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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes 6.27.2013JEFFERSON COUNTY SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES – Thursday, June 27, 2013 Jefferson County Public Works Building, Conference Room 1. OPENING BUSINESS: Meeting called to order by John Merchant at 3:03 PM Members Present: John Merchant – City of Port Townsend Valerie Johnstone – District #1 Kent Kovalenko – DM/Murrey’s Disposal Paul Rogland – District #2 Al Cairns – Port of Port Townsend Matt Hall – Skookum Members Absent: John Austin – County Commissioner Richard Dandridge – Resigned Staff: Richard Talbot – Public Works Solid Waste Manager Dennis Bates – Public Works Operations Coordinator Pinky Feria Mingo – Environmental Health Tina Anderson – Public Works Administrative Support Approval of Minutes: Kent moved and John M seconded to accept as presented. Motion carried. Correspondence: None Guest speakers: None Action Items: None 2. OPERATIONAL REPORTS: Education: Pinky: Jennifer is still doing outreach with the schools and will be at the Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene and Port Ludlow Farmer’s Markets. “Hot off the Press” is the Recycling Reminders Brochure created by Pierce County and edited for our use. This is a very easily understandable recycling information page that will also be distributed at the Farmer’s Markets. This will be on the web site to be easily downloaded when the web site is revised. Also working on how to better structure and coordinate our web sites. The recycling ads are at the Rose Theater and the HHW promotions are on 2 County buses. Brought in Toxic Free Tips handouts. They are being distributed at Enviro Health, MRW, Public Works and Farmers’ Markets. Contact Pinky for copies. Information from NAHMMA about Design for the Environment Safer Chemical Alternatives. The EPA is doing certifications of consumer products using Safer Chemicals. There is a Design for the Environment Logo. She has a link available for more information. Brought in reusable produce bags from Flip & Tumble that will be given to those signing up for the “one less bag” challenge. Jen will be launching the Challenge soon. Distribution of Recycling brochures and green education as mail inserts will be done when it can be arranged. Recycling: Matt: Business as usual. All paper is now mixed which makes recycling easier for customers. Markets are coming back up a little bit. Discussions on cardboard boxes not being broken down for recycle. Baler has been broken (drive motor) and is now being repaired; they are still pricing new ones. Looking at baler operations in Spokane and Seattle for a new baler. Compost: John M: Just sold out of compost yesterday. Never stopped selling when they normally stop for the winter. Since January they have sold 19 hundred cubic yards of material. Plan on testing in August to have product available in September. Accredited testing is done by Twiss in Poulsbo then sent to Amtest in Tacoma for salmonella testing. Testing is done for all metals, pH, nitrogen and pathogens. Yard debris is not keeping up with the need – everything is being used. Have needed to buy about 8 loads so far this year. Discussion on testing and the lower quantity of yard debris. Will be grinding material the first part of July. Solid Waste: Richard: Sent Staff report with Agenda and Minutes. Wrapped up the Vermicomposting Grant with Ecology. It was a successful program and very well received. Closed out the CPG 2012 - 2013 additional funding for recycling services. A new forklift has been ordered and will take about 3 months to come in. Dennis is working with ER & R for a yard truck. 3. OLD BUSINESS: Solid Waste Disposal Fees – Motion to Support: Richard: Richard sent additional material. There are 2 changes since the last meeting. 1. Looked at an Annual Fee increase versus a Bi-annual increase 2. Looked at CPI data and are reluctant to tie the increases to a CPI. Plan to propose a floor increase of 2 ½ % with annual reviews during a normal budget cycle. By September of next year would have an idea if 2 ½ % is adequate and have the ability to make minor adjustments. In 2012 there were 17,500 customer visits with loads covered by the current minimum fee out of 61,200 total customer visits. This is a substantial number of customers impacted by the increase in the minimum fee. There are several issues that may cause questions from customers: The impact of fees: increase to $10 base fee for 140 lbs versus the $4.95 for 80 lbs. New fee of $139 plus tax is $144.00 per ton. Discussions: undersized loads, education on encouraging fewer, fuller trips to the transfer station, average can weights, curbside pickup and self haul. Looking at a roll-out date the end of this year to begin in January 2014. In the current county fee ordinance there is a maximum allowable fee increase of 5% which is based on the CPIW. Not being tied to the CPI gives the ability to adjust down ward if disposal tonnage increase and the economy warrants. Power Point presentation of fees model based on a 6 year plan. Discussion on SW Fund Reserves goal and operating fund needs. Discussed wording of proposal and the past CPI percentages. Discussed capital, paid off bond, debt service and comparison of other county’s fees. Public education suggested about services provided within our fees that are not provided by other counties. Motion by Kent and seconded by Paul to support the $139.00 pre-tax and $10.00 minimum and the other fees as proposed on the Public Information flier. Discussion on the annual fee adjustment and Richard to draft a letter to BOCC that will be signed by the acting Chair. Please send to members for approval. Motion carried. 4. NEW BUSINESS: SWAC member vacancies. Discussed open districts. 5. FROM THE FLOOR: Nothing 6. NEXT MEETING DATE: September 26, 2013 7. ADJOURN AT 4:27 PM.