Sustainable Seaside - CSMC

Our Mission is to help our communities equitably implement sustainable and regenerative practices to slow and adapt to climate change. 

 Our vision is a community in which all residents, organizations, businesses, and public agencies are engaged, empowered, and working collaboratively toward a sustainable, equitable, and resilient future. Sustainable Seaside is affiliated with Communities for Sustainable Monterey County (CSMC), a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Sustainable Seaside was conceived in 2004 and came into force as a chapter of CSMC in 2009 through the efforts of Kay Cline and Denyse Frischmuth, a co-founder of CSMC.

We are a group of concerned local citizens working locally to meet the challenges of declining resources and climate change by helping our communities transition to sustainable practices. Through innovative actions, we promote and enable expanded conservation of non-renewable resources, a change in the quality of urban growth, a merging of economic and environmental stewardship, and the long-term well-being of people and the planet.

Our Local Focus and Goals

2025 PRIORITIES

• Advocate for sustainable land use policies that are socially equitable and that promote long-term economic vitality while preserving the family-friendly and rich multicultural character of our city.
• Enhance and clean up neighborhood parks.
• Educate the public on new guidelines for recycling and composting, including the new Food Scrap Composting program prescribed by SB 1383.
• Promote sustainable transportation locally and regionally that promotes safe walking, biking, and public transportation connector pathways.
• Promote Seaside’s “Bee City” Pollinator Protection project through education and pollinator garden stewardship. Partner with the City of Seaside to help meet the annual requirements to retain “Bee City designation.
• Help implement, educate, and promote Seaside’s new Climate Action Plan to businesses and the community.
  
  

2025 SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Sand City Night Market 831 information booth (TBD)
• Earth Day Celebration, Sunday, April 27
• Spring Pollinator Celebration – partnering with FOSPA, (date TBD)
• Palenke Arts Festival tabling, June 1
• West End Celebration tabling. August 23-24

2025 ONGOING ACTIONS:

• Partnership with Friends of Seaside Parks (FOSPA) Pollinator Habitat Workday series
• Pollinator Protection Advocacy
• Partnership with the International School of Monterey, service-learning projects
• Partnership with environmental student groups from Monterey and Seaside High Schools (Coastal Cleanup Day, Sep 20, and possibly other projects)
• Recycling and organic waste education