Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes November 18th, 2020 The Monthly Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission convened through Video Conference on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020, due to COVID-19 Disaster Declaration for all Texas Counties. The following are the meeting highlights. For detailed information please visit: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/107399 CALL TO ORDER Chair Acuna called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:21 pm Board Members in Attendance: Gerry Acuna, Lisa Barden, Cathy Gattuso, Amanda Masino, Melissa Rothrock, Ian Steyaert, and Kaiba White Board Members not in Attendance: Jonathan Barona, and Janis Bookout (Membership pending) Staff in attendance via WebEx: Ken Snipes, Richard McHale, Gena McKinley, Andy Dawson, Marcus Gonzalez, Amy Slagle, Raymond Benavidez, Jaime Germany Terry, Dwight Scales, Chair Acuna opened with comments, 1. APPROVAL of October 12th MEETING MINUTES Chair Acuna entertained a motion to approve the October 14th, Meeting minutes. Commissioner Lisa Barden made the first motion for approval of the minutes. A second motion was provided by Commissioner Cathy Gattuso Item passed Unanimously 2. NEW BUSINESS 2a Discussion and Action – Truck Rental Ratification The ZWAC Commission chose to defer item 2a. due to lack of time to review before the meeting. 2b. Discussion and Action—Non-Curbside Recycling Contract Andy Dawson Diversion Facilities Assistant Division manager mentions this new contract would replace the contract for recycling services at the recycle and reuse drop-off center and combine in the in-house recycling services for city facilities (two separate contracts would be combined into one). The ZWAC Commission chose to defer Discussion and Action on item 2b. due to lack of time to review before the meeting. 2c. Discussion and Action- Safely Reducing Barriers to Charitable Feeding: APH Response to Resolution 20200729-087 CIUR 2290 Presentation—Don Hastings Austin Public Health Don Hastings, Assistant Director of Environmental Health Services with Austin Public Health presents noting this information was presented on October 14th to the Health and Human Services commissioners. This is initial staff response to a city council commission resolution on how can we as a city further assist charitable feeding organizations to accomplish their mission of providing healthy and affordable food, expanding access to healthy and affordable food. We have to be careful not to conflict with other city goals such as ensuring food safety and ensuring the goals of the Universal Recycling, Organics, and Diversion, etc. It’s always important to expand healthy, affordable food access, but especially during a pandemic, when so …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Wednesday, October 14th 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission to be held Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in‐person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Tuesday , October 13th 2020) by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting To speak remotely at the October 14th, 2020 Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974‐2435 Dwight.Scales@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Dwight.Scales@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch‐atxn‐live Reunión del Zero Waste Advisory Commission FECHA de la reunion (October 14th, 2020) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (October 13th, 2020 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en (512)974‐2435 dwight.scales@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para hablar al enlace de la junta, …
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Sustainability Committee Recommendation 20200826-2A Supporting the Austin Climate Equity Plan WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20150604-048 adopting the Austin Community Climate Plan and creating the Joint Sustainability Committee; and WHEREAS, the Austin Community Climate Plan includes a schedule for reporting and updates, with a full plan revision in 2020; and WHEREAS, the harmful effects of climate change, including floods, droughts, heat waves and wildfires, are worsening in the Austin area and around the world; and WHEREAS, the “Global Warming of 1.5 °C” issued in 2018 by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change illustrates that keeping the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius will help to avoid severe effects of climate change, including ecosystems collapsing, that will very likely occur if warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius; and WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities of color in Austin and around the world are the most impacted by extreme weather and pollution despite having contributed least to the drivers of climate change and pollution; and WHEREAS, harmful land use and the refusal to create or enforce real environmental regulations continue to disproportionately expose communities of color to environmental harms, leading to unjust quality of life outcomes both historically and