TITLE:
title
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, REQUIRING STAFFING AT SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS
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DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
PRESENTED BY: JAY BARKMAN, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER
CONTACT INFORMATION: JAY BARKMAN, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER (714) 754-5347
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Receive public comment and consider the provisions of the draft ordinance.
2. Introduce and give first reading, waiving further reading, to Ordinance No. 2026-XX Adding Article 7 of Chapter II of Title 9 to the Costa Mesa Municipal Code relating to Grocery and Drug Store Staffing Standards for Self-Service Checkout Stations.
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BACKGROUND:
On August 12, 2025, the Long Beach City Council adopted an ordinance mandating staffing requirements and operational standards for self-service checkout stations in grocery retail stores and retail drug establishments to proactively address retail theft and advance the preservation of public safety and welfare.
At the November 4, 2025, City Council meeting, a preliminary analysis was presented of the City of Long Beach's ordinance and its implementation. This included identifying supermarkets/grocery stores and retail pharmacies with self-service checkout stations in the City of Costa Mesa.
Staff observed the following:
* CVS drug stores in Costa Mesa comply with the staffing to station ratio; however, employees were not dedicated to monitoring self-service checkout stations.
* Target and some food retail stores have more than three self-service checkout stations and exceed the 1:3 ratio required by the proposed ordinance.
The Long Beach ordinance requires food and drug retail establishments to have dedicated staffing of one employee per three self-service checkout stations and limit self-service checkout to 15 items or less. Enforcement of the ordinance is provided through civil action by employees or customers.
At the direction of Cit...
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