Environment and Recycling

Regular Meeting

Charleston, WV · November 18, 2020

Minutes

MINUTES ENVIRONMENT & RECYCLING COMMITTEE MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2020 – 5:30 PM- VIA REMOTE Committee Members Present: John Kennedy Bailey, Chair – Bruce King, Vice Chair Bobby Haas- Naomi Bays -Caitlin Cook -Ben Adams Others Present: Kevin Baker- Brent Webster- Jared Lanham –Jane Bostic Mackenzie Spencer John Kennedy Bailey, Chairman called the meeting to order. He entertained a motion to dispense with the reading of and approval of October 7,2020 meeting minutes. Naomi Bays made motion-Bobby Haas seconded. Minutes approved as written. The First agenda Item: Update on Recycling Study. The Chairman stated he had intended to reach out to the consultants for an update but was not able to do so. Jane Bostic informed the committee that she had attempted to reach them today but had not received a response. She did advise that the consultants had finished compiling their data and meetings and are in the process of compiling their report. Additionally, she stated that she was hopeful that there would be something from them by the first week of December and is waiting for them to reach out in order to set a meeting date with the E&R committee. The Chairman stated he would like to have communication with the consultants before the report is finalized. The members of the committee agreed. He suggested perhaps via a conference call. Jane Bostic stated she would check with the consultants to see what could be coordinated with the committee members. Next agenda item: Update on Appointments to Green Team. The Chairman began by stating he had been contacted by a couple community members interested in serving on the Green Team. Kevin Baker stated he had about 5 or 6 people who had reached out to various departments. He also stated that one of resolution requirements was there be representatives from different wards/areas of the city and that he had not received any suggestions from the Kan City/West Side flats or nearby South Hills area, but had reached out to the Council persons for those areas for any recommendations. Naomi Bays asked if there has been any public promotion asking for volunteers. Kevin Baker stated he was aware of a press release as well as some social media posts. Naomi Bays suggested perhaps another public outreach be made. Caitlin Cook asked if in addition to the ward Councilperson, if the at-large members can help with outreach. All agreed was a great idea. Kevin Baker reiterated that the Resolution calls for the Mayor to appoint the Green Team members, with the advise and consent of City Council so he would need to get the final list of volunteers to her for final approval and would definitely value the input of the E&R Committee. Next Agenda Item: Discussion of Existing Composting Program: The Chairman explained that he had plans to visit the facility and had not yet. He stated that he would like to set up a date/time for any of the interested committee members to visit the facility. He asked if anyone could provide any update on the compost program and/or facility. Jared Lanham stated that to his knowledge the biggest challenges at the facility were broken and/or outdated equipment and space. Brent Webster reiterated that fact and there were serious infrastructure issues. He added that they were composting a great amount of leaves and chips but needed to get more of it out to the public to help with the space issue. He added that the City does advertise that it is available and free to anyone interested in picking it up. There was some discussion of ways to potentially get more of the material out. Naomi Bays suggested the possibility of delivery to areas of the city i.e. Capitol Market. She also suggested the possibility of working with the City Collector office to include notice of availability to garden and landscape businesses included in their B&O tax statements. Naomi also stated that she hoped that the consultants report includes composting as part of their comprehensive plan. The Chairman asked if anyone present knew the regulations and requirements for the city to possibly operate its own Monofil. Kevin Baker responded that he had not details at this time but could look into it. Next Agenda Item: Follow up W/City Attorney on Citations for Violations of Garbage Related Ordinances. Kevin Baker stated that is office has been working on drafting a Bill that would basically treat trash violations similar to parking violations, i.e. tickets with the ability to challenge and/or ability to pay included. He stated that would need to be a period of public education, public notices, and warnings. Additionally, there is a logistic and cost analysis that would need to be considered. There were several members concerns and comments regarding garbage issues in their wards, particularly as it related to landlords and evictions. The Chairman asked what the next steps were. Kevin Baker stated that he needs to review the bill that is being drafted and maybe meet with Brent Webster and Jared Lanham to determine the practicality of incorporating some of the garbage and landlord eviction issues into the bill. The Chairman stated after the draft bill is complete, he would like for this committee to review it prior to being introduced for discussion purposes if possible, for the next E&R meeting. Bruce King asked about the status of the requiring businesses to have a can or dumpster. Kevin Baker said that he believes the City collector office was coordinating with the Refuse collection to try and figure out who was receiving services without paying. He stated that he believed that there should not be a problem with also including and addressing that issue in the current Bill being drafted. Caitlin Cook expressed that she believes there is a difference between someone maybe putting out trash early vs. a landlord eviction with huge piles of garbage, furniture etc. and something that should be taken into consideration as the bill is being drafted and the city’s response to each. After some discussion it was decided that the next E&R Meeting would be on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 5:30PM (via zoom). There being no further concerns, questions or comments, the Chairman entertained a motion to adjourn. Naomi Bays made the motion. Caitlin Cook seconded. Meeting was adjourned

Agenda

Packet

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, November 18, 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/81202949294?pwd=NUdoZEdpUThpcEN5eVQva2xWYy9Edz09 Passcode: 741053 *Join via Telephone: (312) 626‐6799 or (929) 436‐2866 Webinar ID: 812 0294 9294 Agenda APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES 1. 8‐4‐2020 UPDATE ON RECYCLING STUDY UPDATE ON APPOINTMENTS TO GREEN TEAM DISCUSSION OF EXISTING COMPOSTING PROGRAM FOLLOW UP WITH CITY ATTORNEY ON CITATIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF GARBAGE RELATED ORDINANCES 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