today; and WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities of color must be prioritized to receive the disproportionate benefits of the transition to a pollution-free society to remedy disproportionate harm done historically and presently; and WHEREAS, if we design and implement programs to serve low-income communities and communities of color, we will positively impact all residents in the Austin area; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change set a goal of “keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius”; and WHEREAS, current international, federal, state and local commitments to greenhouse gas reduction fall short of what is needed to keep average global warming to either 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s “Emissions Gap Report 2019” illustrates the significant magnitude in the gap between international commitments and needed emissions reductions; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is a member of C40 Cities, a network of global cities committed to addressing climate change; and WHEREAS, C40 Cities has developed guidance for cities on setting greenhouse …
To: From: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery Date: October 14th, 2020 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Clean Creeks Program Austin Resource Recovery and the Watershed Protection Department have begun working together to develop the newly established Clean Creeks Program. ARR will be hiring eight dedicated full-time employees that will focus on general litter abatement in creeks. Watershed Protection will provide ARR with priority cleaning areas based on customer complaints and known high-litter areas around drainage culverts. Watershed’s contractor will continue to clean encampments located in creeks. Homeless Encampment Cleanings FY 21 To address the timely clean-ups of encampments, Austin Resource Recovery is creating a dedicated crew to provide daily collection at the 28 Violet Bag sites. ARR is also planning an expansion of the Violet Bag program and plans to closely mirror the number of sites that Public Works maintains each month (approximately 60 sites). Public Works will continue to provide monthly cleanings to approximately 60 encampment sites. Also, ARR and Public Work are partnering to develop a self-cleaning pilot at two encampment sites that will encourage residents to clean the area and place unwanted items in a dumpster. Starting in October, the three-month pilot will be conducted at the Highway 71/Packsaddle Pass and Highway 183/Cameron Road sites. The pilot will be evaluated to determine overall success and the information reported to City Council. Recycle and ReUse Drop-Off Center As the positive cases are declining and Austin-Travis County has moved to Stage 3 of COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, ARR has re-opened the Recycle and ReUse Drop-Off Center for appointment only services. RRDOC staff continued to perform home pick-up services of household hazardous waste for the customers already scheduled through September. The appointment drop-offs at the RRDOC began Tuesday, September 8th, and continued Monday through Friday throughout the month. The RRDOC appointment program expanded to include Saturdays starting October 3rd, 2020. The current 6 days per week schedule will continue until further changes in the COVID-19 guidelines. Customers will be required to wear a mask and will be asked to keep social distancing in mind while dropping off their items. Resumption of Brush and Bulk Collections Beginning the week of October 12th, brush collection routes will resume, and bulk collection will resume the week of October 26th. Customers will receive postcards in the mail informing them of their scheduled collection date. Back …
. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION Recommendation Number: (20201014‐2B): Resolution Supporting the Austin Climate Equity Plan WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20150604‐048 adopting the Austin Community Climate Plan and creating the Joint Sustainability Committee; and WHEREAS, the Austin Community Climate Plan includes a schedule for reporting and updates, with a full plan revision in 2020; and WHEREAS, the harmful effects of climate change, including floods, droughts, heat waves and wildfires, are worsening in the Austin area and around the world; and WHEREAS, the “Global Warming of 1.5 °C” issued in 2018 by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change illustrates that keeping the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius will help to avoid severe effects of climate change, including ecosystems collapsing, that will very likely occur if warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius; and WHEREAS, low‐income communities and communities of color in Austin and around the world are the most impacted by extreme weather and pollution despite having contributed least to the drivers of climate change and pollution; and WHEREAS, harmful land use and the refusal to create or enforce real environmental regulations continue to disproportionately expose communities of color to environmental harms, leading