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HAMILTON COUNTY DATE: August 2, 2002 TO: District Policy Committee Members FROM: Jeffrey W. Aluotto, Solid Waste Manager I. Introduction/Opening Comments NOTICE: This memo is for the meeting to be held on August 15, 2002. This meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, 250 William Howard Taft Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219. Policy Committee Information (Agendas, Manager's Memos, Minutes, etc.) now available on the District's Website at www.hcdoes.org. II. Clerk's Report/Additions to the Agenda B. Additions to the Agenda III. Finance Subcommittee Report B. Recommendation Regarding District Disbursements - SWR 05/2002 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: With any alterations or corrections noted by the Finance Subcommittee members or Policy Committee members, the Staff recommends approval of SWR 05/2002. IV. Presentations A. Reports from 2001 Reduction Assistance Grant Recipients Alliance for Chemical Safety - Review of County's Household Hazardous Materials Programming The District provided ACS with grant funding to review household hazardous materials (HHM) programming within Hamilton County. The District, in the past, committed significant funding in order to hold a large number of temporary collection events. These events, however, proved to be very costly. In light of this cost, the District moved to a system of promoting private sector outlets for many materials included in the definition of HHM (batteries, latex paint, motor oil, antifreeze, etc.). Recently, responding to popular demand and to the realization that past revenue concerns never materialized, the District has resumed collection events on an every third year basis (with the next events to be held in the Spring and Fall of 2003). ACS, in their grant proposal, agreed to examine the options available to the County for providing the most effective HHM program possible. In addition, ACS was assisted by an intern from the Solid Waste Management District in compiling and analyzing program alternatives. This report is included as Attachment B.
The District is in the process of completing and submitting its budget for the year 2003. The budget is very similar to prior year's budgets with two exceptions: 1. Addition of $40,000 to provide EPP assistance to various organizations. This may include funding for pilot projects within Hamilton County as well as partnerships on projects with external organizations as well. This funding will be used for projects only after District staff has cleared its use with the Policy Committee. Staff, however, feels strongly that these resources will be vital in ensuring some first-year success stories from the County's new EPP program. 2. Addition of $15,000 for an expanded tire collection program. The District currently funds Keep Cincinnati Beautiful with $10,000 to perform tire clean-up activities through the Great American Clean-up. Communication with Hamilton County political subdivisions, however, has revealed the feeling that more assistance for tire clean-up is necessary. The District would leverage the $15,000 with the Great American Clean-up to produce an expanded, larger-scale collection event. Note: The Policy Committee is also informed that in 2003 the District will be committing an additional $250,000 toward four HHM collection events. District Staff expects the events to cost a total of $250,000 - $300,000. $50,000 will be covered by the Metropolitan Sewer District. It is also hoped that an additional $50,000 will be covered through solicitation of private sector sponsorships. The District will then be responsible for covering the remaining $150,000 - $200,000. This allocation is in accordance with the Staff Recommendation and Policy Committee approval of a new HHM Program Schedule in May of 2000. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Policy Committee approve the two additions to the District's traditional budget request.
The District received a total of 11 applications from political subdivisions and non-profit organizations for Grant funding this year. Requests from political subdivisions totaled $77,848. Requests from non-profits and schools totaled $28,366. District staff evaluated these applications and propose the funding recommendations included as Attachment C. Upon Policy Committee approval, agreements will be entered into with each of these organizations. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Policy Committee approve the grant award amounts shown in Attachment C. V. Informational Items A. Regional Planning Request of Solid Waste Management District At their August 1 meeting the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission discussed a land-use plan amendment submitted by Colerain Township. It is expected that RPC, in their effort to make an informed decision on this amendment, will refer several questions to the Solid Waste Management District regarding how the amendment might potentially affect solid waste management, long-term, in Hamilton County. It is hoped that a representative from the County's Planning and Zoning Department will be available to answer any questions from the Policy Committee regarding this issue. B. Capacity Study The District, with assistance from Miami University's Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs, has begun an update of its database on regional landfill capacity.
A progress report will be given on the Environmental Court, particularly with regard to communications with local political subdivisions.
On July 23, the District coordinated the first meeting of the County's EPP Task Force which included representatives from Public Works, Facilities, Purchasing, Jobs and Family Services, and the Engineers Office. Further details on the meeting will be provided at the Policy Committee meeting.
The District will be continuing its partnership with the Cincinnati Reds and NAPCOR, the night of August 15, to examine methodologies for collecting post-consumer plastic bottles from sporting events.
The District is currently assisting CPS in constructing a first grade curriculum guide focusing on solid waste and recycling. The goal of the guide is to lay a foundation for respecting the natural environment through a knowledge of solid waste and recycling. The guide has been field tested and meets Ohio science standards. Eventually this program will ensure that every child in CPS will be exposed to solid waste and recycling issues in the first grade.
The District, in cooperation with OEPA, the Hamilton County General Health District, Alliance for Chemical Safety, Greater Cincinnati Hazardous Materials Unit, and MSD recently partnered to collect mercury containing thermometers from residences in Hamilton County.
The District's 2002 Computer Collection Event was incredibly successful - collecting over 100 tons of computer equipment. Next year the District will look to hold both a commercial and residential event. VI. Tentative Future Agenda Items VII. Policy Committee Members' Comments VIII. Public Comments IX. Upcoming District Meetings The date and time of the next regularly scheduled Policy Committee meeting will be Thursday, September 12, 2002, at 2:00 pm at the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, 250 William Howard Taft Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219. X. Adjournment (Target Time: 3:30 p.m.) |
