For City Council Meeting [August 13, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Administrator
FROM: Sean Grayson, Acting Public Works Director
Title
Request City Council Approve the Cancellation of the Bethany Presbyterian Church Garden Agreement and Reallocation of the Remaining Funds from the Community Garden Capital Project to Support a Free Dump Day Program for Rialto Residents.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City of Rialto currently operates two (2) City Community Gardens. The first located at 539 N. Acacia Avenue behind Grace Lutheran Church on the church property. This existing garden is on approximately two (2) acres and has 87 plots for planting. Existing plots are comprised of both raised beds and ground level plots. Each plot is set up with its own water spigot. In addition, the garden has an orchard, shade area and tool shed. This community garden has been growing since 1998 and has reached its build-out capacity.
The second garden is located on the north side of Bud Bender Park on Lilac Avenue. The Bud Bender Park garden was constructed during the park rehabilitation project and it includes 16 raised beds for planting. Bud Bender Park garden is currently 50% full.
As the current Community Gardens were nearing their build-out capacity a few years ago, staff began pursuing other possible locations for additional Community Gardens as well as ways to maximize the use of the existing available space.
On May 13, 2014, City Council awarded a Professional Services Agreement to Architerra Design Group (ADG) of Rancho Cucamonga for design of the Community Garden project. The Public Works Department worked with an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of one representative each from the Recreation/Parks Commission, the Beautification Commission, and the Utility Commission to review the recommended site locations for the new Community Gardens, as well as to review and give input on the design plans for the garden locations.
On December 9, 2014, City Council approved the priority list and recommended the top three (3) sites for design as Community Gardens. Design plans for the top three (3) garden sites were completed by ADG and reviewed by the Ad Hoc committee.
On January 27, 2015, City Council reviewed the Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendation and approved a 10-year Lease Agreement with Bethany Presbyterian Church located at 1773 N. Riverside Avenue for the development of a new Community Garden at that location.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
During the Economic Development Committee Meeting in December 2018, while requesting the authorization to release bids for construction of the Bethany Presbyterian Church garden, the committee recommended that staff provide alternative options for use of the AB939 funds, which are currently budgeted for the construction of the community garden. Staff presented the following list of potential projects to consider.
Under the Integrated Waste Management Act, the AB 939 funding provides a source of revenues for a wide range of activities, programs and projects such as, but not limited to the following list:
ü Community Clean-Up Day Events (Shred Fest, Electronic Waste, Tire Recycling)
ü Community Gardens
ü Compost bins and workshops
ü Beverage Bucks Program, Beverage Container Recycling
ü Reusable shopping bags
ü Community Outreach Events (Garden Open House, Pollution Prevention Fair, other City events)
ü ReCollect Reminder App
ü Administration and reporting (Grants - Applications & Annual Reports, CalRecycle Annual Reporting)
ü Illegal Dumping Costs (Potential New Program)
ü Quarterly Free Dumping (Potential New Program)
ü Recycling Programs ( Potential New Program - Commercial Organics Outreach)
Subsequently, the EDC members did not approve the release of bids for the Bethany Presbyterian Church garden, but asked staff to further develop a free dump day program for City residents and present the program for Council consideration. Staff coordinated with Burrtec Waste (Burrtec) in developing the free dump day program. The new free dump day program is intended to lessen the frequency of illegal dumping prevalent throughout the City.
Free Dump Day Activities will be conducted quarterly (four [4] times per year) during January, April, July, and October from 8 am to 2 pm. The Free Dump Day activities will take place at the following locations:
Rialto City Hall
150 S Palm Avenue
Rialto, CA 92376
• Electronic Waste Collection
• Document Shredding
• Special Collections
• Salvation Army Donation Drop-off
• NEW - Trash and Green Waste Collection
Household Hazardous Waste
246 S. Willow Avenue
Rialto, CA 92376
• Residential Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off
Public Works Office
335 W. Rialto Avenue
Rialto, CA 92376
• Used Tire Drop-off
Trash and Green Waste Collection - New Program
New to the Community Clean-Up Days is the trash and green waste collection. Due to the increased need for additional space requirements, City and Burrtec staff modified the current Community Clean-Up Day activity layout to allow for ample space for collection activities and assure the best possible traffic flow. Additional staffing of 4-5 is required to manage set-up, check-in, traffic control and break-down. Additionally, Police presence is requested to monitor the area surrounding City Hall for traffic concerns as well as illegal dumping activities.