to unjust quality of life outcomes both historically and today; and WHEREAS, low‐income communities and communities of color must be prioritized to receive the disproportionate benefits of the transition to a pollution‐free society to remedy disproportionate harm done historically and presently; and WHEREAS, if we design and implement programs to serve low‐income communities and communities of color, we will positively impact all residents in the Austin area; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change set a goal of “keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre‐ industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius”; and . WHEREAS, current international, federal, state and local commitments to greenhouse gas reduction fall short of what is needed to keep average global warming to either 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s “Emissions Gap Report 2019” illustrates the significant magnitude in the gap between international commitments and needed emissions reductions; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is a member of C40 Cities, a network of global cities committed to addressing climate change; and WHEREAS, C40 Cities has developed …
Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes October 14th, 2020 The Monthly Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission convened through Video Conference on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020, due to COVID-19 Disaster Declaration for all Texas Counties. The following are the meeting highlights. For detailed information please visit: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/87209 CALL TO ORDER Chair Acuna called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:17 pm Board Members in Attendance: Gerry Acuna, Lisa Barden, Jonathan Barona, Cathy Gattuso, Amanda Masino, Melissa Rothrock, Ian Steyaert, Kaiba White Board Members not in Attendance: Janis Bookout (Membership pending) Staff in attendance via WebEx: Ken Snipes, Richard McHale, Gena McKinley, Donald Hardee, Andy Dawson, Ron Romero, Amy Slagle, Raymond Benavidez, Jaime Germany Terry, Dwight Scales, Chair Acuna opened with comments, 1. APPROVAL OF August 12th MEETING MINUTES Chair Acuna entertained a motion to approve the August 12th, Meeting minutes. Commissioner Lisa Barden made the first motion for approval of the minutes. A second motion was provided by Commissioner Amanda Masino Item passed Unanimously 2. NEW BUSINESS • • 2a Discussion and Action – Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) FY19 Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey Presentation by Claudia Nava and Liz Jambor Liz Jambor and Claudia Nava with Austin Energy’s Data Analytics team presented the Annual ARR Customer Satisfaction Survey The Data Analytics and Business Intelligence group within Austin Energy serves as the third party for ARR. The idea is to take the data, do the analytics and give the big picture insights so that teams can then turn that information into action items to better serve their customers. We collect research data and customer survey data. We also combine that with a lot of other data from other platforms We are able to pull ARR customers and tie that information to Census data or economic data to make sure that we are getting a representative sample every time we do a survey. We’re going to talk specifically about ARR today. We are gathering awareness and satisfaction insights, but also supporting strategic outcomes that the group might have. We build on existing data and we also communicate the impact of those results. We started back in 2015 by conducting a phone survey, since then we’ve moved the survey to on-line. In FY19 we had over 1000 responses. That’s a very good sample for any statistical analysis. As we’ve seen in the past, we don’t have al to of Spanish completions. We …
Special Meeting of the ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION August 12, 2020, 3:00 pm Zero Waste Advisory Commission to be held on August 12, 2020, at 3:00 P.M. with Social Distancing Modifications. Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance by noon Tuesday, August 11th. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the August 12th Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting, residents must: • Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-2435 or Dwight.Scales@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker's name, the item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. • Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. • Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes before meeting start to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. • Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. • Handouts or other information may be emailed to Dwight.Scales@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live • 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 in the 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 ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION August 12, 2020, at 3:00 P.M. VIDEO CONFERENCE AGENDA Gerry Acuna Jonathan Barona Ian Steyaert Cathy Gattuso Melissa Rothrock Lisa Barden Amanda Masino Kaiba White Janis Bookout CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: CALL TO ORDER 2. NEW BUSINESS Revision by Zack Baumer 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1. APPROVAL OF July 17, 2020, Special Meeting …
