To: From: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery Date: March 11, 2021 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission CTM Refresh The PC refresh is triggered by the lifecycle management of our entire PC fleet and based on the date of purchase. It is roughly based on 20% of PCs per year and 25% of laptops. The current lifecycle is 5 years for PCs, 4 years for laptops used by standard users (office environment), and 3 years on laptops that are in the field every day. This is the current standard and follows industry best standards managing the lifecycle of the PC environment. Just because a PC still runs doesn't mean it is cost-effective to maintain in operations. The soft costs begin to rise the older a system gets like work stoppage due to failure or slowness, cost of replacing parts, the number of service calls due to the age of system and software install dates, and of course the ability of the system to adequately run current and new software deployed. It is common for large enterprises to adopt lifecycle management and the city has modeled it after industry standards. The other scenario to wait until the device no longer works is called “Replace on Failure” and it is not recommended as cost rise in other ways as mentioned. Winter Weather Storm Recovery During the week of February 15th, the Austin area experienced an Arctic air outbreak that caused freezing temperatures, snow, and ice accumulation. Due to the weather conditions, ARR was forced to suspend operations the week of February 15th-February 19th, 2021. Recycling tonnage for the week of February 22nd -26th, 2021 was 1254.40 tons. An increase of approximately 16% over the same period last year. Garbage tonnage for the week of February 22nd -26th, 2021 was 4957.79 tons. An increase of more than 200% over the same period last year Garbage and Recycle Collection Due to extreme winter weather, ARR canceled all residential garbage and recycling collection for the week of February 15th– February 19th, 2021. As collection services resumed the following week, for City of Austin garbage customers, Austin Resource Recovery decided to waive all excess garbage fees for the week of February 22nd – February 26th, 2021. Collection crews were instructed to collect all household trash contained in bags that were located at the curb. This was done …
Multifamily Compost Pilot Update M a r c h 11, 2 0 2 1 Selene Castillo AustinRecycles.com M u lt if a m ily P ilo t : G o a l • Inform future policy discussions around composting at multifamily properties o Ga thering informa tion from properties a nd tena nts o Identifying cha llenges a nd bes t pra ctices P ilo t D e la y • Original launch in March 2020 put on hold due to COVID-19 pandemic. • Planned restart in March 2021. • Winter Storm Uri caused further delay and resulted in significant impacts to multifamily properties. Many still do not have water due to shortages in plumbers and parts. • Several properties originally planning to participate elected not to continue or did not respond to our communications. Austin Water Map of Multifamily Properties Reporting Water Outages (3/4/21) S t o r m Im p a c t O r ig in a l P r o p e r t ie s Number of Units Zip Code District Still Participating? Property Name West Lynn Quarter College Courts Nelray Place HOA Eight Hundred Banister Place Chambord Condominiums Lakeshore Pearl Bexley at Tech Ridge Lakeline Station Kinney Lofts Flatiron Domain 44 38 17 32 100 199 342 132 27 364 78703 78705 78751 78704 78741 78741 78753 78717 78704 78758 9 9 9 3 3 3 7 6 5 7 YES YES YES NO YES NO NO YES NO NO B a s e lin e M e e t in g s a t P r o p e r t ie s • February 2020 • Goal: Discuss trash, recycling and compost service levels and education plan • Overall service recommendations: o Start small, then expand in time o Ensure hauler will provide contamination documentation • Overall education recommendations: o Use established communication channels o Regularly engage with residents to avoid contamination issues In f o r m a t io n S e s s io n s • Live, virtual presentations and recordings available • ARR will provide residents with: o Kitchen compost collectors with informational sticker (like ARR carts) o Compostable bags for kitchen collectors o How-to guides o Live, virtual Q&A In it ia l P r o p e r t y R e c r u it m e n t : E a r ly …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Wednesday, January 13th, 2021 Zero Waste Advisory Commission to be held Wednesday, January 13th, 2021 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, January 12th, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting, members of the public 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 following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time 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 (512) 974-2435 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 the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Zero Waste Advisory Commission FECHA de la reunion (Wednesday, January 13th, 2021) 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 Tuesday, January 12th, 2021 (antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público 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). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que …
