Jan 8, 2020 Draft Minutes — original pdf

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Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes January 8, 2020 The Zero Waste Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on January 8, 2020 in Council Chambers in City Hall in Austin, Texas. The following are the meeting highlights. For detailed information, please visit http://www.austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/97_1.htm. CALL TO ORDER Chair Acuna called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Gerry Acuna, Cathy Gattuso, Ian Steyaert, Melissa Rothrock, Amanda Masino, Kaiba White. Absent are: Jonathan Barona, Ian Steyaert.  Staff in attendance: Ken Snipes, Tammie Williamson, Richard McHale, Victoria Rieger, Gena McKinley, Andy Dawson, Gabriel Gonzalez, Lori Scott, Scott Long, Marcus Gonzalez, Amy Slagle. 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Jeffrey Jacoby signed up to speak. He thanked the Commission for their resolution on November 21st. 2. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Chair Acuna entertained a motion. Commissioner Masino moved for approval. Seconded by Commissioner Gattuso. Item did not pass on a 5-0-1 vote. Commissioner Barden abstained. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION 3. OLD BUSINESS 3a. Discussion and Action – Impact of Ordinance Change Pursuant to City of Austin Extraterritorial Boundary Revision Jon White, Travis County, talked about the recently amended Solid Waste Siting Ordinance. Mr. White explained that the recent amendment fixed some contradictions that had been in the original 2003 ordinance. Mr. White said that as the ordinance was being re-worked, Travis County and the City of Austin had agreed to release extraterritorial jurisdiction over lands around the Waste Management site. Mr. White said that although the [Waste Management site] were going to continue operations, future activities would not be permitted because it’s the longstanding position that the City and County both have a longstanding position for waste disposal activities at [the Waste Management] location to end. Chair Acuna asked how this affects us in meeting the needs and goals of our city master plan, expanding household hazardous waste opportunities and diversion. Mr. White said that it does allow for potential sites to be developed elsewhere in the county, but the ordinance is more adapted to add transfer stations than landfills.   Commissioner Masino asked what the boundaries were of the siting ordinance. Mr. White said it was North of 290 (Blue Goose Road), and the limits were to west where railroad and creek are; within half a mile. Chair Acuna asked for clarification, if it would impede the city’s ability to identify a household hazardous waste site. Mr. White said it would not. Adam Gregory chose to speak on this topic. Mr. Gregory requested that the [the Commissioners] take action recommending that city council release all the parcels within Travis County that comprise privately held permitted landfill facilities. Tammie Williamson, Austin Resource Recovery, it would be a process we would go through with the Law Department to get this on Council first. Commissioner White asked why this process was done for some areas and not others. Mr. White said that it was specifically done to help address compliance issues with Waste Management and limit future landfilling. NEW BUSINESS 5c. Staff Briefings – Violet Bag Presentation Mark Janchar of City of Austin Office of Design and Delivery presented. Commissioner White asked about plans for future sites. Mr. Janchar said that during weekly multi-departmental meetings, sites are proposed and then evaluated; once a new site is identified than they begin outreach begins and see if there is a safe place to pull up a truck. Amy Slagle, ARR, said that pulling up to the grass is acceptable option, but if it requires switching multiple lanes than it will not qualify as safe. 5c. Staff Briefings – Travis County Diversion Efforts/Activities Presentation Presentation by Tom Gleason from Travis County. Commissioner Rothrock asked if diversion activities still took place at Travis County Jails. Mr. Gleason said he wasn’t aware of any programs, but he could look into it. Commissioner White asked if there plans to expand programs of trash and recycling. Mr. White said ordinances prevent Travis County and the City of Austin from partaking in trash and recycling collection in the ETJ. Commissioner Gattuso asked about the partnerships Travis County has. Mr. Gleason said they want to look at pulling in other cities to leverage aggregated knowledge and resources and share ideas. Commissioner White wanted to call to Mr. Gleason’s attention that better receptacles should be placed at Travis County sports complexes. 4a. Discussion and Action – Downtown Trash and Recycling Receptacles RCA Marcus Gonzalez, ARR, presented the item. Chair Acuna entertained a motion. Commissioner Masino asked how many were going to be ordered. Mr. Gonzalez said 50 [receptacles] a year for three years. Commissioner Masino moved for approval. Seconded by Commissioner Barden. Item passed on a 6-0 vote. 5. STAFF BRIEFINGS 5a. Director’s Report: HHW Mobile Collection Event Cost Estimate, Textiles Curbside Pickup Update, Economic Impact Study on C&D Diversion Requirements, Solicitations Update, Statistical Reports and Performance Measures Andy Dawson, ARR, provided an update on HHW Mobile Collection event. Commissioner Masino asked how much material was going to be brought-in. Mr. Dawson said it might be possible that 50,000 pounds is expected. Richard McHale, ARR, provided the update for Textiles Pickup Update. Commissioner White wanted to have more information about Goodwill’s recycling methods of clothing and if they do the full-range of recycling. Jason McCombs, ARR, provided an update on the Economic Impact Study on C&D Diversion Requirements. Chair Acuna asked if this will include interviews with processors and an update on the available markets in Central Texas. Mr. McCombs said yes. 6. Impact of Ordinance Change Pursuant to City of Austin Extraterritorial Boundary Revision, C&D Working Group Sub-Committee, Climate Action Plan Update, Curbside Textiles Recycling methods, Compostable Food Service Containers, Update on Medical Health and Evaluation Program, Proposed Food Pantry recommendation Presentation, University of Texas 2020 Zero Waste Presentation. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Chair Acuna entertains a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner White moves for adjournment. Seconded by Commissioner Gattuso. The meeting was adjourned by Chair Acuna at 8:08 pm to no objection.