Environment and Recycling

CITY OF CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA Council Member – AT­LARGE John Kennedy Bailey Environment and Recycling Committee, Chair PO Box 2505 Ordinance and Rules Committee Charleston, WV 25329 Telephone: 304‐346‐5646 jkbailey@jkbailey.com TO: Environment and Recycling Committee FROM: John Kennedy Bailey, Chair RE: Committee Meeting A meeting of the Council Committee on Environment and Recycling will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. The meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 PM. UNTIL FURTER NOTICE, MEETINGS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC VIA ZOOM *Join via internet: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84528271711?pwd=QW44dGhITFJOUC9ucHZnL2ZZVXJRdz09 Passcode: 705590 *Join via Telephone: (312) 626‐6799 or (929) 436‐2866 Webinar ID: 845 2827 1711 Agenda APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES 1. 8‐4‐2020 1. Update and Discussion of Recycling Program 2. Introduction of a Representative of MSW Consultants 1. Resolution No. 386‐20 ‐ Establishing a Green Team to provide recommendations to the City Administration and City Council’s Environment & Recycling Committee JKB/jb Page | 1 of Page | 2 of  MINUTES ENVIRONMENT & RECYCLING COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 4, 2020 – 2:00 PM- VIA REMOTE Committee Members Present: John Kennedy Bailey, Chair – Ben Adams – Naomi Bays Will Laird Others Present: Mayor Goodwin – Kevin Baker- Brent Webster-Jared Lanham –Jane Bostic Mackenzie Spencer – Emmett Pepper John Kennedy Bailey, Chairman called the meeting to order. The first agenda item was a discussion on the status of the Recycling Program/ Relationship with Raleigh County. The Chairman began the stating that the Raleigh Co. facility had ceased operation since March of this year due to Covid-19 and reopening at this time is unknown. Additionally, if or when it reopens there may be a per-ton fee charged to the City and any other municipalities who previously used the facility at no cost for recycling. Brent Webster explained that according to the partners associated with Raleigh Co. the Solid Waste Authority continues to lose money and there would be considerable cost to the City to continue participation with the facility there. Brent Webster and Jared Lanham provided the Committee some tonnage and dollar amounts related to the City’s possible cost, which is considerable. Mayor Goodwin expressed some citizen concern over confusion about the Recycling trucks in the neighborhood when the City in fact is currently not recycling. Jared Lanham explained that he and others in the department has tried to remove “recycling” from the trucks as best they could. Additionally, the reason they continue to run those trucks is to avoid the additional volume placed on the refuse trucks which would create longer wait time at the dump as well as the delaying the area pickup time. He stated that they try to make it clear to the residents that recycling is currently going to the landfill and not being recycled. Next Agenda item is the Consultant Contract approved by City Council. The Chairman deferred to Jane Bostic who advised that the contract was awarded to MSW Consulting. They are tasked with reviewing every aspect of the city’s recycling program as well as what other cities with similar demographics may be doing. It will be a comprehensive well-rounded study. She anticipates that it should be completed by the end of October. Next Agenda item is the discussion of a Resolution (#369-20) creating a “Green Team”. The Chairman explained that essentially it would be a group of volunteer citizens working with the City to advance our recycling goals. He then deferred to Emmett Pepper, who stated that he felt it would be useful in engaging the public in having an opportunity to look at sustainability goals and opportunity for any money savings by saving energy. He stated that city of Morgantown and maybe a couple other cities have taken this step and hopes the City of Charleston can put some form of a “team” together to collaborate with administration. Page | 3 of The Chairman said that he looks forward to working with the City Attorney as to the proper language for the Resolution to present at the next E&R Committee meeting. The Chairman then asked for any other comments, questions, or concerns Will Laird asked whether we had comparison costs with other cities such as So. Charleston. Jared Lanham provided the monthly tonnage and other costs to the City per month versus So. Charleston and Beckley and explained that based all costs involved the City of Charleston cost is almost triple the amount of both. Will Laird also asked if there was a way to determine the carbon footprint and current composting in the city. The Chairman explained that the previous Composting facility is currently not operational and currently the citizens yard waste is going to the landfill. Jane Bostic added that these were issues that could be addressed by the Consultants. Ben Adams expressed some concern about some of the language in the Green Team Resolution And suggested that perhaps a “working group” would be a less complex approach. The Chairman said that the Resolution is yet to be finalized and would welcome any suggestions or recommendations from this Committee as well as the City Attorney. Naomi Bays asked for some clarity as to whether the City of So. Charleston is still recycling Brent Webster responded that at last check they were basically in the same position as the City of Charleston in having to take it to the Landfill as well. Naomi Bays also asked if there were and guidelines