REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: AHMAD ALKHAYYAT, PE, MBA, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Solid Waste Management Division
LORENZO NADORA, Solid Waste Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Solid Waste Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to accept $1,415,099 from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery - SB1383 Local Assistance Grant Program, awarded to the Department of Public Utilities’ Solid Waste Management Division (Citywide).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to accept $1,415,099 from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) - SB1383 Local Assistance Grant Program, awarded to the Solid Waste Management Division of Public Utilities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CalRecycle has awarded $1,415,099 in grant funding to the City of Fresno’s Department of Public Utilities Solid Waste Management Division. The grant amount of $1,415,099 received from CalRecycle needs to be accepted to implement eligible expenditures in FY 2025. The grant funding will be used to pay for: establishment of edible food recovery program, including associated personnel costs; conduct public education and outreach; and to procure recyclable and recovered organic products.
BACKGROUND
On April 1, 2022, CalRecycle issued the first round of funding for the SB1383 Local Assistance Grant Program (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund), awarding $718,149 to the City of Fresno.
On February 26, 2024, CalRecycle issued the SB1383 Local Assistance Grant Program (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Fiscal Year 2022-23) notice of award to the Department of Public Utilities’ Solid Waste Management Division and a notice to proceed, allowing the City to start incurring costs for the grant. Funds from the SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant will continue to bolster our current marketing campaign for residential customers. Marketing methods will include, but are not limited to, social media, website information, flyers/bill inserts, and radio. In addition to the marketing campaign, which encourages food scraps/organics in green containers, we will provide residents with countertop composting containers to help promote the practice of placing food scraps/organics in their green containers. This grant will also be used to purchase Organic Waste Products to meet the City’s procurement targets as required by Senate Bill 1383.
On September 15, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution 2023-240 authorizing the submittal of application(s) for all CalRecycle grants and payment programs for which the City of Fresno is eligible. The Resolution authorized and empowered the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to execute in the name of the City of Fresno all documents necessary to secure funds and implement the approved grant or payment project. These authorizations are effective through September 30, 2028. This item is for the formal acceptance of the awarded grant funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This project is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines pursuant to section 15308, Class 8 of the CEQA Guidelines as an action that will not have a significant impact on the environment and, as an action taken by a regulatory agency for the protection of the environment, specifically for protection of the climate. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this Project. The determination was reviewed and approved by the City Attorney’s Office and adopted by City Council on February 17, 2022.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this action does not include a bid, an award of a construction contract, or approval of a services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The acceptance of this grant does not impact the General Fund. No matching funds are required under this financial assistance program. The CalRecycle SB1383 Local Assistance Grant Fund (4100-4114) has been created specific for this grant award. This project is Citywide.
Attachments:
Terms and Conditions SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program
Procedures and Requirements SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program