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Town of Truckee
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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
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Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee
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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
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Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee
September 7, 1999
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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.
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Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee
September 7, 1999
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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
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Town of Truckee
Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee
September 7, 1999
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