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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCitizens Waste Managment Advisory Committee (8) • Town of Truckee • CITIZENS WASTE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 7, 1999, 4:00 P.M. Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board Room 11570 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 1. CALL TO ORDER—Chair Ingalls called the meeting to order at 4:07 pm. 2. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Members Fairman,McCormack,Perata,Salas, Stephens,Thomas,Walterscheid and Chair Ingalls. ALSO PRESENT: Daniel P.Wilkins,Town Engineer and Jim Smith,Staff Assistant 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS—Chair Ingalls related to the members present that Linda Zaleon,U.S.Forest Service,expressed interest in getting involved with Committee activities. She is a trainer for Forest Service employees,in haz-mat issues. Member Salas noted that Tahoe Donner had many inquiries about missing dumpsters from second homeowners visiting on the weekends. Member Thomas requested anyone complaining about the dumpsters being removed should be directed to the ACC office to look at photos on file of dumpster abuse.No further evidence of abuse was evident since the dumpsters were removed. Member Fairinan reported increased sales of blue bags at Safeway since the manager allowed an end- of-aisle display again. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4.1 Minutes of July 27, 1999.Motion by Member Walterscheid to approve the minutes as amended noting that Paul Thomas moved to approve the June 29th minutes rather than David Drinks,Seconded by Member Salas,passed unanimously. 5. WORKSHOP 5.1 Review and Approval of Mission Statement—Chair Ingalls. A revised copy was distributed for member review.Member Perata questioned the phrase"proper storage". Chair Ingalls noted it was an educational tool to teach people how to properly store hazardous waste.Mr. Wilkins noted that free storage containers had been distributed for proper storage before disposing at the landfill.Member Perata questioned how far the Committee should go—liability-wise.The consensus of the members present was that there was no liability exposure to the Committee. Motion by Member Salas to approve the Mission Statement, Seconded by Member Thomas, passed unanimously. 5.2 Subcommittee Reports: a. Retail Displays/Retailer Outreach—Linda Fairman.Member Fairman reported that she spoke with Pricilla Cardona, Truckee River Supply, about the blue bag distribution, but the Cardonas were waiting for more information before they would make a decision as to whether or not Town of Truckee Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee Page 1 they would act as a distributor. Member Salas reported that the Cardonas felt there was not enough of a market for them to stock blue bags.Member Salas requested a list of contacts that could be passed on to Mr. Cardona.After an initial contact with Mr. Cardona,he contacted several retailers who were not interested in selling the product. Some Committee members felt Mr. Cardona may not have contacted the right businesses.Member Walterscheid commented that the downtown merchants should be contacted for support and use of blue bags. Blue bags were available at Safeway and Mtn Hardware. Mr. Wilkins recapped two issues: who the current retailers were and what Mr. Cardona would need to proceed. Ames Deli, Longs, Safeway, Lucky's, Longs, Mm Hardware, both 7-11s, Hirschdale Campground,all mini-marts at local gas stations, and homeowner association offices were mentioned for the list of potential retail outlets.No one knew whether North Placer County had a solid waste committee.Mr.Wilkins suggested contacting merchants outside the Town limits and asking for their support in the distribution program as that could have beneficial impacts for the entire Truckee- Tahoe area. Member McCormack commented that it would make Truckee look even better to be the "lead agency". Discussion ensued about distribution, storing of product if the Cardonas were not interested. The major stores bought from their own corporate warehouses,and not from local outlets.Member Perata suggested the Committee publish a flier noting who the retailers were and where blue bags could be purchased.He also suggested including a list of acceptable recyclable materials. b. Advertising/Web Page—Al Salas.Member Salas spoke with John Echols at TV6 who reported that the new studio would be up and running in a few weeks. An inquiry was made as to whether or not the Town's web page had been updated with the solid waste information. Member Salas reported there was a link to other pages to obtain recycling information.In order to reduce costs, Committee members needed to go to the studio so the advertising effort could be treated as a class project. Member McCormack questioned if there was a video or hard copy of material presented on TV6 for ads,not Truckee Talk. Chair Ingalls provided the scrapbook for his review. It was further reported that Mr. Echols suggested an infomercial about recycling as seen from the eye of an alumi- num can. Chair Ingalls suggested contacting Bill Aarons, a local commercial film producer, for possible assistance.Member Stephens stated that the Park and Rec Department budgeted$5,000 per year for media advertising with a lot of success. Member Salas commented that the price would depend on demographic numbers, where the Committee wanted the message to hit, and what those target area numbers were. Member McCormack questioned if there was a gauge of some kind that would indicate whether blue bag usage was up, down, or steady. Member Perata reported on a conversation with Paul Achiro of the Disposal Company who estimated a 25%increase in blue bags coming across the MRF. c. Legislative Monitoring—Pat Sutton.No report. d. Reference Library—Dan Wilkins. Mr. Wilkins reported that brochures had been organized but no approval by the Committee had been given for purchase or approval from the PUD for location permission. The cost of the display rack would be added into the annual budget. 