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Minutes_2019_12_11_Solid WasteProtecting our community's health and the environment by providing solid waste and wastewater collection services. www.cmsdca.gov Costa Mesa Sanitary District ….an Independent Special District Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee 290 Paularino Avenue Costa Mesa, California 92626 MINUTES December 11, 2019 8:00 a.m. Committee members present: Vice President Bob Ooten, Director Michael Scheafer, Citizens Advisory Committee Member Elodie Katz, General Manager Scott Carroll, Management Analyst I Nabila Guzman, Office Specialist Angela Colunga Committee members absent: Citizens Advisory Committee Member Monte Fields Others present: There were no members of the public present. 1. Call to Order General Manager, Scott Carroll, called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. 2. Discussion of Committee Objectives Mr. Carroll asked the Committee Members about the objectives of the Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee. Director Scheafer shared that he would like the Committee to focus on working with the City of Costa Mesa regarding solid waste services for commercial and multi-family units. He recommended that the District increase community involvement and awareness to reach the District’s goal of 75% of organic waste diverted from landfills. Vice President Ooten noted that he wants the Committee to focus on missed trash pickups within the District’s service area. Director Scheafer indicated agreement with Vice President Ooten and stated that missed trash pickups tend to increase during a holiday week. Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Minutes December 11, 2019 Page 2 of 4 Management Analyst I, Nabila Guzman, noted that missed trash pickups have increased over this past year due to trash truck break downs and maintenance repairs. Ms. Guzman explained that the District has an aging trash truck fleet. According to industry standards, she shared that a trash truck should not be in service for more than 10 years. Ms. Guzman stated that the District has one trash truck that is 18 years old, five that are 15 years old, one that is 12 years old, and three that are about 10 years old. She noted that the newer trucks are about five years old and collect organic waste only. Citizens Advisory Committee Member Elodie Katz inquired if there is anything stated in the District’s contract with CR&R regarding old trash trucks. Mr. Carroll noted that he and Ms. Guzman are having a meeting with CR&R later in the day to review their contract. Mr. Carroll stated that a trash truck can be in service for 10 to 12 years, but a 15 to 18 year old truck is too old to use. Ms. Guzman shared that she and Mr. Carroll will be talking to CR&R about adding another mixed waste trash route to accommodate missed trash pickups and avoid drivers working past their normal working hours. Vice President Ooten stated that he would like for the Committee to focus on the results of the recent Citizen Survey. He shared that District residents do not fully understand all the services performed by the District, especially how the District recycles their waste. Vice President Ooten inquired about the 20 hours of public outreach that is to be performed by CR&R on the District’s behalf every week. Ms. Guzman stated that per the District’s contract with CR&R, CR&R’s Sustainability Specialist is required to dedicate 20 hours a week to the promotion of the District’s programs. According to her recent audit of CR&R for fiscal year 2018/2019, she noted that their Sustainability Specialist has not been performing the weekly 20 hours of public outreach. She shared that the Sustainability Specialist averages 18 hours a week on District matters such as customer service, attending District meetings, and driving to District field trips. Director Scheafer indicated that he wants the Committee to focus on public satisfaction with the services performed by CR&R. Ms. Guzman noted that CR&R was required to hire a District-wide consultant to help with cart-to-cart outreach, but that has not happened. Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Minutes December 11, 2019 Page 3 of 4 Director Scheafer stated his concern for the decrease in satisfactory service by CR&R and for the usage of old trash trucks. Ms. Guzman noted that three trash trucks that service the District are fueled by diesel gas rather than renewable natural gas. Mr. Carroll stated that there should be no trash trucks that use diesel gas, and that all trash trucks that service the District are to use renewable natural gas. Mrs. Katz noted that she is concerned about organic yard waste being placed in mixed waste carts, and that she wants to know if people are aware that they are eligible for up to two organics carts. Mr. Carroll noted that some residents do not have enough space to store multiple carts. Director Scheafer stated that the District will not penalize residents for putting organic waste in the mixed waste cart if their organics cart is full. Mr. Carroll clarified that organic waste in a mixed waste cart will end up in a landfill. He noted that mixed waste found in an organics cart will be removed and correctly sorted. Ms. Guzman stated that there needs to be an increase in public education to get residents to dispose of their trash correctly. Mr. Carroll shared that residents need to be educated on cleaning out their recyclables for them to be disposed properly. The Committee discussed the new “Oops” and “Awesome” tags that will be placed on residents’ trash carts, depending on the types of waste found in their trash carts. The Committee discussed publishing a Request for Proposal for hiring a public relations firm to assist with different forms of public outreach and education. Director Scheafer discussed the prevalence of cardboard in the community and how to dispose of it correctly. He stated that many residents think cardboard is recyclable. He noted that he would like to see the Committee work with Mike Carey of Orange Coast College Recycling Center to get people to take their cardboard waste to a central location. Ms. Guzman highlighted that many residents have been placing their cardboard waste next to their trash cart or piling it on top of an already filled trash cart. She noted that CR&R will not service these over-filled carts. There was no more discussion. Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Minutes December 11, 2019 Page 4 of 4 Adjournment – 8:30 a.m.