REGULAR MEETING of the ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2022 6:00 PM CITY HALL ROOM 1001 301 W 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Dwight Scales at (512) 974-2435 or dwight.scales@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Cathy Gattuso (Vice-Chair) Amanda Masino Mayor Jonathan Barona District 3 Kaiba White District 7 Gerry Acuna (Chair) District 10 Albert Swantner District 1 Melissa Caudle District 4 Ian Steyaert District 8 CALL TO ORDER District 5 Melissa Rothrock District 2 Ethan Myers District 6 Ingrid Powell District 9 AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 3 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on August 10th, 2022 OLD BUSINESS 2. Approval of minutes of the ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on June 8th, 2022. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) Budget Review Update – Victoria Rieger 4. Transfer Station Presentation and Update – Richard McHale 5. URO Multifamily Composting Pilot Study Update – Elizabeth Nelson DIRECTOR’S REPORT 6. ARR Vehicle Wrap Update, Solicitations Update, Performance Reports, and Statistical Reports FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans 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 two 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.
Austin Resource Recovery FY 2022-23 Approved Budget Highlights The Department’s Approved Operating Budget increases by approximately 8.6% or $9.6M in the upcoming fiscal year. This amount includes $0.6M for seven new positions, one each of the following: Accountant II, Administrative Specialist, Customer Service Representative, Customer Solutions Coordinator, Equipment Technician I, IT Application Analyst, and Marketing Rep A. ARR’s Approved Budget includes funding increases for living wage, fleet fuel and maintenance, homelessness cleanup services, disposal and processing contracts, temporary employees and overtime, and driver retention incentives along with other increases. Major reductions to the ARR Approved Budget include Bad Debt, GO Debt Service, transfer to Capital, and Vacancy Savings. FY 2022-23 Approved Operating Budget Revenue Requirements Ending Balance FTEs FY 2021 Budget FY 2022 Amended FY 2023 Approved $103,880,851 $110,998,492 $117,967,407 $106,810,355 $112,282,317 $121,929,742 $8,940,928 $11,437,141 $14,328,272 501.00 514.00 521.00 Capital Appropriations $11,860,005 $14,302,717 $14,171,217 Highlights of Approved Budget Major Rate Changes Service Description Monthly Clean Community Fee Residential Monthly Clean Community Fee Commercial Monthly Base Customer Fee Residential & Commercial $16.50 $18.80 $16.65 $19.45 Amended FY 2021-22 $4.70 Approved FY 2022-23 $4.85 Change Personnel: wages, insurance, OT, temps, incentives Citywide Cost Allocation Increases (City Support) Citywide Cost Drivers Departmental Cost Drivers Vacancy Savings increase Bad Debt Transfer to Capital GO Debt Service New full-time positions Contractual and commodity increases Homelessness cleanup services Fleet maintenance and fuel expense $0.15 $0.15 $0.65 FTEs 7.0 Incremental $3,566,576 $1,442,123 ($654,877) ($500,000) ($131,500) ($107,776) $615,551 $641,245 $900,000 $3,876,083 9/12/2022
To: From: Date: Subject: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery September 14, 2022 Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Vehicle wrap update: The RCA for vinyl vehicle wraps passed on consent at the last City Council meeting. The RCA for non-vinyl vehicle wraps is under development AC retrofit update: ARR plans to retrofit 50 vehicles with the roof-mounted air conditioning units. Ten AC retrofits have been completed. The next ten AC units have been ordered and are pending delivery. Thirteen vehicles currently have unresolved air conditioning issues. Keep Austin Beautiful Presentation - Follow-up: During the presentation on August 10, 2022, the question was posed by the Commission regarding if there was demographic information on the students participating in the programs. This information has been provided for review (attached). ARR Solicitations Update As of September 2, 2022 ZWAC Meeting September 14, 2022 Upcoming Solicitations and Agreements Under Development (in alphabetical order): 1. Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Collection Services: ILA – The City will provide household hazardous waste, recycling, and other collection services for Travis County households located outside the incorporated limits of the city. 2. Mattress Collection and Recycling Pilot Program: RFP – The Contractor shall develop and implement a mattress and box spring collection and recycling pilot program. No existing contract. 3. Sale of Trash Carts and Materials for Recycling: IFB – The Contractor shall purchase, transport, and recycle trash carts and materials including carts, lids, and wheels that the City of Austin deems no longer usable. Link to the current contract. 