To: From: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery Date: August 12, 2020 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Recycling Residual Rate The last recorded recycling residual rate was 17.29% Austin Resource Recovery and both vendors agreed to cancelling the Spring 2020 Recycling audit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An early Fall 2020 Recycling audit is still scheduled US Plastics Pact The City of Austin intends to join the U.S. Plastics Pact as a Not-for-Profit Activator, which will formally launch later this summer. Organized by The Recycling Partnership, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and World Wildlife Fund, the U S. Plastics Pact is a collaboration that will bring together companies, government entities, NGOs, researchers, and other stakeholders to work collectively toward a common vision of a circular economy for plastics, as outlined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy. This vision aims to ensure that plastics never become waste by eliminating the plastics we do not need, innovating to ensure that the plastics we do need are reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and circulating all the plastic items we use to keep them in the economy and out of the environment. The City of Austin joined the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment in 2018. More information is available in the activator packet. Economic Impact Study Update Austin Resource Recovery commissioned TXP, Inc. through a Master Agreement to update its 2015 study of the economic impact of recycling and reuse-related in Austin. The study scope was broadened to include a wider definition of industry activities that are recycling and reuse-related. Based on the new definition, in the past 5 years, total direct Austin circular economy employment rose from 2,670 to 3,156, while direct payroll climbed from $74.5 million to $165.8 million. The total current economic impact of the sector, including indirect and induced impacts, is $1.1 billion in economic activity and the support of approximately 6,300 jobs. The study also included recommendations to increase the economic impact of the sector, which has been provided to the Zero Waste Master Plan consultants for review and incorporation as appropriate into the Master Plan Update. The new study is now available online. ARR Solicitations Update As of July 22, 2020 ZWAC Meeting August 12, 2020 Upcoming Solicitations Under Development (in alphabetical order): 1. Education, Cleanup, and Beautification Services: RFP – Contractors qualified to provide education, cleanup, and beautification …
2020 Austin Climate Equity Plan August 12th, 2020 Thank you for having us ● We’ve been revising the Community Climate Plan ● First Draft Recommendations out now ● Draft for Public Comment in August ● Council in October ● We’re looking for your: ○ Comments ○ Areas of Interest ○ Pledge of Support There is an opportunity in this moment Convergence driving Change COVID-19 → Economic Devastation Black Lives Matter Climate Change What people actually want: ● Good jobs and training for new industries ● To be healthy ● Safety in all places for all ● Vibrant community ● Clean environment Existing Initiatives moving in this direction: ● Austin Civilian Conservation Corps ● Green Jobs Grants “The pandemic” is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it. - Arundhati Roy How was this plan created? • 24 City Staff • 120 Community Members (NGO, Govt, Business) • 12 Ambassadors • 4 Equity Trainings • 5 Community Workshops (over 250 attendees) • 14 Steering Committee • 60+ Advisory Group Meetings Meetings • 50+ Interviews by Ambassadors Steering Committee Members Co-Chairs Mayuri Raja, AZAAD, Google Shane Johnson, Sierra Club Katie Coyne, Asakura Robinson Susana Almanza, PODER Joep Meijer, Citizen Jim Walker, Univ. of Texas Rocio Villalobos, Equity Office Drew Nelson, Mitchell Foundation Rodrigo Leal, Navigant Consulting Rene Renteria, Citizen Kaiba White, Public Citizen Lauren Peressini, Sunrise Movement Shawanda Stewart, Huston-Tillotson Univ. Kenneth Thompson, Solar Austin Ben Leibowicz, Univ. of Texas Suzanne Russo, Pecan Street Inc. Pooja Sethi, Sethi Law Darien Clary, AISD Alberta Phillips, Joint Sustainability Committee, ECHO Also: Nakia Winfield, Brandi Clark Burton, Kurt Stogdill 2015 Community Climate Plan Adopted by Council in June 2015 Electricity & Natural Gas Transportation & Land Use Materials & Waste Management 135 qualitative actions directed at departments 2017 Travis County Carbon Footprint 12.5 million metric tons carbon dioxide-equivalent Industrial Processes Our Commitment to Climate Equity Climate Change Racial Equity Eliminate the use of fossil fuels for energy & transportation Energy efficiency Renewable energy Less dependence on cars Electric vehicles • • • • • More trees & natural spaces Healthier consumer choices …
Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes August 12th, 2020 The Monthly Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission convened through Video Conference on Wednesday, August 12th, 2020, due to COVID-19 Disaster Declaration for all Texas Counties. The following are the meeting highlights. For detailed information please visit: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/74612 CALL TO ORDER Chair Acuna called the Commission Meeting to order at 3:25 pm Board Members in Attendance: Gerry Acuna, Lisa Barden, Amanda Massino, Ian Steyaert, Melissa Rothrock, Kaiba White Board Members not in Attendance: Janis Bookout (Membership pending), Jonathan Barona, Cathy Gattuso Staff in attendance via WebEx: Ken Snipes, Jaime Germany Terry, Tammie Williamson, Richard McHale, Dwight Scales, Donald Hardee, Amy Slagle, Ron Romero, and Natalie Betts Staff in attendance over the phone: None Chair Acuna opened with comments, 1. APPROVAL OF July 17th SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Chair Acuna entertained a motion to approve the July 17th Special Meeting minutes. Commissioner Kaiba White made the first motion for approval of the minutes. A second motion was provided by Commissioner Ian Steyaert Item passed Unanimously 2. NEW BUSINESS 2a Discussion and Action – Office of Sustainability Community Climate Plan 2020 Revision by Zach Baumer and Celine Rendon Zach Baumer and Celine Rendon with the Office of Sustainability present the Community Climate Plan for 2020. The first full draft of the presentation will no be released to the public for the public review for another seven to ten days. Commissioner Kaiba White mentioned that she prepared a document outlining the strategies and goals that fall under food and consumption. The Commission will probably want to review after the full draft is released. The first Austin Community Climate Plan was adopted by City Council in 2015. The Office of Sustainability’s been going through the process of doing a five-year update and revision to the plan. We are aiming for an October Council date for adoption. We are interested in your feedback. The planning effort started with direction from the joint sustainability committee last October. The direction was to focus on equity. No one could’ve anticipated a pandemic, economic devastation, job issues, social injustice, the Black Lives Matter Movement that’s been growing and finally stacking climate change which is still happening. The consensus is to act now with bold steps related to climate change. The focus in the planning effort is to focus on jobs, job training, health, safety, community connections, and a clean environment. …
Special Meeting of the ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION July 17, 2020, 10:00 A.M. Zero Waste Advisory Commission to be held on July 17, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. with Social Distancing Modifications. Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance by noon Thursday, July 16th. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the July 17th Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting, residents must: • Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-1931 or Jaime.Germany@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker's name, the item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. • Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. • Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes before meeting start to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. • Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. • Handouts or other information may be emailed to Jaime.Germany@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live • 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 Jaime Germany in the Austin Resource Recovery Department, at 512-974-1931, for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, please contact Jaime Germany at 512- 974-1931 ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION July 17, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. VIDEO CONFERENCE AGENDA CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Gerry Acuna Jonathan Barona Ian Steyaert Cathy Gattuso Melissa Rothrock Lisa Barden Amanda Masino Kaiba White Janis Bookout CALL TO ORDER 2. NEW BUSINESS 1. APPROVAL OF June 12, 2020, Special Meeting Minutes a) Discussion and Action: Collection services …
