REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PAUL AMICO, PE, Interim Director
Department of Public Utilities
NICHOLAS MASCIA, PE, Assistant City Manager
City Managers Office
BY: JAMES VERROS, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Solid Waste
JILLIAN GAYTAN, Business Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Administration
SUBJECT
Title
Action pertaining to Senate Bill 1383 - California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy (SB 1383) Local Assistance Grant Program funds:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Affirm the City Manager’s finding that Central California Food Bank is Uniquely Qualified to perform the services outlined in the agreement; and,
3. Approve a Service Agreement with Central California Food Bank for edible food recovery services in the amount not to exceed $300,000.00 using Senate Bill 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program Fiscal Year 2022-23 Organic Waste Recycling funds supporting organic waste recovery. (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, affirm the City Manager’s finding that Central California Food Bank (CCFB) is uniquely qualified to perform services related to Senate Bill 1383 - California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy (SB 1383) and approve the Service Agreement with CCFB for edible food recovery services in the Cty of Fresno using SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program Fiscal Year 2022-23 for Organic Waste Recycling (OWR: 2022-23) funds in the amount of $300,000.00 for services performed March 1, 2024 through April 30, 2026, and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign all implementing agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is seeking to award funding for edible food recovery as part of SB 1383 and Organic Waste Recycling (OWR: 2022-23) funding requirements. In February 2024, the City was awarded OWR: 2022-23 funds in the amount of $1,415,099.00 to assist with the implementation of regulation requirements associated with SB 1383 to improve organic waste recycling by reducing the landfill disposal of organics. Staff recommends awarding CCFB a total not to exceed allocation of $300,000.00 for edible food recovery services and help the City of Fresno meet the SB 1383 requirements.
BACKGROUND
In September 2016, Governor Brown signed into law SB 1383 establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a state-wide effort to reduce short-lived climate pollutant emissions in various sectors of California’s economy. SB 1383 directs the Department of Resources Recycling & Recovery (CalRecycle) to adopt regulations and requirements to achieve statewide goals. SB 1383 is California’s most significant waste reduction mandate in the last 30 years. Recognizing that the requirements of SB 1383 and OWR funding compliance were extensive, the City and CCFB began discussions and negotiations for edible food recovery services in September 2023, identifying CCFB as the service provider of edible food recovery for 24-months of services into the grant.
On February 22, 2022, City Council adopted Resolution 2022-057 authorizing staff to submit applications to CalRecycle SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program for Organic Waste Recycling. On February 26, 2024, the City was awarded SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Fiscal Year 2022-23 for Organic Waste Recycling (OWR: 2022-23) funds in the amount of $1,415,099 to assist with the implementation of regulation requirements associated with SB 1383 to reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants by improving organic waste recycling by reducing the landfill disposal of organics.
On May 29, 2025, CalRecycle approved CCFB and awarded them a Reliable Contractor Declaration. Since 2023, CCFB has collected 406.14 tons of edible food within the city of Fresno and increased edible food collection fifteen percent year over year. CCFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in Central California, serving Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, and Kern counties. CCFB is partnered with 49 supermarkets, one food service provider, 3 food distributors, and 2 wholesales food vendors within the city of Fresno.
Staff is now requesting City Council to adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines and affirm the City Manager’s finding that CCFB is uniquely qualified to perform services. Approving the Service Agreement with CCFB for edible food recovery services performed March 1, 2024, through April 30, 2026, in the total amount of $300,000 will meet the compliance requirements of SB 1383 by improving organic waste recycling by reducing the landfill disposal of organics.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of the project and has determined that the Agreement is exempt from CEQA as set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3) for Common Sense, which exempts projects involving a negligible or no expansion of any existing facility. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern, nor would the Agreement involve unusual circumstances that could potentially have a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the Agreement, permitting continued use of an existing terminal. Therefore, Staff hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
This Agreement falls within the “Common Sense” exception to set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 150601(b)(3) apply to this project.
FISCAL IMPACT
This service agreement has no impact on the General Fund. The total cost of the Service Agreement of $300,000 has been approved in its totality as an eligible expense by CalRecycle.
Attachments:
Notice of Exemption
Uniquely Qualified Memo
Service Agreement