The proposed staging area layout is included as Attachment 1. Staging for the Community Clean-up Day activities is on the East side of Palm Avenue between First Street and Rialto Avenue with Burrtec staff in the South parking lot of City Hall. In planning for the increased activities members of the development group chose to combine the Free Dump Day with the current Community Clean-Up Day activities in order to insure adequate staff coverage for all collection areas. Additionally, adding the trash and green waste collection to the current Community Clean-Up Day allowed for a seamless transition since the residents are familiar with the current program.
Burrtec estimates 100 tons of material collected per event using 6 (six) front Loaders (50 tons), six (6) roll-offs (50 tons) for C&D, Green Waste, Trash (hard to handle/loose debris) and one for exchanges. Burrtec proposes using about 6-8 staff including drivers to implement the clean-up and hauling events.
Utility Commission Review
At its June 18, 2019, meeting, the Utilities Commission received a presentation on the proposed Free Dump Day Program, and recommended that the City Council cancel the Bethany Presbyterian Church agreement and approve the proposed Free Dump Day program.
Economic Development Committee Review
The Economic Development Committee (EDC) received a presentation on the proposed program at its July 24, 2019, meeting, and supported the staff recommendation to cancel the Bethany Presbyterian Church agreement and approve the proposed Free Dump Day program.
The recommended action would provide Council authorization to cancel the lease agreement on behalf of the City and authorize staff to seek mutual agreement for cancellation from Bethany Presbyterian Church subject to the provisions of the attached lease agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
This action 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) Organizational 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 City of Rialto General Plan Goal and Policies:
Goal 2-34: Achieve waste recycling levels that meet or exceed State mandates. Achieve maximum waste recycling in all sectors of the community: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and construction.
Policy 2-34.1: Develop programs that promote reuse and recycling throughout the community.
Policy 2-34.2: Utilize source reduction, recycling, and other appropriate measures to reduce the amount of solid waste generated in Rialto that is disposed of in landfills.
Goal 3-10: Minimize the volume of solid waste that enters local and regional landfills.
Policy 3-10.1: Encourage additional recycling in all sectors of the community.
Policy 3-10.4: Continue to educate the community regarding the benefits of solid waste diversion and recycling, and maintain programs that make it easy for all residents and businesses to work toward City waste reduction objectives.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
The expected annual cost for the Free Dump Day portion of the Community Clean-Up Day activities four (4) times per year is $40,000 for Public Works staff involvement and outreach efforts. Burrtec estimated $52,000 for Burrtec costs totaling $92,000 per year for the new program. Budget for the proposed Free Dump Day Program has been included in the 2019/2020 budget in the Waste & Environmental Fund Account # 212-500-7040-2021 ($80,000) and 212-500-7040-1020 ($40,000). Burrtec’s cost break-down is included as Attachment 2. The associated budget adjustment will be included in the next Quarterly Report.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Funds of $1,340,980 were budgeted for the development of a third community garden. Expended for the planning and design of the project is $121,857, thus leaving remaining funds of $1,219,123. The available funds of $1,219,123 be released back to fund balance in the noted Waste & Environmental Fund account.
Funding for the smaller community garden, in the amount of $250,000, is included in the FY2019/2020 budget and would be an authorized project through this action.
Licensing
The proposed action will not require the payment of a business license tax.
RECOMMENDATION:
Request City Council Approve the Cancellation of the Bethany Presbyterian Church Garden Agreement, and Reallocation of the remaining funds from the Community Garden Capital Project to support a Free Dump Day Program for Rialto Residents.