Environment and Recycling

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, February 3, 2021. 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/84110259309?pwd=NzZPa0pUOGxhb0oydVZLbkd3WXhSUT09 Passcode: 617366 *Join via Telephone: (312) 626‐6799 or (929) 436‐2866 Webinar ID: 841 1025 9309 Agenda APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES 1. 1‐6‐2021 PRESENTATION OF RECYCLING STUDY RESULTS BILLS 1. Bill No. 7894 – A BILL to amend the Code of the City of Charleston relating to establishing the Charleston Adopt‐A‐Street Program. ADJOURN JKB/jb Page | 1 of Page | 2 of  MINUTES ENVIRONMENT & RECYCLING COMMITTEE MEETING JANUARY 6, 2021 – 5:30 PM- VIA REMOTE Committee Members Present: John Kennedy Bailey, Chair – Bruce King, Vice Chair Bobby Haas- Naomi Bays -Caitlin Cook -Ben Adams Will Laird Others Present: Jane Bostic-Brent Webster-Jared Lanham-Sam Strickland-Stephen Birurakis JustinTallerico of Tallerico Energy -Craig Arnold w/ Waste Management John Kennedy Bailey, Chairman called the meeting to order. He entertained a motion to dispense with the reading of and approval of previous meeting minutes. Naomi Bays made motion-Bobby Haas seconded. Minutes approved as written. The Chairman began with the Green Team Appointment Update: He stated that members of the Green Team have not yet been named but are in the hands of the Mayor’s Office. He anticipates the list could be available by the next council meeting. He added that if anyone on this committee had any other suggestions to forward them to the Mayor’s Office or the City Attorney’s office. Next Agenda Item: Update on Recycling Study – The Chairman stated that the study is in final stages of completion. Jane Bostic informed that the City had received a Draft of the study and would be sharing it with this committee. She asked members to coordinate a date and time in which she would email the draft report and outline the results of the study. Next Agenda Item – Landfill Gas Collection Plant - The Chairman deferred to Justin Tallerico, owner of Tallerico Energy for an overview. Justin began by stating that the plant was originally built to generate electricity. The power program that the EPA had in place at the time gave tax credits which were so devalued that power prices were not sustainable due to low power prices. In 2017 the built a plant that cleans up the gas and puts it into a pipeline and creates RNG, Renewable natural gas. He added that the plant is operating quite well and generating more gas now than at any other point in the history of the project. The Chairman opened the floor for Questions. Naomi Bays asked what if anything it costs the city to run the plant. Justin Tallerico responded that it costs the city nothing but that they pay the City a flat fee based on the volume of gas collected based on the index price for natural gas. Will Laird asked it there was a severance tax on the landfill gas. Justin Tallerico responded he does not believe so as its not considered as a natural resource. Craig Arnold with Waste Management added that the current relationship with Tallerico and city Landfill Engineer Sam Strickland is working quite well. He added that they are expanding the landfill which will allow for more refuse which is turn will produce more gas. Page | 3 of Next Agenda Item: Storm Water Management: The Chairman deferred to Stephen Birurakis, city storm water manager. He began by informing the committee the permit is federally mandated( NPDES)natural pollution discharge and elimination system and the city is( MS4) municipally separated storm sewer system working within the guidelines of EPA and DEP regulations. He provided a detailed description of the storm water management system. The Chairman opened the floor for questions. Naomi Bays asked about the percentage of line separation. Stephen Birurakis responded that they did not have the entire city mapped but they may have them archived and they revise as they go. Naomi Bays also asked about public education. Stephen Birurakis responded that since 2019 they do not have a dedicated education Position, which is the case with most cities. He added that with limited personnel they do as much as they can. Naomi Bays also asked how many years they were into the 5year plan. Stephen Birurakis responded that they were still operating under the rules of the 2014-2019 Permit and was unsure what will change when the new permit is issued. Bruce King asked if sewer pipe runoff goes directly into the river and if is constant or overflow. Stephen Birurakis said that it was basically overflow but was a better question for the Sanitary Board. He added that there might be a constant flowing stream, but there should be nothing coming from the sewer pipes. The Chairman re-stated that most cities, including Charleston originally built pipes that collected sewage and rainwater that went straight to the river but that in the 1960’s and 1970’s got better and had sewage treatment plants the City essentially built a big pipe that collected everything and sent it to the plant. As a result, there was too much rainwater in the system causing some overflow problems. He added that one of the challenges now and something that over the years need to work towards is separating so there is no overflow during big storms. He added that this was a topic that this committee would like to revisit in the future. There being no further comments, questions or concerns the Chairman entertained a motion to adjourn. Caitlin Cook made motion. Naomi Bays seconded. Meeting was adjourned. The next E&R Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 5:30 PM Page | 4 of Page | 5 of  Bill No. 7894 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council: January 19, 2021 Introduced by: Referred to: Joseph Jenkins; John Kennedy Bailey Environmental & Recycling 1 Bill No. 7894 - A BILL to amend the Municipal Code of the City of Charleston, by adding 2 thereto new sections, designated Sections 102-331, 102-332, and 102-333 within a newly 3 created Article IX, Chapter 102 of said Code, relating to establishing the Charleston 4 Adopt-A-Street Program. 