City of Lawrence
Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board
March 15th, 2007 (5:30 PM) Meeting Minutes
|
MEMBERS PRESENT: |
John Craft, Dickie Heckler, Sarah Hill-Nelson , Daniel Poull, Laura Routh, Marie Stockett, Cindy Strecker, Brent Swain
|
|
MEMBERS ABSENT: |
Jae Chang, Chris Cobb |
|
STAFF PRESENT: |
Tammy Bennett, Kathy Richardson
|
|
GUESTS PRESENT: |
|
|
PUBLIC PRESENT: |
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Daniel Poull announced that he is trying to contact Jae Chang to see if he is interested in taking a 5 month leave of absence rather than resigning, due to extended business out of the area.
John Craft mentioned that a City Commissioner had commented that some of the board minutes were not particularly informative. There was some discussion of the matter among members, including the possibility of using recorders and/or doing transcription. WRR staff will likely acquire a recorder to assist in getting accurate minutes. No other action was taken.
Approval of meeting Minutes
Motion and second to approve the February minutes as amended (Routh / Hill-Nelson).
Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
Approve changes to charter and send to City Commission for approval
Tammy Bennett presented a draft ordinance changing the name and scope of the RRCAB, as discussed at the meeting on March 12th, 2007. The City is trying to formalize all board responsibilities in a chapter of the City Code. Bennett used the draft by Laura Routh to cut and paste into ordinance format. The draft by-laws would be attached to the ordinance. Changes to the by-laws would be made by the advisory board after the City Commission takes action on the ordinance. The advisory board made some edits and changes to the ordinance and cover letter.
Laura Routh asked the process to request to be on the City Commission agenda. Bennett stated that when the memo and ordinance were approved by the RRCAB, she would forward to the City Manager’s office for inclusion on a future agenda.
Motion and second to approve draft ordinance and by-laws to be submitted to the City Commission via Bennett with cover memo written by Routh (Swain / Heckler).
Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
□ ACTION ITEM: Routh will draft memo and e-mail out to Poull by Tuesday, March 20th. Poull will distribute to RRCAB via e-mail.
There was further discussion on the process the advisory board uses for finalizing memo’s and other correspondence … when does it go from a draft to a document ready for distribution? Sarah Hill-Nelson suggested that e-mails have a direction as their first line instructing what the sender expected to be done with it (review, comment, information only, etc.). The advisory board cannot “vote” via e-mail but can reach consensus if a deadline date is added to any request for comments. Comments would be incorporated and correspondence would be finalized by the chair for distribution.
Discuss next step in tracking City’s progress on FCIP, Cool Cities Campaign, and LEED certification of library
Daniel Poull stated he had not invited Kevin Doyle to this meeting as the group was not yet organized for meeting with him. There was discussion of the Earth Day celebration and announcement of the City as an EPA Green Power Community. WRR has secured an EPA speaker on Green Power Communities for the event in South Park.
There was additional discussion about Kevin Doyle scheduling a meeting with Westar to discuss the million lights campaign possibly to take place during the Home Energy Fair. There was consensus among the advisory board members to ensure WRR staff was involved in any efforts related to the HECF.
Sarah Hill-Nelson informed RRCAB about House Bill 128 regarding reducing carbon emissions. There was some interest among the board members about a future meeting with Westar representatives --- Brad Loveless and Chad Luce. It is important for the board to have a relationship with them.
□ ACTION ITEM: Hill-Nelson will forward House Bill 128 to RRCAB tonight.
□ ACTION ITEM: Advisory Board will consider inviting Westar to future meeting.
□ ACTION ITEM: Swain will re-write memo to Kevin Doyle and submit to Poull in seven days. Memo will have invitation to next meeting. Poull will ask RRCAB for comments on memo. Once finalized the memo will be sent to Kevin Doyle via Richardson.
□ ACTION ITEM: Richardson will send e-mail addresses of RRCAB members to all RRCAB.