To: From: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery Date: January 13th 2021 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Roosevelt Gardens Asbestos Abatement Brownfields Project Austin Brownfields Revitalization Office (ABRO) performed an asbestos survey, confirming the existing building needed abatement. Project Transitions, a nonprofit providing affordable, supportive housing and hospice care for low-income people with HIV and AIDS in Austin, applied for a $100,000 sub-grant from the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to remove the asbestos, as required by state regulations. The cleanup was completed, all required materials submitted and approved, and repayment of the invoices, totaling $100,000 is requested. After abatement and demolition, Project Transitions will build a new facility, providing additional, updated affordable units to residents, helping meet the City’s affordable housing goals, and providing a healthier environment by safely removing hazardous materials. This project also supported Project Transitions’ affordable housing funding application through City of Austin Neighborhood Housing and Community ARR Budget ARR Staff scheduled the following business planning work sessions to prepare for Fiscal Year 2022 budget: •Planning Work Session, Day One (December 14th, 2020): Discussion of Executive Team direction to guide the next five years of ARR’s budget, including potential program expansion and staffing. •Planning Work Session, Day Two (January 8th, 2021): Targeted group discussion of topics to include current and potential capital projects (vehicles, equipment, facilities), high-level needs, and potential issues that hinder the Department from reaching goals and performance metrics. As a component of the Long-Range Strategic CIP Plan (LRCSP), ARR recently submitted our Rolling Needs Assessment which identified capital needs for the next 10 years. The city-wide LRCSP serves to identify and assemble ongoing needs and strategic opportunities for capital investment across the city. The city-wide budget kickoff event is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10th. Key Dates for this year’s budget cycle include: • • • April 16 City-wide Financial Forecast July 9 City-wide Proposed Budget Presentation August 11-13 Budget Adoption ARR Solicitations Update As of December 18, 2020 ZWAC Meeting January 13, 2021 Upcoming Solicitations Under Development (in alphabetical order): 1. Asbestos, Lead, and Mold Abatement Services: RFP – Contractor to provide removal, encapsulation, and disposition of asbestos, lead, particulate, and mold. Solicitations Expected to be Posted Within the Next 90 Days: 1. Education, Cleanup, and Beautification Services: RFP – Contractors qualified to provide education, cleanup, and beautification services that benefit the public by …
Zero Waste Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes December 17th, 2020 The Monthly Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission convened through Video Conference on Thursday, December 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/108471 CALL TO ORDER Chair Acuna called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:04 pm Board Members in Attendance: Gerry Acuna, Lisa Barden, Cathy Gattuso, Amanda Masino, Melissa Rothrock, Ian Steyaert, Jonathan Barona, and Kaiba White Board Members not in Attendance: Janis Bookout (Membership pending) Staff in attendance via WebEx: Ken Snipes, Tammie Williamson, Richard McHale, Gena McKinley, Andy Dawson, Marcus Gonzalez, Amy Slagle, Raymond Benavidez, Jaime Germany Terry, Dwight Scales, Memi Cardenas, Natalie Betts, Jason McCombs, Brent Paige, Young Park, Blanche Quarterman, Skyra Rideaux, Amy Schillerstorm and Lori Scott. Chair Acuna opened with comments, 1. APPROVAL of the December 17th Special Called Meeting Minutes Chair Acuna entertained a motion to approve the December 17th, 2020 Meeting minutes. Commissioner Ian Stewart made the first motion for approval of the minutes. A second motion was provided by Commissioner Lisa Barden Item passed Unanimously 2. OLD BUSINESS 2a Discussion and Action – Truck Rental Ratification Ron Romero Division Manager of Collections provided information seeking a favorable recommendation to approve a ratification cooperative contract with Big truck rentals to provide, collection truck rentals for 560,880.00 dollars. Ron provided additional content on this particular item. Ron explained in May of 2020 the City of Austin entered into a rental agreement for (4) four collection vehicles for up to and not to exceed (6) six months to give the manufacturer time to fix some of the truck's deficiencies. Austin Resource Recovery’s fleet department found some additional flaws in the braking system of both our 2019 and newly delivered trucks. We are seeking approval of an additional (4) four trucks to insure the Garbage, Recycling, and Organics collections are not interrupted. Commissioner Kaiba White asked the question, What type of vehicles are being rented? If the are opportunities to select more options? Any information on additional collection criteria as it relates to sustainability? Ron Romero replied: There were a lot of manufactures that shut down production due to COVID-19. We did some inquiries to other vendors to see what was available. Time became sensitive to us because of the fact we were short on resources meaning equipment. We went ahead …
