REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 15, 2019
FROM: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: JERRY L. SCHUBER SR., Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Solid Waste Management Division
BY: BRITTANIE FECHNER, Management Analyst II
Department of Public Utilities - Solid Waste Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - To authorize submittal of applications to The Recycling Partnership for payment programs and related authorizations (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council adopt a Resolution authorizing the Director of Public Utilities or designee to submit applications for no-match payment programs to The Recycling Partnership, and execute related documents to implement and secure payment related to all available no-match grants for which the City of Fresno is eligible.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Council adoption of the above Resolution will allow the Department of Public Utilities, Solid Waste Management Division, to submit applications to The Recycling Partnership, a national nonprofit which leverages private funds in community programs. The Resolution will permit implementation and execution of grant funded programs currently in progress which benefit the City of Fresno and its residents. This action will provide for a continuum of solid waste and recycling activities, including but not limited to outreach events, recycling activities, litter control, oil recycling and other activities in which the Department of Public Utilities, Solid Waste Management Division is involved, and that funding expenditures are applied consistent with State requirements.
Adoption of the above resolution will authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, as the Signature Authority to execute all documents necessary to apply for and secure payment from no-match payment programs. The authorization will be effective until rescinded by the Signature Authority or this governing body.
BACKGROUND
In 2016 California signed into law SB1383, which established targets to achieve a fifty percent (50%) reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a seventy five percent (75%) reduction by 2025. In addition to the organic waste diversion, SB 1383 establishes a target that not less than twenty percent (20%) of currently disposed edible food is recovered for human consumption by 2025. By utilizing grant money the City of Fresno Solid Waste Management Division will be able to expand recycling and organics diversion programs, meeting the regulations set forth by CalRecycle, SB 1383, and AB 939. Creating and expanding the recycling and organics programs will allow the City to meet the requirements and avoid fines imposed by CalRecycle.
The Recycling Partnership raises monies that they then invest into community programs and system solutions. They partner with industry leaders such as PepsiCo, Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc. They have invested over Twenty Nine Million Dollars ($29,000,000) into recycling infrastructure, and over One Hundred and Fifteen Million pounds (115,000,000) of recycling has been diverted to date due to their efforts.
In June of 2019 the City of Fresno Solid Waste Management Division was invited to attend a conference with 50 other municipalities from throughout the United States. The primary goal of this conference was to bring together municipalities and various industry leaders such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, PepsiCo, Exxon, 3M, General Mills, etc. to help find solutions to the problems that are currently facing the solid waste industry such as contamination, diversion rates, community involvement, etc. At the end of the conference, all the municipalities that attended were offered the opportunity to apply for grants to help reach the recycling diversions goals. Receipt of grant funding from the Recycling Partnership this will allow the City to help fight contamination and further engage and educate the residents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378, this is not a project for purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because the adoption of a resolution does not include a bid or an award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal impact to the General Fund or any City operating funds associated with the recommended action, as the Resolution applies only to no-match payment programs. The benefits of this project will be citywide.
Attachment:
Attachment 1- Resolution for Authorization of Submittal of Application for Payment Programs