as it relates to the “environmental” aspect of the E&R Committee. The Chairman said that currently the recycling aspect has been the main focus but is hopeful that in the future there can be more focus on issues and concerns as it relates to the environmental impact and would, at some point like have some conversations about the issue and welcomes any and all thoughts and suggestions regarding putting greater emphasis on that aspect. There being no further comments or concerns, the Chairman entertained a motion to adjourn. Naomi Bays made the motion to adjourn. Will Laird seconded. Meeting was adjourned. Page | 4 of Page | 5 of  Resolution No. 386-20 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council: Introduced by: Referred to: John Kennedy Bailey Environment & Recycling 1 Resolution No. 386-20 - Establishing a Green Team to provide recommendations to the 2 City Administration and City Council’s Environment & Recycling Committee. 3 4 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston is committed to providing a healthy, safe, and 5 sustainable community seeking to optimize quality of life for its residents by assuring 6 clean land, air and water, improving working and living environments, and responsibly 7 managing waste, while conserving taxpayer funds; and 8 9 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston wishes to establish a Green Team that will 10 lead the charge to help the City of Charleston save money and at the same time 11 leverage the skills, expertise, and life experience of the team members to recommend 12 and develop policies and plans, collaborate on the implementation of programs, and 13 assist with educational opportunities to maximize sustainability. 14 15 Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia: 16 17 That a Green Team is hereby established to provide recommendations to the City 18 Administration and City Council’s Environment & Recycling Committee on the sound 19 development and management of the City of Charleston’s sustainability initiatives and 20 promoting their benefits. 21 22 The Green Team shall consist of seven (7) residents of the City of Charleston who shall 23 be appointed by the Mayor with input from the Environment & Recycling Committee. 24 Members shall be subject to removal by the Mayor or by the Green Team itself, by a 25 majority vote. Members of the Green Team shall continue to serve until their 26 replacements are appointed. Four members of the Green Team constitutes a quorum. 27 28 No more than two residents on the Green Team may live in the same ward. No more 29 than two members of the Green Team may be employees of the City of Charleston or 30 elected officials with the City of Charleston. The Mayor shall appoint members who are 31 diverse in race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. 32 33 The Green Team shall elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary from 34 its membership. If any of these positions become vacant, an election to fill the position 35 shall be held at the Green Team’s next meeting, provided that all Green Team 36 members have been informed of the vacancy at least one (1) week before such Page | 6 of  1 meeting. The Chair of the Environment & Recycling Committee and the Director of 2 Public Works shall serve as non-voting ex officio members of the Green Team. 3 4 The Green Team shall meet at a minimum every three months at times and places to 5 be determined by the Green Team and shall hold additional meetings as it deems 6 necessary to perform its functions. The meetings of the Green Team shall be open to 7 the public and posted publicly in advance of the meeting, in accordance with the West 8 Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Law (W.Va. Code § 6-9A-1, et seq.). The 9 agendas shall be prepared by the Chairperson. The Chairperson of the Committee shall 10 preside over all meetings, and, in the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice- 11 Chairperson shall preside. When both the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson are 12 absent, the Secretary to the Committee shall preside. Minutes shall be taken at each 13 meeting and provided to the City Clerk for archiving. 14 15 The Green Team’s responsibilities shall include: 16 17 1. Periodically, or at the request of the Mayor or the Chair of the 18 Environment & Recycling Committee, provide advice on the development of regulations 19 or policies that benefit or pertain to sustainability; 20 21 2. Investigate appropriate and cost-effective opportunities for implementing 22 energy efficiency measures in all aspects of Charleston’s public buildings, including 23 benchmarking, operational changes and changes in maintenance or capital 24 improvements; 25 26 3. Facilitate Charleston residents reducing environmental impacts through 27 recycling, energy use, and other appropriate measures; 28 29 4. Research and facilitate the use of clean, renewable energy within the City; 30 31 5. Identify appropriate federal and state incentive and grant programs that 32 provide opportunities for sustainability; 33 34 6. Engage in community outreach and education on sustainability initiatives 35 and events. 36 37 The Green Team shall make all of its recommendations in writing and direct them to the 38 Mayor, the City Manager, the Director of Public Works, and the Chair of the 39 Environment & Recycling Committee. The Green Team shall not have the authority to 40 direct the City staff to take any action. In making recommendations, the Green Team 41 shall provide an analysis of the estimated or potential costs and benefits of any 42 recommended changes or policies. 43 44 Page | 7 of