ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING JANUARY 12TH, 2022 6:00 PM CITY HALL, AUSTIN, TX Some members of the ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Gerry Acuna Jonathan Barona Ian Steyaert AGENDA Cathy Gattuso Melissa Rothrock Albert Swantner Amanda Masino Kaiba White CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first three speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 13th, 2021, Regular Meeting Minutes 2. NEW BUSINESS a) Discussion and Action: Truck Washing and Equipment Maintenance RCA-Victoria Rieger b) Discussion and Action: Capital Improvement Project for ARR- Andrew Clements c) Discussion and Action: 2022 ZWAC Meeting Schedule- Gerry Acuna d) Discussion and Action: ZWAC FY22 Board Vacancies- Gerry Acuna e) Discussion and Action: Proposal in ARR Wage Increases- Carina Hanson f) Discussion and Action: Trash/Water Wheel on Lady Bird Lake Update-Kaiba White 3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT 1. Solicitations Update, Performance Reports, Beyond 34 Update, Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) Enforcement Update, URO Multifamily Update, Recycling Contract Processing Contracts Update FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Small Minority Business Resources (SMBR) Future Opportunities and Involvement Keep Austin Beautiful Update Future FM 812 Landfill Potential 2022 Annual ZWAC Retreat ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Dwight Scales at Austin Resource Recovery Department, at (512)974-2435 for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, please contact Dwight Scales at (512)974-2435.
To: From: Date: Subject: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery January 12, 2022 Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) Enforcement Update: The Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) Commercial Compliance Unit (CCU) is comprised of 2 Code Compliance Officers who contact responsible parties and conduct site visits to properties or permit holders identified by City staff or by complaints as non-compliant with ordinances. The goal of the CCU is to support ongoing department public education, and when necessary, hold non-compliant businesses and permit holders accountable in municipal court. 9 The department hired its first CCU staff in 2020 and spent much of the past year creating internal procedures, developing a software system, and contacting potentially non-compliant properties. Prior to 2020, the City had limited opportunity to provide onsite visits from Code Compliance Officers and was reliant upon education alone to seek compliance. CCU began URO inspections in early FY21. As of December 2021, CCU has conducted 742 site visits, responded to 5 complaints, and followed up on 86 denied waivers. Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) Multifamily Update: In FY21, ARR’s Business Outreach Team (BOT) notified all multifamily properties of the URO’s capacity increase by mail and email in Oct. 2020 and again in June 2021. The BOT also took out print and digital ads March 2020 (FY20) through Dec. 2020 and hosted a joint webinar with Austin Apartments Association (AAA) in Nov. 2020. In terms of compliance, 86% of multifamily properties (1,208) reported meeting the new capacity requirements by either providing at least a 1:1 ratio of landfill trash to recycling/organics services or 24 gallons/unit/week of recycling/organics services. Of the 14% of multifamily properties (201) that requested a waiver for not meeting the new capacity requirements, 13% (181 properties) were above the previous 6.4 gallons/unit/week requirement, but below the new 24 gallons/unit/week increase. Only 1% (20 properties) reported being below the 50% diversion requirement and of 6.4 gallons/unit/week. The BOT contacted all multifamily properties that requested a waiver for being below the new 24 gallons/unit/week requirement to let them know of the new capacity requirements and approved waivers with more than 6.4 gallons/unit/week according to the “implementation year” prescribed by the administrative rules (Administrative Rules Chapter 15-5 Section 8.12.3), but denied waivers below 6.4 gallons/unit/week. So far in FY22, a third of multifamily properties (554) that have reported and 92% (509) have …
ZWAC Presentation 1/12/2022 Agenda Capital Improvement Project 5773.025 KGSC Truck Wash Facility Retrofit Project Description This project will support retrofitting and/or replacement of truck wash equipment at Austin Resource Recovery's Kenneth Gardner Service Center - required due to age and condition of equipment at the end of its useful life. The facility has two existing washing bays. One is an automatic drive through wash and the other is a manual washing station. The existing facility will be retrofitted with new equipment – a complete new automatic truck wash system, with a capacity of up to 12 trucks per hour, in the existing automatic bay; and two new high-pressure manual-wash wands in the existing manual bay. A new water reclamation system connected to all of the new wash systems will also be installed. (The new truck wash equipment contract will be considered for award by Austin City Council on January 27th, 2022.) A Job Order Contractor will make needed utility and civil drainage improvements to the existing facility on the KGSC campus prior to the installation of the new truck washing equipment, following construction documents and specifications prepared by a professional engineering/architecture consultant. Existing Facilities Existing Facilities Existing Facilities New Truck Wash Equipment New Facility Design Project Budget/Timeline Project Schedule: • ZWAC – 11/10/2021 • RCA before City Council for Truck Wash Equipment Award – 01/27/2022 • JOC (Job Order Contract) Contractor assignment and existing facility utility and civil drainage improvement work – February, March, & April 2022. • Project Complete and Truck Wash Open for use – May 2022. Questions Andrew Clements, Architect RA, LEED AP BD+C Project Manager Architectural Project Management Division Public Works Department, City of Austin 512.974.7152 Andrew.Clements@austintexas.gov Building Austin’s Tomorrow, Today!