To: From: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery Date: July 17, 2020 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Recycle Reuse Drop Off Center (RRDOC) As of Friday, July 3rd, the Recycle and Reuse Drop Off Center has temporarily closed due to concerns over the increasing number of Covid-19 cases. For Household Hazardous Waste, the RRDOC staff continues to offer a no-contact home pickup option to the City of Austin residents to prevent this material from entering the waste stream. We have multiple staff members working to pick up as many of the requests as possible in a safe, timely fashion. ARR Solicitations Update As of June 25, 2020 ZWAC Meeting July 17th, 2020 Upcoming Solicitations Under Development (in alphabetical order): 1. Education, Cleanup, and Beautification Services: RFP – Contractors qualified to provide education, cleanup, and beautification services that benefit the public by improving Austin’s environment and aesthetics through a variety of programs and providing resources and education that inspire Austin residents toward effective environmental stewardship. Link to current contract. 2. Electronics Recycling: IFB – Contractor to pick up, transport, and recycle computers, monitors, televisions, and other devices that operate using electrical parts in an environmentally sound manner. Link to current contract. 3. Post-Disaster Debris Removal Services: RFP – Contractor to provide emergency debris removal services in accordance with Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) guidelines. No existing contract. 4. Post-Disaster Debris Monitoring Services: RFP – Contractor to provide emergency field debris monitoring services to include management and accounting services for monitoring the recovery efforts of the City’s Post Disaster Debris Removal Contractor. No existing contract. Solicitations Expected to be Posted Within the Next 90 Days: 1. Daily Drop-Off of Material Collected Through Dumpster or Roll-Off Service: IFB – Contractor to receive daily collections of bulk materials from the City at their disposal facility or landfill. No existing contract. Published Solicitations: 1. Recycling Processing for Non-Curbside Collections: IFB 1500 SLW1043 – This posted on June 15, 2020 and closes on July 7, 2020. Contractor to provide single-stream recyclable material processing and marketing services to sort, process, store, market, and sell single-stream recyclable material. The Contractor shall be responsible for picking up the recyclable material collected at the Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center and receiving the recyclable material collected by ARR from City facilities. This is replacing two contracts: In-House Recycling and RRDOC Recycling. Solicitations …
Item 20-2372 Posting Language ..Title Authorize award of two multi-term contracts with Texas Disposal Systems, Inc. and Balcones Recycling Inc., to provide trash, recycling, and organics collection services for City facilities, each for up to five years for total contract amounts not to exceed $7,500,000, divided between the contractors. (Note: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9C Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program. For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established). ..Body Lead Department Purchasing Office. Client Department(s) All City Departments. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $250,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Operating Budget of various City departments. Funding for the remaining contract terms is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: The Purchasing Office issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) 1500 SLW1035 for these services. The solicitation issued on March 9, 2020 and it closed on April 7, 2020. Of the three offers received, the recommended contractors submitted the lowest responsive offers. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing on the City’s Financial Services website, Austin Finance Online. Link: Solicitation Documents. Prior Council Action: For More Information: Inquiries should be directed to the City Manager’s Agenda Office, at 512-974-2991 or AgendaOffice@austintexas.gov NOTE: Respondents to this solicitation, and their representatives, shall continue to direct inquiries to the solicitation’s Authorized Contact Person: Shawn Willett, at 512-974-2021 or shawn.willett@austintexas.gov. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: July 13, 2020 – To be reviewed by the Electric Utility Commission. July 15, 2020 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. July 17, 2020 – To be reviewed by the Zero Waste Advisory Commission. Additional Backup Information: These contracts will provide collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of refuse, recycling, brush, and compostable materials generated by City facilities including all dumpsters/containers, staff, labor, vehicles, and equipment. The contractors will also cover additional collection needs for City co-sponsored events. Per the direction of the City Council on February 20, 2020, none of the waste from these contracts will be disposed of at the Austin Community Landfill. Austin Resource Recovery does not provide waste collection services to City facilities due to the type of equipment required. Under these contracts, most collection containers will be serviced on a weekly basis, with some sites …
