For City Council Meeting July 25, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Arron Brown, Acting City Manager
FROM: Cynthia Alvarado, Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director
Title
Request City Council to (1) accept a donation valued at $43,893 from Canvus for Park Furniture made from retired Materials at no cost to the city; (2) Approve the Acting City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the donation.
Body
BACKGROUND
Canvus started in the wind turbine business in 2016 where they learned the process of manufacturing, decommissioning, and repowering of every wind turbine sin Rocky River, Ohio. Instead of sending the dated turbines to landfills, they developed technology to recycle the fiberglass turbine blades into furniture. Since 2020, they are the only company able to recycle wind turbine blades in the United States.
The company fabricates all furniture in Rocky River, Ohio where they build industrial strength pieces with sustainable products. By using retired wind turbines, the company has created exceptional products built with advanced technology previously used for ten to twenty years before Canvus recycled the products and fabricated them into functional art pieces in the form of benches, tables, and planters.
Thanks to charitable donations, Canvus is offering Rialto Parks, Recreation & Community Services a collection of furniture: one beacon, one gus, one rose, two faye, and three fincher.
The furniture is valued at $37,893, plus $6,000 in shipping, which is cost free to the city of Rialto.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Canvus is a company whose mission is: inspiring communities of “sustainability in motion: by uniting retired materials to create exceptional products. For years Cavus has been working with renewable energy industry to find a solution. Turbine blades have the ability to be reimagined into 45-50 products, extending their lifespan by 20-40 years. Canvus works with:
Rubber: recycled material made from post-industrial and post-consumer sources like tires and shoes.
Composite lumber: recycled material made from plastic shrink-wrap and sawdust from wood milling operations.
Mixed plastics: recycled materials made from post-consumer and post industrial packaging like milk jugs, containers, and bottles.
Thermally modified lumber: sustainably harvested wood that is treated using only heat and steam. Eliminates the need for chemicals and increases materials lifespan.
The product has four finishes to select from (brilliant white, cracked pepper, dark walnut, or PAR ( Primed & Ready allows for the product to be painted on)).
On May 9, 2023, the Recreation and Parks Commission listened to a presentation made by Canvus. The commission was excited about the presentation, the concept and the price. At the end of the presentation the commission made a recommendation to move this donation request forward to City Council for consideration and acceptance. The motion passed 3-0 noting the absence of Vice Chair Sparks, and Commissioner Maldonado.
The package donation that is being considered by council is the Welcome Blade Collection which is made up of: one beacon, one gus, one rose, two faye, and three fincher. This package value is 8 pieces for $37,893.
The benches will be placed at the community center, senior center, fitness center, and throughout the city parks where there are a number of benches and tables in need of replacement or additional seating to beautify our parks.
The eight pieces of furniture have a twenty-year warranty. The solar panel on the beacon furniture has a three-year warranty; and the LED bulb in the beacon can be picked up at any hardware store when replacement is needed.
• From left to right; one Beacon, Two Gus, Two Rose, three fincher
The furniture is customizable with options to add different plants, colors, and aesthetic designs.
The body of the benches and beacons are able to withstand graffiti and high-impact use. Each piece is coated with an anti-graffiti layer that can be pressure washed without destroying the furniture.
The smallest piece of furniture weighs 400 lbs. and the largest weighs 1,200. Each piece of furniture has a built-in anchor system that supports in the stability and security.
Canvus will reach out to companies who are trying to offset costs with green furniture to secure the donation that would be made to the city of Rialto. The City will not know who the donor is until the donation is secured, and the contract is reviewed.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed request is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to section 15378(b), a project does not include: (5) Organization or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Approval of this action complies with the following City of Rialto General Plan Goals and Policies:
Our city government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Approval of this action complies with the following City of Rialto General Plan Goals and Policies:
Our city government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
Equipment Maintenance will be required. Maintenance is a current budgeted line item in the General Fund Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
No impact to the Capital Improvement Budget
Licensing
There is no business license required for this requested action.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council (1) accept a donation valued at $43,893 from Canvus for Park Furniture made from retired Materials at no cost to the city; (2) Approve the Acting City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the donation.