Attorney
Resolution No. 26-77 Page 2
Attachment 1