Recycling Processing Contracts *Update* ZWAC Presentation January 12, 2022 Services Provided •20-Year Master Agreement with Reset Periods •Receipt of City Collected Recyclables •Process, Sort, Bale, and Market Recyclables Reset • Agreements allow for periodic contract resets • Award Percent – percent of City recyclable material delivered to each vendor (subject to reset) • Evaluation Criteria for determining Award Percent • Vendor’s pricing proposal • Vendor’s performance after First Reset Date, measured in part by percentage of Recyclable Materials that Vendor sold to reputable recycling processors or otherwise diverted from disposal for reuse • Vendor’s “good-will, teamwork, community engagement, and recycling education efforts” • Additional relevant factors Timeline–2nd Reset Action per Contract Date Notify Vendors of Reset Period August 1, 2020 Vendors submit documentation to City including Community Engagement Efforts September 30, 2020 Vendors notify City of desire to change volume or add services November 1, 2020 Vendors submit pricing proposals to City March 22, 2021 City to establish Award Percent September 15, 2021 Contract Reset Date October 15, 2021 Goals and Council Direction • Allow both COA and vendor(s) • Strong communication and to live through a range of market conditions • Shared risk and reward collaboration • Clear expectations CM Alter Direction • Negotiate terms that allow for stronger proof and transparency that our recyclable materials are being recycled rather than placed in landfills. • Further the city’s zero waste goals and minimize the city’s carbon footprint. As new technologies become available, the City Manager is directed to explore all avenues to recycle most materials from the City of Austin. • Negotiate terms that provide the best value for Austin’s ratepayers. Contract Highlights Balcones Resources Texas Disposal Systems Column1 Award Percent Min. Monthly Tonnage (avg.) Revenue Share % Processing Fee per ton Revenue Share Formula Change 60% 2000 78% $98 Yes 40% 2000 20% $50 No Contract Highlights Balcones Resources Texas Disposal Systems Column1 Indices: Ave. to High-side Customer Education Fee Expanded Audit Terms Expanded Safety Inspection Strengthen Non- degradation clause Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Revenue Share Payment Calculation Revenue Share Payment Texas Disposal Systems Balcones Resources (Revenue Percent X Value of Recyclable Material) – Processing Fee Net Value of Recyclable Material = Gross Value of Recyclable Material – Processing Fee Then Revenue Share Payment = Net Value of Recyclable Material x Revenue Percent In the case that the Processing Fee exceeds the …
Resolution: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Whereas, it is the responsibility of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission to review, evaluate and make recommendations to City Council, City Management and City Staff regarding policies concerning solid waste, recycling, organic management and Zero Waste; and Whereas, Implementation and/or adherence to City policies must be reflected in the process of planning for future disposal and diversion challenges within the City of Austin by supporting Austin Resource Recovery (ARR), who is responsible for implementing such Policies and Operations; and Whereas the operations performed by ARR are considered vital to the health and safety of the Citizens of Austin and must therefore adhere to the highest standards possible; and Whereas, to adhere to such high health and safety standards requires that ARR seek, employ, train, and retain top Employees; and Whereas, the City of Austin has grown dramatically in population, development and competitiveness over the past five years that identifying, employing, training and retaining top personnel has become extremely challenging within our City and CAPCOG Region; and Whereas, in 2021 the CAPCOG Region of Texas was awarded two of this Country’s most sought after corporate relocations in its history with the decision of Tesla, Inc. and Samsung Electronics to relocate their respective corporate headquarters to our region; and Whereas, with the national inflation rate currently exceeding 5% and that of the City of Austin approaching 6%, City of Austin employees are experiencing unparalleled ‘paycheck erosion’; and Whereas, over the previous 18 months ARR has experienced an unprecedented exodus of department employees to private sector employers or retirement; and Whereas, the City of Austin and Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) are finding employee retention extremely challenging due to ‘paycheck erosion’ and the aggressive private