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Home My WebLink About02/14/1995 Adjourned Meeting 11.2 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON FEBRUARY 14, 1995 ADJOURNED MEETING The City Council met in session on this date at 7:00 a.m. at the Yakima Center Board Room. Mayor Pat Berndt presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, and Bernard Sims present. Council Members Bill Brado and Ernie Berger absent and excused. City Staff Members present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, Jerry Copeland, Director of Public Works; Larry Peterson, Assistant City Attorney, Nancy Gaudette, Refuse & Recycling Manager, and Melynn Skovald, Deputy City Clerk. Yakima County Public Works Director Dan Hesse was also present. Scott Robertson, Manager of Yakima Waste Systems, Inc. and representatives from the recycling industry along with other concerned citizens also attended this meeting. Following brief, informal discussion among Council members about various Airport issues, the meeting began concerning refuse and recycling. Refuse and Recycling Update Nancy Gaudette, Refuse & Recycling Manager, reported that Yakima County has requested City participation in developing specifications and an RFP for contracting residential curbside collection of recyclable materials in the urban area of Yakima County. The boundary would be the urban area, minus Terrace Heights and Union Gap. What specifications should be written into a contract were also explored, as well as the possibility of separate contracts for Yakima County and the City of Yakima. Dan Hesse stated they were prepared to hire a consultant. He suggested Jeff Brown, who worked on the recylcing component of the Solid Waste Management Plan and has this type of experience with RFPs and bidding services. Discussion continued about the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission rate regulation of refuse collection. Council Member Barnett questioned whether it would be to the City's advantage to do a joint RFP since the recyclables within the City will be fairly close together, so theoretically, pickups will be I/ smoother and faster than outside the city limits where homes are not as close together. He also wanted to make sure that when the contract is written consideration is given to who has ownership of the recyclables because the City doesn't want ownership; once the haulers pick up the recyclables, they will own it and will have to dispose of it. 113 Adjourned Meeting - - � February 14, 1995 . The topic of discussion shi to the`° ° price of cardboard. Council Member Barnett stated he would like to see commercial OCC collection phased in, but the County Plan might influence that choice. He suggested the current franchise with Yakima Waste Systems be modified to include OCC collection. Larry Peterson reported the franchise expired last fall and Yakima Waste Systems is currently operating under WTC Certificate; although the garbage I/ hauler will continue business in annexed territory for five years. Dan Hesse explained the Solid Waste Management Plan, adopted in March of 1994, set a county -wide goal of 35 %; the state -wide goal is 50 %; currently, the level is at approximately 28%. Council Member Buchanan questioned the necessity of City /County involvement in recyling since there is a large amount of private recycling going on. Outside recycling companies impact the accuracy of collection statistics. The total tonnage of the landfill and the recycled material needs to be calculated in case the 35% reduction goal has already been reached. A more definitive answer is needed as to the percentage that is being diverted from the landfill through recycling and waste reduction. Council Member Beauchamp emphasized the importance of saving landfill space. Dan Hesse further explained the main reason for recycling is waste reduction and extension of landfill capacity and to reuse the resources. There was continued discussion about private OCC recycling and the possibility of implementing a commercial OCC recycling requirement. Currently, there is no mandatory commercial collection and there are a lot of businesses who self -haul their garbage. Council Member Barnett reiterated his suggestion to require commercial recyling because there is a larger volume than residential. Dan Arnett asked if the County is considering requiring commercial recyling also. Dan Hesse replied that they have very little commercial businesses in the County and that is not being considered. I/ i There was continued discussion about the current commercial recyling market and the need for accurate statistics to determine actual amounts that are being. recycled. Other areas of the country already have recyling programs in place. The curbside method of recyling reduces quantities in the landfills and is more convenient and is a better educational tool. It was suggested to segregate residential and commercial recycling programs and determine whether a voluntary program or a mandatory program is wanted. 2 114 Adjourned Meeting -- February 14, 1995 Dan Hesse explained source' separation programs in urbanized areas are required under state law. Generally, that is perceived as curbside recycling. As is indicated in the plan, implementation of that effort would begin a year after adoption with full implementation within two years. Council members and staff expressed their opinions and preferences concerning voluntary versus mandatory recycling program implementation and its potential effect on RFP responses. They I/ talked about whether a.phased approach would be feasible, which would include a voluntary approach initially. It would then proceed with an education campaign and then consideration of a mandatory aspect to see if it can gain support of the community inside the urban area. Dan Hesse indicated that approach can be explored and if this cooperative effort is undertaken, the County would expect the City to participate in the framing of the RFP. Discussion included how the cost of recycling program implementation might impact private recyclers and affect revenue and garbage rates and contibute to refuse reduction at the landfill. There was also discussion about the price Yakima Waste Systems charges for the voluntary recyling service they offer. There was discussion about the fluctuating recycling market and the growing number of products made from recyclable materials as well as the increased popularity of recyling programs nationwide. Council Member Barnett again reiterated his desire to make sure that the City of Yakima does not have ownership and responsibility to dispose of whatever is collected, whether it is decided to go mandatory or voluntary. The least amount of recyclables is coming from residential and the greatest volume from commercial. He also requested answers to his previously asked questions on commercial recycling. There was discussion about whether the RFP would call for private haulers or certified haulers, which would determine rate regulation by either local government or WTC. Policy issues need to be identified and discussed and then specific recommendations provided and technical administrative issues need to be pinpointed and resolved. I/ City staff was requested to consider whether it would be feasible to offer a reduced rate for a 20- gallon can as an incentive for people to recycle. There was a brief discussion about the cost of carryout service. There was a general consensus to do a Joint RFP with the County with future consideration of commercial versus residential needs. 3 Adjourned Meeting - February 14, 1995 1 1 5 Dan Hesse restated the general consensus that the City Council would like a further invest'iga'tion of`' feasibility of a unified contract to cover all the urban area; they would like the County to at least begin that process with a consultant and provide a better definition as to some of the issues, particularly mandatory versus voluntary, since there is not enough information available to make a definitive decision at this meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m. if' READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: � � el� 11 ' .J 7/ COUNCIL MEMBER DATE 0 CIL MEMBER DA E ATTEST: CITY CLERK MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio tape of this Council meeting is available in the City Clerk's office. 1 4