MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL

SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, May 15, 2002

Council Chamber

Present:    Bill Atherton (Chair), Susan McLain (Vice Chair), Rod Monroe

   David Bragdon, Rod Park

Absent:    None.

Chair Atherton called the meeting to order at 3:36 p.m.

2.  Regional Environmental Management Director’s Briefing

Terry Petersen, Director, Regional Environmental Management, introduced new employees Lee Barrett and Kevin Six to the committee. He talked about the 5% tonnage increase recently granted to Pride, the request from Waste Management to amend the Designated Facility Agreement at the Hillsboro Landfill, and a nationwide take-back program Epson is launching for recycling their printer cartridges. He reported that the North Portland Enhancement Committee is now accepting grant proposals for FY 2002-03, reported on the DEQ Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Interim Management Policy, and detailed events regarding natural gardening, household hazardous waste collection and education, and Metro’s ninth annual compost bin sale. (For more detail, see the copy of the Regional Environmental Management Director’s Updates attached to the permanent record of this meeting).

1.  Consideration of the Minutes of the April 3 Solid Waste & Recycling Committee Meeting.

3.  Resolution No. 02-3161, For the Purpose of Confirming the Appointment of William Bree, Laila Cully, Michael Decker, Jerry Powell, and Marie Werts to the Metro Recycling Business Assistance Advisory Committee

Steve Engel, Recycling Markets Development Coordinator, reviewed the resolution.

4.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT

Doug Anderson, Finance Manager, REM, summarized the REM Budget and Finance Division Quarterly Financial Report. (See a copy of the report and a summary sheet attached to the permanent record of this meeting.) He reported that fund balances were on track with projections made to the committee.

5.  FOOD DONATION INITIATIVES ASSESSMENT

Jennifer Erickson, Senior Planner, Waste Reduction and Outreach, explained the food donation and recovery infrastructure report (for more detail, see the copy of Food Donation Initiatives Assessment and Food Recovery Infrastructure Evaluation included with the permanent record of this meeting.) She talked about new outreach materials that had been developed, with help from the Oregon State Department of Human Services and the Oregon Food Bank, for promoting food recovery and diversion with area businesses (see copies of Food Donation Resource Guides, one each for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties, included with the permanent record of this meeting). Marta McGuire, Waste Reduction Division Program Assistant, highlighted results of the assessment of the food donation infrastructure development and outreach and education programs which was done to determine if the infrastructure development grant program benefits exceeded the costs, to track the progress of the outreach and education program to determine if their efforts actually increased the number of donors, and to help guide future program direction related to food recovery (again, see Food Donation Initiatives Assessment and Food Recovery Infrastructure Evaluation included with the permanent record).

Ms. Erickson reported that next year’s budget has funds included for an overall assessment of the organics initiatives. She said they are working with City of Portland with regard to an all food waste processor which will be located in north Marion County. Grants to help develop local processing options, i.e. food waste collection programs at Portland International Airport, Portland Public Schools, improvements to local processors who accept food waste, and small scale worm composting are in the works. She added there are also plans for additional updates for Track 2 programs, probably in the summer.

Councilor McLain commented that this is an outstanding program. She said the data collected could be used to take credit where credit is due and to help get the program to higher levels. She suggested getting some publicity about the program so people could learn more about it. Ms. Erickson said they had been trying for several months to get the Oregonian to do a story without success. Councilor McLain suggested incorporating a local gleaner program into the story might interest the newspaper as a human interest story. Ms. Erickson noted they had been focusing on the business sector now, but had had some success a few years ago with such a story.

6.  STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Janet Matthews, Program and Policy Manager, reported recent developments with implementing the strategic plan. She reviewed some of the goals and objectives in the plan, along with implementation plans for those objectives (see Regional Environmental Management Department’s Progress Report on Strategic Plan Implementation with cover letter included with the permanent record of this meeting). Ms. Matthews said there would be another progress report coming in August. Regarding recycled paint, Councilor McLain commented that she would like more detail regarding why they should make the leap to exporting the paint before working to sell more on the local market. Chair Atherton wondered if there had ever been any interest from local paint companies regarding the paint. Dr. Petersen responded that they were not interested in the processing part, but some were selling the paint through their stores.

7.  FOREST GROVE TRANSFER STATION FRANCHISE

Marv Fjordbeck, Senior Assistant Legal Counsel, reviewed the provisions of Ordinance Nos. 97-718 and 99-800 (see copies included with the permanent record of this meeting). He said December 3, 2002 is the expiration date of the franchise and it would automatically extend for an additional 5 years unless the franchisee was in default under various terms of the franchise at that time. Councilor McLain asked about the differential fee which was established to substitute for the periodic rate review. She understood they still had some kind of involvement in the differential fee to keep prices equitable. She thought they would be in default if they utilized that function and took it out of the realm of the rates used at Metro facilities. They seem to be asking for an increase in their rates so it would not be equitable. Mr. Fjordbeck responded that when Council made the most recent amendments to the franchise, staff’s view was that the proposed changes in our major disposal contract eliminated the need for the differential fee. The contract modifications also changed the method for determining Metro’s rates so the region’s ratepayers costs would not vary with the amount of waste that was sent to River Bend. Dan Cooper, General Counsel, explained that these were two separate issues. The differential rate in the Forest Grove agreement that had been in place for a number of years had been agreed to between Metro and the franchisee relating to the fact that the cost of disposal at River Bend for them was different than at Arlington for Metro. He said the question of how much a hauler or customer at the gate at Forest Grove is charged compared to Metro facilities in Oregon City of Northwest Portland is a separate issue. Councilor McLain said one of their major goals was equity and fairness and service to the public. She hoped the October Transfer Station report would address this franchise. Councilor Monroe asked if the agreement required the Council to simply renew the franchise with the same provisions, or if they had some discretion to review and adjust the contract as needed. Mr. Fjordbeck said if the franchise holder is not in default, then the term extends, however, there is always an opportunity to review the terms throughout the term of the franchise.

Adjourn

There being no further business to come before the Solid Waste & Recycling Committee, Chair Atherton adjourned the meeting at 5:02 p.m.

Prepared by

Cheryl Grant

Council Assistant

Attachments to the Public Record for the

Solid Waste & Recycling Committees Meeting of May 15, 2002:

Testimony Cards:

None.