DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: David W. McCary, CPM
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
2016-2017 Alamo Area Council of Governments Regional Solid Waste Pass-Through Grant
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the City Manager or her designee to submit grant applications for approximately $144,000.00 to the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) representing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These Regional Solid Waste Pass-Through Grants support environmental programming efforts related to recycling, solid waste stream reduction and municipal enforcement of anti-dumping laws. This action authorizes the acceptance of funds and execution of contracts between the City and AACOG for any of the grants awarded. This ordinance also allows for supplemental grant applications, and their acceptance if awarded, should AACOG make additional funds available during their 2016-2017 grant cycle process.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Since 1996, the TCEQ has provided statewide grants to area Councils of Government for distribution to municipal and local agencies; cities, counties, and public school districts. These funds are generated by fees imposed by the State on volumes of disposed municipal solid waste. Historically the City of San Antonio’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) has been awarded the majority of these grants, with Code Compliance, Public Works, Health, Parks and Recreation, Convention, Sports and Entertainment Facilities and the City Clerk’s Office receiving funding from this program in the past as well. Since 1996, the City has benefited by having received over $4.6 million from this program. The City received $165.443.32 in the 2014-2015 grant cycle.
This year’s grant cycle covers the 2016-2017 State of Texas Biennium. There will be only one call for applications for projects during this time. The AACOG Resource Recovery Committee will decide upon which projects will be funded and when those projects are to be funded; whether in FY 2016 or FY 2017.
ISSUE:
The purpose of the grants is to enable the City of San Antonio to expand its efforts to reduce the generation of waste through education and to encourage recycling efforts within the City of San Antonio. These programs will offer the City greater opportunities to meet the 60% residential recycling goal of the Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan by 2025. These programs will be designed to reach a wide variety of residents within the City. This ordinance sustains City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental assistance for enhancing environmental sustainability.
Funding will be used for educational and outreach programs targeting waste reduction and reducing recycling contamination. Funding also will support the expanding organics recycling program by purchasing over 18,000 kitchen waste recycling bins for distribution to customers utilizing the green organics cart. These bins will help customers to divert waste from their brown garbage cart and increase ease of use of the green organics cart.
Additionally, funds from the grant would assist with the creation of a focused illegal dumping prevention campaign. This campaign would include printed materials to be distributed to residents as well as public service announcements and billboards discouraging illegal dumping.
ALTERNATIVES:
In order to meet the City’s goal of 60% residential recycling by 2025 as outlined in the
Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan, an alternative to submission and acceptance of this grant would require the identification of other City funding to enhance existing recycling and solid waste reduction efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Application for and acceptance of this grant, if awarded, could provide approximately $144,000.00 in funding for enhancements to recycling and solid waste reduction efforts. Improvements resulting from the acceptance of any grants awarded will be funded directly by the grant. Separate City Council approval may be required for specific equipment purchases depending upon the projects chosen for funding.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance to submit applications to the FY 2016 and 2017 TCEQ Regional Solid Waste Pass-Through Grant and acceptance if awarded.