ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Manager Item No: D1
Prepared by: Cassidy McCarthy, CAP Program Administrator Meeting Date: March 10, 2026 Approved by:
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Discussion
SUBJ
ECT: PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLE BAN AT CITY FACILITIES AND EVENTS RECO
MMENDATION: Discuss the proposed Vista Municipal Code change recommendation from Vista’s Environmental Commission and provide direction to staff.
CORRE
LATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: A Cleaner, More Beautiful Vista; Climate and Environmental Responsibility
PR
IOR ACTION: On December 9, 2025, received a recommendation from the Environmental Commission and directed staff to place a discussion item on a future agenda regarding banning the sale and distribution of plastic beverage bottles on city property and at city-affiliated events (Vote 5-0).
On May 27, 2025, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2025- 85, approving the 2025-2027 Environmental Commission Workplan (Vote 4-1, Franklin Opposed).
PR
IOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ACTION: On November 19, 2025, voted to recommend that the City Council establish an ordinance banning the sale and distribution of plastic beverage bottles on city property and at city-affiliated events with the provision that no city funds shall be used to purchase plastic bottled beverages for the city’s general use and include exemptions for emergencies, lack of alternatives and a financial hardship waiver (Vote: 4-0, Sainz, Tapia & Colón absent).
On Apr
il 23, 2025, voted to recommend the 2025-2027 Environmental Commission Workplan for Council approval (Vote 5-0, Tapia & Serafin absent).
ST
ATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: In 2025, the Environmental Commission researched and evaluated the health and environmental impacts, state legislation, and local ordinances regarding plastic beverage bottles and recommended that the City of Vista enact a single- use plastic beverage bottle policy to improve environmental and human health (Exhibit 1).
The dr
aft policy recommended by the Commission (Exhibit 2) would ban the sale and distribution of plastic beverage bottles one liter or smaller at city facilities, including rentals, and city-sponsored events. It would also prevent the use of City funds to purchase plastic beverage bottles of one liter or smaller. The exemptions listed in the draft municipal code chapter apply when the City Manager or Designee deems plastic beverage bottles necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare; or when employees are AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Directed staff to prepare an ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastic beverage bottles less than one liter in size on City property with exception made for youth sporting events, ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastic beverage bottles less than one liter in size at City-affiliated events, and no City funds shall be used to purchase single-use plastic bottled beverages less than one liter in size for the City's own general use except in cases of emergency or disaster relief. Vote: 4-1 (Mayor Franklin opposed)