Versión en español a continuación. Special Called Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Thursday, December 17, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission to be held Thursday, December 17, 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 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020) by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting To speak remotely at the December 17, 2020 Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-1931 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 the meeting starts 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 Reunión del Zero Waste Advisory Commission FECHA de la reunion (December 17, 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 (December 16, 2020 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal ac cess 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 Terry at 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 Terry at (512) 974-1931. …
To: From: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery Date: December 17, 2020 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Circular Meet-Ups The Circular Economy Program launched Circular Meet-Ups, a new virtual networking series for the circular economy community, on December 1st as part of their ongoing business engagement services. These free meet-up events feature speakers from circular economy businesses and projects and provide a forum for circular economy start-ups, professionals, and interested community members to connect regularly. At the December 1st event, the founders of re:3D, Trashless, and Junkluggers of Austin shared the stories of their companies with a virtual audience of about 20 business leaders, sustainability professionals, and students. Circular Meet-Ups will take place on the first Tuesday of every other month, with the next event occurring on February 2nd. All who are interested can register for any of the 2021 events at http://austincircularmeetups.eventbrite.com. Zero Waste Business Rebate The Business Outreach Team is targeting rebate funding on several options, with the top priority being food rescue. Staff will be sending postcards next week to notify food rescue organizations of the food rescue rebate, which encourages the purchase of equipment that increases their ability to received food donations. Eligible expenses include coolers, shelving, and food transportation equipment. The team will follow up with additional zero waste education early next year, encouraging food permitted businesses, like restaurants, to donate their food. Learn more at https://www.austintexas.gov/department/zero-waste-business-rebate Green Fleet Austin Resource Recovery is actively working with Fleet Services to build a more sustainable fleet. ARR has worked with various vendors to test out their electric vehicles and trucks. We are in the process of adding additional electric sedans to our fleet. We also plan to replace our conventional pickup trucks with electric trucks in our FY ’22 purchase. Pricing is not yet available from contracted vendors for FY ’21 for suitable models. Currently, ARR is unable to utilize electric refuse trucks because the current electric refuse trucks in the market have short operational mileage as ARR is covering large areas without transfer stations. However, ARR is continuously looking into options on transfer stations and monitoring the market to electrify our refuse trucks to meet our operational needs. Give A Great Story Holiday Campaign ARR launched the 2020 ‘Give A Great Story’ holiday campaign, encouraging Austinites to rethink shopping and gifting this holiday season by shopping zero …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission to be held Wednesday, November 18th, 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, November 17th, 2020) by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting To speak remotely at the November 18th, 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'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 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 (November 18th, 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 (November 17th, 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, …
To: From: Zero Waste Advisory Commission Ken Snipes Director Austin Resource Recovery Date: November 18th, 2020 Subject: Director’s Monthly Report to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Multi-family Compost Pilot The Zero Waste Advisory Commission was briefed on a multifamily compost pilot in 2019. This pilot was originally intended to be conducted in the spring and summer of 2020 with the purpose of informing future policy direction, but was put on hold due to the ongoing pandemic. Work continues on this project with the intent of launching a new pilot in 2021. Staff has contacted previously confirmed participant properties. Nine of the ten properties originally committed to the pilot have stated they remain interested in participating. Additional properties are being contacted