sector recruitment of ARR personnel with higher compensation, ‘Sign on Bonuses’ and less physically strenuous job descriptions; and PROPOSED FOR ZWAC Whereas, the City of Austin and Travis County housing and rental markets have become unaffordable for many City of Austin and Austin Resource Recovery employees due to exorbitant property valuations and rental cost increases; and Whereas, these property cost increases have dramatically exceeded current employee compensation which make property ownership and rental unobtainable to many City of Austin and ARR employees; Now Therefore, Be It Resolved That the Zero Waste Advisory Commission of the City of Austin; Respectfully asks City Management and City Council to formally consider a compensation adjustment for ARR staff …
NEW TRUCK WASH EQUIPMENT (INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE) WASHING EQUIPMENT OF TEXAS, INC. SOLICITATION # (IFB 1500 DCM1042) ZWAC: 1/12/2022 Council: 02/03/2022 OVERVIEW 1. Requested Contract Term, Authorization, and Current Budget Length of contract and total authorization: Contract has a multi-term for up to five years for a total contract amount not to exceed $550,000. (Authorized Department: Austin Resource Recovery). ARR current fiscal year budget: Funding in the amount of $362,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Capital Budget and $31,955 in the Operating Budget of Austin Resource Recovery. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. 2. Solicitation Information # of bids received: 2 # of non-responsive bids received: 0 Solicitation No. IFB 1500 DCM1042 Length of time solicitation was out on the street: ~6 Weeks Was the time extended? Yes Issued date: 08/30/2021 Closed date: 10/07/2021 3. Previous/Current Contract Information Previous contract: N/A This is a new contract. Contract number: N/A Contract length and authorization: N/A Contract actual spend: N/A Current status: N/A Contract execution date: N/A Contract expiration date: N/A 4. Notes/Other The contract is for the delivery and installation of new truck washing equipment, including routine monthly preventative maintenance, inspection, repairs, and replacement parts, as well as on-call and emergency repairs for the equipment. Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) provides a broad range of collection services to more than 200,000 residential households and businesses, including the curbside collection of trash, recycling, yard trimmings, compost, large brush, and bulk items, along with street sweeping, litter abatement, household hazardous waste collection, and dead animal collection services. ARR utilizes collection vehicles such as semi-automated rear loaders, fully automated side loaders, bucket trucks, dump trucks, street sweepers, tractor-trailers, box and flatbed cranes, roll-offs, pickup trucks, and enclosed dead animal collection trucks. Many of these vehicles will utilize the truck washing equipment on a daily basis. This is a new contract. The requested authorization amount was determined using future estimated spend for ongoing maintenance needs. Strategic Outcomes: Safety and Mobility REVIEWED AND APPROVED FOR ZWAC Name Compiled By: Sydney Richardson Reviewed By: Victoria Rieger End-user/Contract Manager: Date 12/28/2021 12/28/2021 COUNCIL DATE: 02/03/2022 CITY OF AUSTIN RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL ACTION VENDOR: WASHING EQUIPMENT OF TEXAS, INC. SUBJECT: Authorize award and execution of a contract with Washing Equipment of Texas, Inc., to purchase and install new truck washing equipment and related maintenance services, for up to five years …
A RR Recruitment and Retention Proposal City Council approved Resolution No. 20201001-061, directing the City Manager to review current compensation and training practices and explore opportunities to improve ARR operator retention, compensation, and satisfaction. Commercial drivers are in high demand and many industries are suffering as a result, especially solid waste. Cities such as Dallas have had to delay solid waste collection services due to driver shortages. Austin Resource Recovery is submitting this proposal to avoid the enactment of similar service cutbacks. Austin Resource Recovery is proposing the following plans to address CDL Driver employee shortages: • For newly hired employees in CDL positions, incentives include: o To attract talent and work within our current pay zones, ARR will begin hiring new Driver Track Employees as per the following hourly rates: CDL Bump: $18 (3 months) Trainee: $19 (9 months) New Hire Temp: $17 Operator: $20 (1 year 3 months) Operator Senior $21.42 (2 years 3 months) o ARR is