4. Supplemental Brush and Bulk Collection Services: IFB - The Contractor shall provide supplemental brush and bulk debris removal and hauling services throughout Travis County and dispose of the debris at the designated Debris Management Site. Link to the current contract. Solicitations Expected to be Posted Within the Next 90 Days & Published Solicitations: No Updates Solicitations in Evaluation or Negotiation: No Updates Definitions: CCO (Capital Contracting Office): Administers the procurement of professional and construction services. CO-OP (Cooperative Contract): A contract that has been competitively bid and issued by another government or purchasing alliance with the intention of sharing it with other governmental entities. ILA (Interlocal Agreement): A collaborative contract between local government entities (for example, ARR and a county, state, or school district) to provide more efficient and less costly services, where any payments are made from current revenues. …
Multifamily Organics Pilot ZWAC – 9/14/2022 Background • Resolution 20191017-028 • Universal Recycling Ordinance – organics diversion requirements for food service businesses only • Multifamily properties (>4 units) required to provide access to recycling for residents • About 55% of Austin households are in multifamily properties • 95% of those are renters Resolution 20191017-028 Multifamily Properties • Apartments • Condominiums • Including detached homes • Townhomes • Dormitories • Nursing homes / assisted living facilities • Mobile homes • 1,800 properties in Austin Existing Composting Options for Multifamily • Drop-off sites • Community gardens • Farmers’ Markets • Neighbors/friends with ARR carts • Backyard composting • Valet opt-in collection • Full-service collection offered to all residents Additional Research • Researched and interviewed other municipalities with multifamily organics programs • Collection - Boulder, CO; Seattle, WA; New York, NY • Drop-Off – Washington D.C., Charlotte, VA; NYC • Researched existing multifamily organics pilots • San Francisco • Investigated properties in Austin with existing organics collection • Commercial Organics Pilot – Austin, 2012 Input from URO Committee • Onsite collection systems rather than drop-off • Large sample size • Geographic representation • 6 month pilot Input from Stakeholders • Meeting Dates: 4/23/19, 6/4/19, 1/8/20 • Stakeholders: haulers, multifamily property managers, Austin Apartment Association Pilot Goals • Identify challenges and best practices • Understand cost impacts • Inform future policy recommendations Property Recruitment • Began in 2019 • Put on hold for COVID • Restarted in Winter 2020 • On hold due to Uri • Restarted in Spring 2021 • Calls, emails, newsletters, social media • 8 properties participated Service Delivery • Properties chose their own service provider and contracted for services at market rates • Up to 6 months of rebated service • Service levels chosen by property management • Cart-based or valet service • Locked containers • Simulate real-world scenario Education • Virtual information session • Language interpretation available • Kitchen collectors with labels • Bilingual how-to guides • Letters • Website Data Collection • Weekly container audits • Identify materials • Contamination • Container fullness/use • Management Surveys • 3 months and end of pilot • Resident Survey • End of pilot • Invoices Results Survey Caveats Resident Survey Responses 157,446 830 76 Percent of Residents per Property that used the Pilot Compost/Organics Service according to Management Average Springhollow Condominiums Seminary of the Southwest Riverwalk Condominiums St. Edward's Chamonix Condominiums …
Transfer Station Briefing Richard McHale Deputy Director September 14, 2022 Transfer Station • Facility where materials from smaller trucks are loaded onto a larger truck • Provides cost efficient method to transport materials to the final destination • Public or private • Benefits • Lowers maintenance costs, fuel, traffic, carbon footprint, “windshield” time • Increases route efficiency Transfer Station Use • Texas has 100+ transfer stations • CAPCOG Region has 6 active & 3 pending facilities • Austin is the largest city in U.S. that does not utilize a transfer station Site Visits Reason for visits: To better understand the planning, financial, and operational aspects of large operations in a variety of locations Sites visited: • Seattle North, Seattle South - SPU • Bow Lake, Factoria - King County • Puente Hills - L.A. County Wish List • Site which will allow for growth • Easy access • Ability to handle multiple resource streams • Open to the public • Becomes a destination Seattle North Seattle North Seattle South Seattle South Bow Lake Factoria Puente Hills Puente Hills Next Steps • Continue property search • Work with ZWAC, industry stakeholders, and the community Questions?