Item 20-2452 Posting Language ..Title Authorize negotiation and execution of a multi-term contract with Relief Enterprise of Texas, Inc., to provide cleanup services for overpasses, under bridges, and in the transportation right of way, for up to three years for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,725,000. (Notes: This procurement was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9C Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program. For the services required for this procurement, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established). ..Body Lead Department Purchasing Office. Client Department(s) Austin Resource Recovery; Austin Transportation Department; Public Works. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $95,833 is available in the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Operating Budget of various City departments. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: Exempt – Services performed by blind or severely disabled persons. Prior Council Action: For More Information: Inquiries should be directed to the City Manager’s Agenda Office, at 512-974-2991 or AgendaOffice@austintexas.gov or to Sandy Wirtanen, at 512-974-7711 or sandy.wirtanen@austintexas.gov. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: July 17, 2020 – To be reviewed by the Zero Waste Advisory Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide for the removal of debris and cleanup services under bridge overpasses and in the transportation right of way throughout the City. The primary goal is to ensure the public right of way is clean and safe for all residents and not to remove any individuals who may be camping at the underpass locations. The contract will allow the City to continue these important cleanup services at locations underneath Interstate 35, US 183, Loop 1, and US 290, as well as at other areas in the public right of way as they are identified. State law allows political subdivisions to substitute services available from blind or disabled persons for those which could be purchased from private business without securing competitive bids (Texas Human Resources Code, Section 122.017 and Texas Local Government Code Section 252.022(a)(13)). Contract Detail: Contract Term Initial Term Optional Extension 1 Optional Extension 2 TOTAL Note: Contract Authorization amounts are based on the City’s estimated annual usage. Strategic Outcome(s): Health and the Environment. Contract Authorization $ 575,000 $ 575,000 $ 575,000 $1,725,000 Length of Term 1 yr. 1 yr. 1 yr. 3 yrs. ..Strategic Outcome(s)
FY21 Proposed Budget Presentation July 17, 2020 Presentation Topics • Clean Community Fee Overview – Clean Community Fee FY20 Budget Amendment • Curbside Collection Services Overview – Curbside Services Cost of Service – Curbside Collection Customers – Trash Cart Distribution • FY21 Proposed Budget – Budget by Strategic Outcome – Proposed Rate Changes – Fund Summary – Top 10 Budgeted Expense Categories – Capital Improvement Plan July 17, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission 2 Clean Community Fee Purpose • Clean Community Fee is established by ordinance to provide litter and nuisance abatement, street cleaning, household hazardous waste disposal, and the implementation and enforcement of the URO • Billed to all residential and commercial customers in the city including apartment complexes and other multi-family customers • Clean Community Customer Count (as of May 2020) ‒ Residential – 409,776 customers ‒ Commercial – 25,796 customers • No change in rate for FY21 July 17, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission 3 FY20 Clean Community Fee Budget Amendment Increase levels of street sweeping services – Additional crews and equipment for enhanced street sweeping $1,972,100 Increase levels of community litter abatement – Targeted team within ARR for citywide service enhancements – Partnership with Public Works on rights-of-way – Expanded Violet Bag service level – Parks grounds litter abatement – Downtown Austin Community Court partnership $538,500 $200,000 $252,500 $125,000 $181,200 Total: $3,269,300 Total FTE: 12 July 17, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission 4 Curbside Collection Services • Supported by Trash Cart Fees – Trash Collection • Residential 208,992 (as of May 2020) • Commercial 3,274 (as of May 2020) Trash Cart Customers Commercial 2% Residential 98% July 17, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission 5 Curbside Collection Trash Cart Size Distribution Residential Trash Cart Size Jan 2016 Jan 2017 Jan 2018 Jan 2019 Jan 2020 24 gallon 32 gallon 64 gallon 96 gallon Trash Cart Size 24 gallon 32 gallon 64 gallon 96 gallon 7% 22% 59% 12% 12% 25% 52% 11% 8% 23% 57% 12% 14% 26% 50% 10% 9% 24% 55% 12% 15% 27% 48% 10% 10% 24% 54% 12% 16% 27% 47% 10% FY 2021 Projected FY 2022 Projected FY 2023 Projected FY 2024 Projected FY 2025 Projected 5% 22% 60% 13% 11% 25% 53% 11% July 17, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission 6 Curbside Collection Services • Supported by Base Customer Fee – Recycling Collection – Yard Trimming and Organics Collection – Brush …
