City Council

Agenda Item Number 15 CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY COUNCIL AGEND ITEM Meeting Date: September 7, 2021 To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers From: Vice Mayor Gurney Councilmember Rich Zero Waste Committee Chair, Sunny Galbraith Subject: Zero Waste Subcommittee Informational Presentation Recommendation : Receive report, provide feedback Funding: Currently Budgeted: _______ Yes _________ No _XX__ N/A Net General Fund Cost: N/A Amount: $0 Account Code/Costs authorized in City Approved Budget (if applicable) ____AK_(N/A)____ (verified by Administrative Services Department) INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: The item before the City Council tonight is an informational item from the Zero Waste Subcommittee. It is requested the Council receive the report. BACKGROUND: The City Council approved and adopted by resolution 6214 a goal to achieve Zero Waste by 2030. The City encourages the pursuit of Zero Waste as a long-term goal in order to eliminate waste and pollution in the manufacture, use, storage, and recycling of materials. On December 4, 2018, the City Council approved the creation of the Zero Waste Subcommittee and discussed a comprehensive Zero Waste Program that includes many levels of engagement, ranging from policies setting overarching priorities and goals, to front-end manufacturing waste reduction strategies, to multi-faceted outreach and education activities, or including ground-level participation by City residents and commercial ventures. The following eight potential actions fall within these categories: • Event Permitting: make recycling and organics collection mandatory at special events that obtain an event permit from the City. Possible action: add such a requirement to the City of Sebastopol Municipal Code Chapter 12.44 “Special Events”. • Eliminate single-use service ware and switch to use reusable service ware (cups, mugs, plates, utensils) on City property/in City offices. Possible action: create and enact a City policy statement requiring reusable service ware on City property or in City offices. • Ban City from purchasing single-use water bottles. Note this would apply to purchases made by the City for City functions and could not apply to individuals (including employees) purchasing such containers With their own funds. Possible action: update the appropriate City policy • Encourage restaurants, caterers, grocery stores, and other venues and businesses to donate excess edible food-to-food distribution programs consistent with state laws. Possible action: work with the refuse Franchise Hauler, Recology, for robust outreach to appropriate City Agenda Item Number 15 City Council Meeting Packet of September 7, 2021 Page 1 of 3  Agenda Item Number 15 commercial enterprises to promote such activities. Also seek and share outreach information with entities such as non-profit food banks or shelters/kitchens that would benefit from such sources of food. • Promote the development of reuse infrastructure such as take-back programs for refillable glass containers, bulk stores, bulk beverage containers (growlers and kegs) and propane tanks. Possible action: Take-back programs have been most successful when implemented by the targeted industry. Putting such programs in place have been most successful at the state level such as the paint recycling program of a couple years ago. The most efficient use of time to enact more of these programs is to engage with state officials, both elected representatives and state regulators, to provide local support and encouragement. • Support regional initiatives to increase the recycling of construction and demolition debris (CDD). Sebastopol does have requirements for diverting CDD in its Building Code. Possible action: engage with SCWMA to promote its effort to certify COD disposal & processing facilities to a universal regional standard. Builders/residents/contractors could then use documentation provided by a certified facility to show compliance with City COD recycling standards. • Implement the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Model Policy across City Departments. This policy has been written and recommended by Zero Waste Sonoma and includes detailed purchasing and disposal strategies to reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and minimize GHG production and pollution. • Help coordinate Community Upcycled Art Project with Sebastopol Climate Action Committee, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Recology, Analy High and Orchard View School art programs, SRJC Art and Design program and other community partners. This project will serve as an educational tool to inform the public on steps individuals and groups can take to reduce waste and shrink their carbon footprint. The Current Zero Waste Committee Members are listed below: Zero Waste Subcommittee Position Name City Council Member Diana Rich City Council Member Sarah Glade Gurney City Manager/Assistant City Manager Larry McLaughlin or Mary Gourley City Public Works Superintendent Dante Del Prete City Local AB939 Task Force Representative Sunny Galbraith Franchise Hauler Representative Ambrosia Thomson Commercial Entity Representative Michael Siminitus Commercial Entity Representative Vacant Citizen Representative Vacant Agenda Item Number 15 City Council Meeting Packet of September 7, 2021 Page 2 of 3  Agenda Item Number 15 Citizen Representative Judy Morgan Student Representative Argus Brent DISCUSSION: The Sub-Committee meets regularity, and to discuss each of the six items for action listed above as well as discuss additional topics, programs, education, outreach, etc. that would be of benefit. The Sub-Committee would determine the best course of action, and develop draft documents, such as policies, when warranted. This item will include a presentation from the Zero Waste Subcommittee their recent work as well as potential future projects. Slides will be presented at the Council meeting. GOALS: 5.1.4 Enhance the use of the City of Sebastopol Committees, Commission and Board. 5.3.3Encourage and increase public awareness of City Policies, decisions, programs and all public processes and meetings, by investigating effective methods of communication and obtaining feedback from the community. PUBLIC COMMENT: As of the writing of this staff report, the City has not received any public comment. However, staff anticipates receiving public comment from interested parties following the publication and distribution of this staff report. Such comments will be provided to the City Council as supplemental materials before or at the meeting. In addition, public comments may be offered during the public comment portion of the agenda item. PUBLIC NOTICE: This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to scheduled meeting date. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action tonight. RECOMMENDATION: Receive report, provide any feedback to the Zero Waste Sub- Committee. Attachments: None Agenda Item Number 15 City Council Meeting Packet of September 7, 2021 Page 3 of 3