Pesticide Free Parks presentation by Marie Stockett
Marie Stockett will present the attached recommendations to CC on March 27th.
□ ACTION ITEM: Stockett will e-mail Richardson the electronic file of the recommendations.
□ ACTION ITEM: Stockett will e-mail RRCAB the CC agenda when it becomes available.
Re-Cap Meeting of March 12th, 2007
The meeting on March 12th included City Manager Dave Corliss, Public Works Director Chuck Soules, Assistant Public Works Director Tammy Bennett, and Solid Waste Manager Bob Yoos as guests.
Advisory board members Marie Stockett and Daniel Poull relayed positive comments about the meeting with city staff. Poull saw that city staff was working on some of RRCAB suggestions.
Laura Routh expressed continued interest in having discussions about a Pay-As-You-Throw for residential units and additional action on licensing curbside businesses. The city has the authority to regulate any business or vendor operating within the city. Marie Stockett indicated that RRCAB should present concerns about licensure of centers and haulers to the CC so there is action taken. Brent Swain agreed with Routh but wants to focus on strategies. Swain suggested waiting until curbside recycling haulers were on board and then asking them how they feel about licensure. Tammy Bennett mentioned that staff had done some brainstorming after the meeting on Monday and was developing a “program improvement request” to ask for funding for uniform collection containers.
There was further general discussion on recycling initiatives, including the following points:
- Emphasis on PAYT research and making sure that city reports are not biased (Routh).
- Questions about what it would take to get curbside charges by private haulers on the utility bill (Swain).
- City Commission direction for solid waste programming has been to maximize materials collected (recycled) for the least amount of dollars. The CC could change that direction if they chose. (Bennett).
- It would be positive to have the Chamber of Commerce on board for a curbside recycling program (Hill-Nelson).
- The city is “passing the buck” to residents by making them take their recyclables to Wal-Mart (Craft).
- The city should begin thinking about products cradle-to-grave (Hill-Nelson).
- Two issues – should the RRCAB continue to push for enhancing recycling using existing curbside programs and adding bins, or should RRCAB push for city-wide curbside recycling? (Swain)
□ ACTION ITEM: Richardson will ask Bob Yoos for an update on what the city is doing towards improving residential recycling.
Discuss possible changes of meeting days
RRCAB agreed to keep the same date (the second Wednesday of the month).
Waste Reduction and Recycling Report – Staff
Printed copy of monthly updates provided to RRCAB.
Miscellaneous and Guest Comments
Daniel Poull asked if anyone wanted to speak at Sunset Hills Association meeting. He is able to do this and will contact the Association to find out the date. Sarah Hill-Nelson would like to attend.
John Craft would like to talk about saving soils for food production at next meeting.
Meeting adjourned 8:10 p.m.
Next meeting April 11th, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.
ATTACHMENT_#A
ATTACHMENT #B
Waste Reduction & Recycling Division - Update for February 2007
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program Report
Fibers Report
Old Corrugated Containers (OCC)
Cardboard Tons Revenue
Current YTD 137.79 $12,068.85
Prior YTD 151.42 $9085.20
Price/ton in Feb 07: $ 105 Price/ton Feb. 2006: $ 60
Old Newspapers (ONP)
Newspaper Tons Revenue
Current YTD 166.84 $15,344.20
Prior YTD 154.81 $11,610.75
Price/ton in Feb 07: $91.97 Price/ton Feb 2006: $75
Office Waste Paper (SOP)
Sorted Office Paper Tons Revenue
Current YTD none $ n/a
Prior YTD n/a $ n/a
Avg. Price/ton thru Jan. 2007: $ Avg. Price/ton thru Jan 2006: $
Old Magazines (OMG)
Magazines Tons Revenue
Current YTD .63 $40.63
Prior YTD 0 $0
Price/ton in Feb 07: $65 Price/ton Feb 2006: n/a
TOTAL ytd FEB tons Revenue
305.26 $27,453.68
- Will be piloting new Mixed Waste Paper bin- 2 Bins are built and still need to be stenciled. We are in the process of requesting location at HyVee on 6th.