5 6 WHEREAS, the West Virginia Legislature recently adopted SB 225 during the 2020 7 Regular Session that empowers municipalities to enact Adopt-A-Street programs, W. Va. 8 Code § 8-12-20; and 9 10 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston recognizes the success of the state Adopt-A-Highway 11 program in West Virginia where 25,000 volunteers regularly pick up litter on 4000 miles 12 of highway and have been responsible for the removal of 40 million pounds of litter since 13 the state program began; and 14 15 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston recognizes the commitment of many of its citizens, 16 organizations and businesses to the improvement of the quality of the City’s environment 17 through the elimination of litter; and 18 19 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston and the state has received inquiries from the public 20 about adopting streets maintained by the City; and 21 22 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston wants to formally recognize the community’s 23 commitment, respond to the public’s desire for such a program, and to further encourage 24 the public to participate in the shared commitment to a clean and litter free environment; 25 and 26 27 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston finds it in the best interests of the public and the quality 28 of the City’s environment to establish the Charleston Adopt-A-Street Program. 29 30 Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Council of the City of Charleston: 31 32 That the Municipal Code of the City of Charleston, as amended, be amended by adding 33 thereto new sections, designated Sections 102-331, 102-332, and 102-333, within a 34 newly created Article IX, Chapter 102 of said Code, all to read as follows: 35 Page | 6 of 36 ARTICLE IX. – CHARLESTON ADOPT-A-STREET PROGRAM. 37 38 Sec. 102-331 – General. 39 40 (a) There is hereby created the Charleston Adopt-A-Street Program. The program 41 will be administered by the Director of Public Works, in consultation with the 42 City of Charleston Traffic Engineer. The director is encouraged to coordinate 43 with the state Adopt-A-Highway program and its administrators, the West 44 Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and West Virginia Division of 45 Highways, and other state or federal agencies, to seek any and all available 46 assistance and grant funding for the program. 47 48 Sec. 102-332 – Eligible Streets. 49 50 (a) Any street maintained by the City of Charleston is eligible for adoption, 51 including, without limitation, alleys, dirt roads and streets off the beaten path as 52 well as major streets; provided, however, the following are not eligible for 53 adoption: 54 (1) Interstates, interstate exchanges and interstate on/entrance ramps and 55 off/exit ramps; and 56 (2) Streets deemed unsafe. 57 (b) Adopted streets must be at least six blocks long or a relatively equivalent length 58 if the street does not have traditional or identifiable blocks. The overall length 59 of an adopted street should take into account the reasonable beginning and 60 end of the eligible street and the reasonableness of dividing an eligible street 61 into adoptable sections to maximize adoption and minimize the orphaning of 62 sections, parts or blocks of a street. 63 (c) Adopters may select a street for adoption or request the director to suggest an 64 adoptable street. The director, in consultation with the traffic engineer, shall 65 approve the streets to be adopted, taking into consideration the requirements 66 herein and the safety of the volunteers and the traveling public. 67 68 Sec. 102-333 – Program Participation. 69 70 (a) Individuals, families, churches, businesses, schools, civic organizations, 71 government agencies, scouting groups, fraternities, sororities, and 72 communities may participate in the Charleston Adopt-A-Street Program. 73 (b) The director shall implement an application process for the program. An 74 adopter is expected to commit to three cleanups per year for at least two years. 75 Those that complete the six required cleanups in the two-year contract period 76 are awarded a certificate of accomplishment signed by the mayor. An adopter 77 may continue with their adoption of the street as long as they perform three 78 cleanups per year. If an adopter fails to perform at least five cleanups in a two- 79 year period, the adopted street shall be eligible for adoption by another adopter. 80 (c) Each cleanup shall be at least 30 days apart. The director shall set forth 81 requirements for scheduling cleanups and for the submission of cleanup Page | 7 of  82 reports. 83 (d) The City shall provide volunteers garbage bags, gloves, safety vests, safety 84 training similar to or the same as that required by the state, and traffic warning 85 signs;, and such other items that may be provided at the discretion of the 86 director. 87 (e) The safety of the volunteers participating in an adoption is of the utmost 88 importance. Therefore: 89 (1) Volunteers shall be at least 12 years old; 90 (2) Volunteers shall wear safety vests provided by the City during the 91 cleanup at all times; 92 (3) Adopters shall post traffic warning signs provided by the City during the 93 cleanup; and 94 (4) Adopters and their volunteers shall adhere to any other requirements of 95 the director. 96 (f) As volunteers pick up litter, bags that have been filled shall be placed on street 97 sides for removal and disposal by the City. Recycling of items found during a 98 cleanup is encouraged. 99 (g) Adopters must clean adopted streets with their own volunteers and may not 100 subcontract the work. 101 (h) The director, in consultation with the traffic engineer, shall erect a sign at each 102 end of the adopted street bearing the Adopt-A-Street logo and the name of the 103 adopter after two cleanups have been reported. 104 105 Secs. 102-334—102-340 - Reserved. Page | 8 of