in search of new participants to add to the total. While funding for the project was identified in FY21 budget, it has recently come to staff’s attention that the use of the Clean Community Fee to fund this pilot may not be an option moving forward. Staff is currently evaluating alternative funding sources necessary for this project to continue. austinrecycles.com ARR Fleet Purchases FY 21 Under the current Fleet Master Agreement, ARR is scheduled to purchase the following types of equipment for Fiscal Year 21. ARR is replacing 36 units and adding 15 additional pieces of equipment, including vehicles for the new Clean Creeks Program. Number of Units Litter Abatement Type Area Multi-packs Street Sweeper Street Sweepers 25-Yard Rearloaders 25-Yard Rearloader 25-Yard Rearloaders 12-Yard Rearloader Trash Trailers Crew Cabs Box Truck with Dump Bed Curbside Compost Street Sweeping Litter Control Curbside Compost Brush Collection Bulk Collection Curbside Compost Clean Creeks Clean Creeks Dead Animal Collection Bio-Diesel Supervisor Pickups Supervisor Pickup Curbside Compost Clean Creeks Flex Fuel/E85 Flex Fuel/E85 Fuel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Flex Fuel/E85 Collections Number of Units Type Automated Side Loaders Automated Side Loaders 25-Yard Rearloaders 25-Yard Rearloader 13-Yard Rearloader Area Garbage Recycle Recycle Garbage Curbside Compost Fuel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel Bio-Diesel 6 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 2 2 3 1 12 3 6 1 1 Diversion Facilities Type Area Fuel Tandem Haul Tractor Landfill Closure Bio-Diesel Administration Type Area Fuel 12 Passenger Transit Van Safety/Training Flex Fuel/E85 Number of Units 1 Number of Units 1 Total Units: 51 ARR Solicitations Update As of October 20, 2020 ZWAC Meeting November 18, 2020 Upcoming Solicitations Under Development (in alphabetical order): No …
Versión en español a continuación. Regular Meeting of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 Zero Waste Advisory Commission to be held Wednesday, November 18th, 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, November 17th, 2020) by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting To speak remotely at the November 18th, 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'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 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 (November 18th, 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 (November 17th, 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, …
SAFELY REDUCING BARRIERS TO CHARITABLE FEEDING Response to Resolution 20200729-087 and CIUR 2290 Zero Waste Advisory Commission Teams Meeting November 18, 2020 Don Hastings, Assistant Director Asian American Quality of Life Note: The majority of this material was originally presented to the City Council Health and Human Services Commission on October 14, 2020 2 20200729-087 & CIUR 2290: Charitable Feeding Organizations (CFOs) The Resolution Asian American Quality of Life Develop recommendations to amend the Food Enterprise permitting process for charitable feeding organizations (CFOs), in order to reduce the barriers of providing access to healthy foods for our community’s vulnerable and food insecure populations. Encourage the City Manager to cease enforcing structure-based requirements that do not impact life-safety and health at least until December 31,2020, to avoid losing this valuable network of resources, especially during the upcoming demands that we will see due to COVID-19 related lay-offs. 3 Asian American Quality of Life Excerpt of Resolution 20200729-087 Regarding Recycling/ Organics Diversion WHEREAS, charitable feeding organizations are required to comply with the same permit and site compliance standards that are applied to full-service, for-profit restaurants, and must also comply with the universal recycling and organics diversion requirements in Chapter 15-6 of the City Code; and 4 Asian American Quality of Life CFO Concerns: Hurdles & Burdens Sharing space (e.g., a pantry in a church) complicates permitting process. Tenant status complicates needed facility upgrades. Change of use determination triggers a need for Certificate of Occupancy, which triggers the need for building plans. Food handler certification for volunteers can be costly & time-consuming. Physical requirements of Texas Food Establishment Rules & City Codes can be costly & for lower-risk food pantries might not be justified: — Self-closing doors; smooth ceiling tiles, 3-compartment sink separate from hand washing station separate from mop sink. — Kitchen vent hood. — Grease trap. City-required fees can be burdensome: APH, Austin Water, Austin Fire, DSD. 5 Health & Safety Considerations Prior to Action Asian American Quality of Life BENEFITS of Streamlining: — Lower CFO operating costs will increase resources available to feeding. — Lowered cost-of-entry may result more CFOs to serve the community. — Registration/ permitting a higher percentage of existing CFOs will result in safer operations community-wide (an estimated 24% of CFOs are currently permitted*). *Note: An unknown portion of unpermitted CFOs may be Cat. 1 CFOs not …
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 …