5.2 Review and Approval of Recommended 1999/00 Budget—Dan Wilkins. Mr. Wilkins reported that $33,000 in SRRE from Nevada County, and $25,000 was available from a grant for HHWE. He needed to review the grant proposal and be sure those items were completed. He suggested the Committee think about augmenting the volunteer effort,increase media advertising,hire a consultant for additional ideas and work effort.Mr.Wilkins stated he used last year's budget format and increased the figures in keeping with what he heard from the Committee over the last year. The largest item would be recycling containers on Commercial Row for public use.Member Walterscheid Town of Truckee Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee September 7, 1999 Page 2 felt the merchants'response would be dependent upon what the Town's dollar contribution would be; but she had not had time to contact them due to work schedules.Member McCormack felt it might be too expensive for the return.Other members suggested contacting the merchants about their in-store recycling efforts: trash compactor for cardboard as one example.Access could be controlled with a lock and key and perhaps in a closed area. Member Perata reported on Bay Area activities: some communities used the same procedure suggested above, and the merchants association was billed monthly then the association back-billed individual stores for monthly usage. Member Fairman reported that the Factory Stores had one,as well as Mtn Hardware.It was agreed that downtown had a trash problem with overflowing trash bins and residents dropping off personal trash. It was the consensus of the Committee to focus on the merchants. Mr. Wilkins suggested inviting a Merchants Association representative to discuss the promotion of cardboard recycling but should extend the invitation to other Truckee businesses as well. Mr.Wilkins felt the situation should be examined and discussed before a presentation was made. Item 9 of the proposed budget description was changed to commercial recycling. Committee consensus was to contact property management firms for each shopping center to request their assistance in promoting the recycling effort.Member Fairman also noted that the US Postal Service recycled and perhaps they could place a trash compactor bin in their parking lot. Mr. Perata offered to prepare a report on past experience. It was the consensus of the Committee to postpone inviting TDMA for another month to receive Member Perata's report. There was also a need to explain cost breakdowns and a comparison for new recycling bins versus bailed cardboard. Member Thomas reported that the Disposal Company would bill if they picked up the cardboard. Some members felt the $11,000 budgeted was realistic and support was voiced for developing that kind of commercial program. Member Perata suggested giving a plaque or sticker to merchants who support recycling. Member McCormack questioned the budget expenditure for seminars. Some members felt that most members were strained for time and supported a consultant—media or public relation's representative. Mr.Wilkins noted that a consultant could save money if explicit programs and instructions were given to that person.Member Stephens felt comfortable with the budget layout.Mr. Wilkins reiterated that the Committee's recommendations would need to go to Council for ratification.Member McCormack stated some of the items were general and he felt a need to incorporate some method of tracking to see which items were more productive than others. Motion by Member Stephens to approve the 1999/2000 annual budget,Seconded by Member Thomas, motion passed unanimously. Linda Zaleon was introduced as being a haz-mat program manager for Tahoe National Forest who was also under the source reduction goals. She wanted to gain a general idea as to what the Town Committee was doing as the Forest Service needed more recycling ideas. She stated she was too busy to become a Committee member but she would like to attend as an interested citizen. Mr. Wilkins questioned what the Disposal Company's position would be on placing locked recycle bins at a few locations around town as a trial program. Member Perata suggested utilizing locked covered containers to prevent snow buildup versus open dumpsters. Town of Truckee Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee September 7, 1999 Page 3 Mr. Wilkins asked the Committee if they wanted to continue newspaper ads. Consensus of the Committee was to continue publicity efforts. Member Perata requested a budget amendment to place ads in homeowner association newsletters, and requested display ads with graphics versus written commentary. It was also suggested to list retailers in subdivision newsletters that carry blue bags. Member Thomas proposed continuing the ad programs and allow the Chair discretion to proceed.Linda Zaleon supported a promotion program for those merchants who used blue bags or sold blue bags. 5.4 Committee Vacancies—Dan Wilkins. Mr. Wilkins confirmed that the Town Council appointed members, and some had not been attending or had resigned.Member Fairman suggested running an ad for interested parties. Consensus of the Committee was that the current make-up was adequate,with perhaps adding one commercial representative. 6. ADJOURN. Chair Ingalls adjourned the meeting at 5:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, by:. % - kw> Jim S 4 ,Administrative Staff Assistant • Town of Truckee Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee September 7, 1999 Page 4