Multifamily Recycling Capacity Increase April 2019 Jason McCombs, Program Manager City of Austin | Austin Resource Recovery austinrecycles.com Multifamily Capacity Increase Amendment ZWAC and City Council approved amendments to department administrative rules in September and October 2019 Amendments start October 1, 2020. Key amendment components: → Onsite recycling sufficient to avoid overflowing → Recycling container size increased to 24 gal/unit or 1:1 ratio with trash Multifamily Recycling Capacity Increase Multifamily Capacity Increase Amendment Solid Waste Services Administrative Rules 8.5 - Capacity and Diversion Performance Standards 8.5.1.1.2 Multifamily properties—Beginning on October 1, 2020, Responsible Parties shall ensure that onsite recycling services are sufficient to accommodate the regular accumulation of recyclables and avoid overflowing containers by having, at a minimum, one of the following: 8.5.1.1.2.1 Twenty-four gallons of recycling capacity per dwelling unit per week; or An equal 1:1 ratio of landfill trash to recycling capacity. 8.5.1.1.2.2 Multifamily Recycling Capacity Increase Planned Multi-family Outreach Pre-Pandemic → Direct mailers to multifamily properties across the city → Print advertisement in Windows Magazine (trade publication) → Social media outreach targeting multifamily properties and residents → Rebate to assist early adopters of the requirements → Collaborative meetings with trade associations and property owners → Outreach scheduled to peak in spring 2020 and maintain through summer 2020 Multifamily Recycling Capacity Increase City Guidance on Communications In March 2020, City Communications asked all departments delay communications not directly related to or able to support successful communication about COVID-19 Multifamily Recycling Capacity Increase City and Department Pandemic Outreach Multifamily Recycling Capacity Increase Multi-family Outreach Moving Foward → Pandemic sensitive messaging → Direct mailers to multifamily properties across the city before October 2020 → Print and social media outreach targeting multifamily properties and residents before October 2020 → Virtual site assessments options and technical assistance for property managers → New staff focused on multifamily community engagement → Provide messaging with a focus on providing resources to reach compliance Next Steps Staff is actively moving forward with developing education and outreach aligned with a implementation date of October 1, 2020. City staff will observe administrative rule 8.12.3, which states: In the twelve months following the commencement of effective dates, City staff will not enforce fines, unless the property fails to make a good faith effort, as determined by the Director, to comply. Multifamily Recycling Capacity Increase Jason McCombs | Program Manager City of Austin | Austin Resource Recovery | Strategic Initiatives …
Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes July 17th, 2020 The Special Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission convened through Video Conference on Friday, July, 17th, 2020, due to COVID-19 Disaster Declaration for all Texas Counties. The following are the meeting highlights. For detailed information please visit: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/73782 CALL TO ORDER Chair Acuna called the Commission Meeting to order at 10:06 am Board Members in Attendance: Gerry Acuna, Cathy Gattuso, Ian Steyaert, Kaiba White, Amanda Masino, Jonathan Barona, Melissa Rothrock Board Members not in Attendance: Lisa Barden, Janis Bookout (Membership pending), Staff in attendance via WebEx: Ken Snipes, Jaime Germany Terry, Victoria Rieger, Gena McKinley, Tammie Williamson, Richard McHale, Mike Turner, Dwight Scales, Jason McCombs, Donald Hardee, Amy Slagle, Ron Romero, and Brent Paige Staff in attendance over the phone: None Speakers: Adam Gregory Chair Acuna opened with comments, Item passed Unanimously 2. NEW BUSINESS 1. APPROVAL OF June 12th, 2020 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Chair Acuna entertained a motion to approve the June 12th, 2020 minutes. Commissioner Ian Steyaert made the first motion for approval of the minutes. A second motion was provided by Commissioner Cathy Gattuso. a. Speaker Adam Gregory spoke about fielding questions if fellow council members needed any. • There were no questions from the council currently b. Unanimous vote resulting in Yea 2a Discussion and Action – Collection services for City Facilities RCA Victoria Rieger (Financial Division Service Manager ARR) presented a comprehensive update on the Collection services for City Facilities RCA. ARR is seeking a favorable recommendation for two multiterm contracts with Texas Disposal Systems and Balcones Recycling. These contracts are to provide garbage, recycling, and organics collection for the City of Austin Facilities. Commissioner Amanda Masino had a question on why two vendors were on one contract? Response Ron Romero (Division Manager) explained the setup of the solicitation was open to various vendors to provide bids on trash, disposal, and recycling services. Through the process of solicitation, purchasing reviewed the submitted bids. The lowest bidder for recycling services was Balcones Recycling. The lowest bid for trash and organics services was Texas Disposal Systems. Chair Gerry Acuna had a follow-up question asking if assuming there is a default by either one of the contractors, does having one contract cause and issue or are there two separate agreements based on the respective numbers that were submitted by them? Response: Brent Paige (Financial Manager ARR) explained that …