Yard Trimmings Collection & Compost Program Report
Regular residential yard trimmings collection began March 5th and will continue through mid-December. Celeste is organizing the Community Compost Giveaway to be held March 22-24th at the compost facility located at 1420 E 11th Street, and gearing up for Earth Day, please sign up to volunteer at the Earth Day event this year. Thanks Dickie for agreeing to queue the parade entrants!
Commercial Yard Trimmings Drop Off Tonnage:
|
January |
raw data |
raw data's units |
converted to Tons |
February |
raw data |
raw data's units |
converted to Tons |
|
|
Grass |
0 |
bags |
0.0 |
|
Grass |
0 |
bags |
0.0 |
|
|
3 |
CY |
1.2 |
|
|
0 |
CY |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
lbs |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
lbs |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
tons |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
tons |
0.0 |
|
Leaves |
0 |
bags |
0.0 |
|
Leaves |
0 |
bags |
0.0 |
|
|
3.5 |
CY |
0.8 |
|
|
0 |
CY |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
lbs |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
lbs |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
tons |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
tons |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
trailers |
0.0 |
|
|
0 |
trailers |
0.0 |
|
Total Tons |
|
|
2.0 |
|
Total Tons |
|
0.0 |
|
Residential Yard Trimmings Collection Tonnage:
|
Collection date |
3/5/2007 |
3/12/2007 |
|
# of houses w/ setouts (any) |
638 |
1975 |
|
# houses w/ plastic bags |
42 |
40 |
|
Total # of cans |
561 |
2117 |
|
Total # of carts |
64 |
235 |
|
Total # kraft bags |
820 |
4563 |
|
Total # brush bundles |
171 |
360 |
|
% of houses setting out plastic |
6.6% |
2.0% |
|
% of set out items in … |
|
|
|
cans |
38.8% |
30.6% |
|
carts |
4.4% |
3.4% |
|
compostable bags |
56.7% |
66.0% |
Outreach Report
Household Hazardous Waste Facility Tour, February 1, 2007
WRR Specialist led officials from KDHE and Barton County Community College (the State’s hazardous waste training contractor) on a tour of the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility on February 1, 2007. The officials remarked that the facility was exceptionally clean and well organized, and BCCC would like to return to the facility to film staff at work for use in their educational materials.
KU Environmental Techniques Class, February 14, 2007
3:00-4:15 pm,120 Snow Hall, 40 students (professor: Stacey White). Michelle co-presented with Charlie Sedlock. Charlie of Hamm Landfill 1st presented a slide show on Hamm and explained how landfill cells are built, liners used, progression of cells opening and expected life of the landfill. Michelle presented a slide show on WRR targeted approach and corresponding services. Started off with playing the “What’s in Your Trash Game” via the WRR website projected onto the screen.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility Tour, February 21, 2007
HHW Facility Tour, 10:00 a.m.: WRR Specialist (Tom Hogan and Kathy Richardson) met Todd Kennemer, Assistant Director of Public Works from Pittsburg, Kansas, and C.W. (Chuck) Delp, Operations Manager of Southeast Kansas (SEK) Recycling, a non-profit group also located in Pittsburg at the HHW facility. KDHE has been pushing SE Kansas to start an HHW Program for years. The State had recommended they tour our facility. J
Household Hazardous Waste Facility Tour, February 23, 2007
HHW Facility Tour, 10:00 a.m.: WRR Specialist, Kathy Richardson met with the following KU staff: Jon Rossillon, Hazardous Materials Program Manager, Jennifer Phillips, Hazardous Materials Specialist, and Kirk Larson, Hazardous Waste Technician at the HHW facility. The tour went well! Kirk Larson is their new employee.