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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.23.21 Staff ReportJEFFERSON COUNTY, WA SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 9/23/2021 STAFF REPORT Recycling Contract Staff is presently working with Skookum on contract specifications. The current contract expires May 31, 2022. When the agreement is finalized, staff will begin working with Public Health on revisions to the Solid Waste Education program. Public Works has budgeted for revisions to the signage at collection sites. C.R.O.P. Staff expects to have a draft CROP ready for SWAC review at the October 28th SWAC meeting. The final CROP is expected to be completed by mid-November. I/DD Employment Program Request for Proposal The RFP for Supported Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities has been published. Staff also reached out to the three local service providers. Proposals will be opened on 10/11. A contract will need to be in place by April 1, 2022 to continue supporting the I/DD employment program that is presently part of the Recycling Services Contract. Operations Staffing We lost three employees at the transfer station in less than three months and have struggled to maintain customer service hours at the transfer station with Moderate Risk Waste staff and Management filling in the labor gaps. We are in the process of creating two new Operator positions which will create more operational flexibility and help with staff retainage. All three open positions have been filled as of 9/15. Artist in Residency Program Staff is presently working with A.I.R.E. to develop an agreement for the artist in residency program at the transfer station. We hope to be able to run a pilot trial this Fall. Scale Replacement Project A critical piece of transfer station equipment is the “pit scales” which are used to weigh the trailers as we compact municipal solid waste into them for transport to the regional landfill. We load them to the target 26 tons but can’t exceed the State load limit. The scales are original equipment from 1993 and replacement parts are no longer produced or need to be fabricated from Unobtainium. Staff is working with an engineering firm to develop specifications for replacement scales and we will then solicit bids for the project. With a current lead time of 5 months for the scales, we expect to break ground in Fall, 2022. Tarping Rack Replacement Another piece of original transfer station equipment is the platform used by staff to secure the tarps and nets over the open top trailers once they are filled with municipal solid waste. The original tarp rack had ample room for design improvements and its replacement was begun on 9/15. Port of Port Townsend Request Staff continues to negotiate a timeline and other conditions for vacating the MRW facility with the Port of Port Townsend. We believe we can gain an agreement that provides a good return on investment for our solid waste customers and which provides Public Works with the time needed to prepare for a new service delivery model. Environmental Center Improvements Increased demand for used oil disposal at the Environmental Centers at the transfer station and Quilcene facility along with a new service agreement for collection that increases the time between service calls necessitates the addition of more tanks for increased capacity. Staff is presently making these revisions. Transactions/Minimum Fee/Customer Hour Revisions Transaction counts at the transfer station exceeded 100,000 for the first time in 2020, representing a 4.23% increase over 2019 while tonnages (revenue) fell slightly by .14%. This is an unwelcome trend because it creates longer wait times for customers who often express their frustration to staff indelicately and it increases wear and tear on an older facility without producing the revenue necessary for maintenance. And it’s no good for the biosphere. Staff is preparing materials for a workshop with the Board of County Commissioners in Q4, 2021 and will be recommending an increase of the minimum fee at the Puget Sound regional average to encourage fewer self-haul trips. Staff is also considering a revision to residential customer service hours from Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 4:30 to Tuesday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm with Mondays dedicated to servicing only commercial loads from the G-Certificate hauler. Solid Waste Budget The draft biennial budget is complete and awaiting review with the County Administrator and BoCC. Capital Plan Process Staff continues to develop a draft process and anticipates dedicating more time to this work in Q4, 2021. SWAC review possible at the October meeting but more likely in early 2022.