recommending a retention incentive to retain newly hired full-time operations and difficult-to-fill positions. The retention incentive looks to target difficult to fill and difficult to retain roles. The retention incentive will roll out over the course of two years as per the following: Payout Schedule for $3,000 Retention Incentive (New Operations Employees and Difficult to Fill Positions): $500 to be paid within the first 90 days (3 mon) $500 to be paid within 180 days (6 mon) • • • • $1000 to be paid during Calendar Year 2022 PP26(after one year of continued employment) $1000 to be paid during Calendar Year 2023 PP 26 (after two years of continued employment) • For current employees incentives include o For purposes of equity, ARR is proposing the following pay increase for current employees in the following positions who make below the proposed hourly rates: Trainee $19 (this will impact 22 employees who would get an average $0.62/hr increase) Operator $20 (this will impact 27 employees would get an average of $0.51/hr increase) Senior Operator $21 (this will impact 6 employees would get an average of $0.37/hr increase) o For purposes of equity, ARR is recommending a retention incentive to address retention concerns for current full- time employee operation positions (from the ARR Associate through the Assistant Division Manager positions): $500 to be paid after Calendar Year 21 PP26 …
Proposed 2022 Meeting Schedule Zero Waste Advisory Commission The Commission shall meet at 6:00 PM on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Proposed Meeting Dates January 12, 2022 February 9, 2022 No meeting April 13, 2022 May 11, 2022 June 8, 2022 No meeting August 10, 2022 September 14, 2022 No meeting November 9, 2022 Proposed Locations* Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers *City Hall, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 at 6:00 P.M. +Proposed locations are tentative and may change, please check the Boards and Commission Website
Recycling Processing Contracts *Update* ZWAC Presentation January 12, 2022 Services Provided •20-Year Master Agreement with Reset Periods •Receipt of City Collected Recyclables •Process, Sort, Bale, and Market Recyclables Reset • Agreements allow for periodic contract resets • Award Percent – percent of City recyclable material delivered to each vendor (subject to reset) • Evaluation Criteria for determining Award Percent • Vendor’s pricing proposal • Vendor’s performance after First Reset Date, measured in part by percentage of Recyclable Materials that Vendor sold to reputable recycling processors or otherwise diverted from disposal for reuse • Vendor’s “good-will, teamwork, community engagement, and recycling education efforts” • Additional relevant factors Timeline–2nd Reset Action per Contract Date Notify Vendors of Reset Period August 1, 2020 Vendors submit documentation to City including Community Engagement Efforts September 30, 2020 Vendors notify City of desire to change volume or add services November 1, 2020 Vendors submit pricing proposals to City March 22, 2021 City to establish Award Percent September 15, 2021 Contract Reset Date October 15, 2021 Goals and Council Direction • Allow both COA and vendor(s) • Strong communication and to live through a range of market conditions • Shared risk and reward collaboration • Clear expectations CM Alter Direction • Negotiate terms that allow for stronger proof and transparency that our recyclable materials are being recycled rather than placed in landfills. • Further the city’s zero waste goals and minimize the city’s carbon footprint. As new technologies become available, the City Manager is directed to explore all avenues to recycle most materials from the City of Austin. • Negotiate terms that provide the best value for Austin’s ratepayers. Contract Highlights Balcones Resources Texas Disposal Systems Column1 Award Percent Min. Monthly Tonnage (avg.) Revenue Share % Processing Fee per ton Revenue Share Formula Change 60% 2000 75% $98 Yes 40% 2000 20% $50 No Contract Highlights Balcones Resources Texas Disposal Systems Column1 Indices: Ave. to High-side Customer Education Fee Expanded Audit Terms Expanded Safety Inspection Strengthen Non- degradation clause Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Revenue Share Payment Calculation Revenue Share Payment Texas Disposal Systems Balcones Resources (Revenue Percent X Value of Recyclable Material) – Processing Fee Net Value of Recyclable Material = Gross Value of Recyclable Material – Processing Fee Then Revenue Share Payment = Net Value of Recyclable Material x Revenue Percent In the case that the Processing Fee exceeds the …
