HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/25/2007B A K E R S F I E L D
--~ ~~^=1~~~1 ~-- Ken Weir Chair
John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager Sue Benham
For: Alan Tandy, City Manager Irma Carson
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BUDGET
AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Thursday, Ocotber 25, 2007 - 12:00 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room -Suite 201
City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
The meeting was called to order at 12:04:16 PM
1.
2.
ROLL CALL
Committee members present: Councilmember Ken Weir, Chair
Councilmembers Sue Benham and Irma Carson
Staff present: John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager; Rhonda Smiley,
Assistant to the City Manager; Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant; Ginny
Gennaro, City Attorney; Raul Rojas, Public Works Director; Sal Moretti, Solid
Waste; Kevin Barnes, Solid Waste; Nelson Smith, Finance Director; Luda
Fishman, Solid Waste; Joshua Rubnick, Deputy City Attorney; Bob Sherfy,
Deputy City Attorney; William Macauley, Bakersfield Fire Department
Others present: Nancy L. Ewert, Kern County Waste Management; Larry
Moxley, Kern Refuse /MRC; Lorraine Unger, Sierra Club; Roland Burkert,
BARC; Greg Sanders, Varner Bros. Inc. /MRC; Bernard Le Beau, Le Beau
Thelen LLP; Bruce Keown, Superior Sanitation; Jon Price, Price Disposal; Jay
Price, Price Disposal; Jacob Panero, Varner Bros. /MRC; Dan Panero, Varner
Bros.; James Geluso, Bakersfield Californian; Carol Ferguson, 29 Eyewitness
News; Bob Ruthledge, Resident; Gene Cooks, 29 Eyewitness News; Tammy
Mills, KGET Channel 17
ADOPT APRIL 30, 2007 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, October 25, 2007
3.
4.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Page 2
Roland Burkert of Bakersfield Association for Retarded Citizen (BARC)
announced that the new industrial training facility project is moving forward. A
site plan will be submitted to the City within the next week, and construction
should begin between January and February 2008. Mr. Burkert provided a draft
letter and an overview to the Committee requesting City Council approval of a
resolution in support of BARC's Department of Conservation, Beverage
Container Market Development Grant application.
Committee member Sue Benham moved to place BARC's request on the next
City Council Agenda. Committee members favored the motion with all ayes.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion regarding Solid waste Recycling Programs and Grant
Opportunities -Rojas.
Public Works Director Raul Rojas gave an overview of the Curbside
Recycling Report and options for the Committee's consideration. In 2006,
the City received a $1.5 million state grant for equipment to sort blue cart
materials. The City applied for an additional $1.5 million grant in 2007. If
the second grant is awarded, the City would have to present a full
proposal showing its commitment to implementing universal curbside
recycling program.
In response to City Council's request, staff prepared a cost estimate and
implementation plan for universal curbside recycling. Universal curbside
recycling would provide all homes in Bakersfield with blue recycling carts,
in addition to their existing refuse and greenwaste carts. The universal
service would add $3.00 per month or $36.04 per year to basic refuse
fees. Depending on various potential grant funds, along with fluctuating
revenue from the sale of scrap materials, future costs may be slightly
higher or lower than the estimated $3.00 per month. The universal service
would achieve an approximate 3% increase in recycling citywide and raise
the recycling rate from 58% to 61 %. The current state legislature
requirement is 50%. However, the state legislature is attempting to
increase the 50% recycling rates. There are two new bills pending which
may require additional recycling beyond what the curbside program can
achieve. The pending bills will require a diversion rate of 60% by 2012
and 75% by 2020.
If approved, the fee increase would begin in the first year of a three year
phase-in to allow time to build up the necessary funds while equipment
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Page 3
and a transfer facility are being built (full implementation of the transfer
station is set for 2020). The new service would provide new blue recycling
carts to the community approximately eighteen months after approval of
the program, and full implementation citywide by the third year.
Lorraine Unger of the Sierra Club and Larry Moxley of Kern Refuse / MRC
spoke in favor of a universal recycling program, but expressed concerns
regarding the long term vision of the program and the cost associated with
implementation. Nancy Ewert of Kern County Waste Management stated
that if the City moves forward with a mandatory program in redefining the
base service, the County will take that same recommendation to the board
of supervisors.
Committee member Sue Benham asked staff how the eventual building of
a transfer station relates to the implementation of the universal program.
Raul Rojas explained that if the City receives the grant, the equipment
purchased would integrate easily into a transfer station without a problem,
and the transfer station need not be in place in order to implement the
universal program. Mr. Rojas also commented that due to technological
advances within the next few years, it would be advantageous for the City
to implement the transfer station in increments.
Committee member Irma Carson expressed concerns regarding the
increased cost to taxpayers once the mandatory recycling program is
implemented. Committee Chair Ken Weir stated that the transfer stations
would benefit the City by reducing operating costs, eliminating emissions,
and placing the City in a position to receive grants from other entities.
Committee Chair Weir would also like to see what other options may be
available through private enterprise orpublic-private partnerships.
Committee member Benham moved to adopt staff's recommendation to
apply for the grant and implement a universal recycling program.
Committee members agreed with all ayes. Committee member Carson
and Committee Chair Weir requests that staff come back with an
alternate, long term, comprehensive plan with a time line and cost in
conjunction with the County.
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 1:13:14 P.M.
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
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