Title
a. Approve submission of an application to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) for a Beverage Container Recycling Grant in the amount of $250,000 for the Monterey County Parks Recycling Project;
b. Adopt an authorizing resolution in compliance with the grant application requirements;
c. Authorize the Assistant County Administrative Officer, Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division, or his designee(s), to act as the agent for the County in processing all grant application documentation; and
d. Direct the Parks Department to return to the Board of Supervisors for approval prior to the acceptance of grant funding awarded to the County associated with this application.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve submission of an application to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) for a Beverage Container Recycling Grant in the amount of $250,000 for the Monterey County Parks Recycling Project;
b. Adopt an authorizing resolution in compliance with the grant application requirements;
c. Authorize the Assistant County Administrative Officer, Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division, or his designee(s), to act as the agent for the County in processing all grant application documentation; and
d. Direct the Parks Department to return to the Board of Supervisors for approval prior to the acceptance of grant funding awarded to the County associated with this application.
SUMMARY:
This report seeks authorization by the Board of Supervisors for required actions by the County Administrative Office, Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division, (Strategic Grant Services Program) to submit a grant application to CalRecycle in the amount of $250,000 for the Monterey County Parks Recycling Project.
DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Parks system attracts 1.5 million visitors each year who use park facilities for boating, hiking and a variety of other activities. The Parks Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of a system of nine regional parks and two lakes encompassing over 12,155 acres of land and 10,000 acres of lakes. Such a geographically large system requires a large number of recycling and waste bins be placed throughout the parks to provide adequate collection of recyclables. In some County parks, while there are waste bins, there are no permanent year round recycling bins available. Many visitors bring goods in single-use containers and dispose of them in waste bins rather than taking them to recycling facilities. This results in a large amount of recyclables being sent directly to landfills.
The Monterey County Parks Recycling Project, which is being submitted for competitive funding under the CalRecycle Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program, would provide up to 36 additional waste and recycling bins which would be located at Toro, Royal Oaks, Jacks Peak, and San Lorenzo parks. The structures containing the recycling bins would be permanently bolted onto a concrete pad and would be secured with locks. The project would also install up to 35 bilingual educational signs to promote and encourage recycling throughout the parks with clear and simple graphics that would appeal to park visitors. The project also includes purchase of a refuse truck for Lake Nacimiento to help the Parks Department staff move recyclables to appropriate recycling facilities. The recycling truck would be parked in a secure location at the maintenance yard at Lake Nacimiento.
If this grant application is funded, the environmental benefits of the project would include increased recovery of recyclables as well as the overall increase of the County’s waste diversion rate from landfill to recycling. This project is expected to divert approximately 300,000 more recyclable beverage containers away from landfills and to recycling facilities each year.
In March 2016, the local non-profit The Offset Project approached the County and offered to substantially assist in the preparation of this grant application. The Offset Project works with individuals and organizations to establish sound waste policies and implement best practices in environmental stewardship. Since May 2016, the Strategic Grant Services Program (County Administrative Office - Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division) has collected required application material, secured executive approval for the application, prepared budgets, reviewed draft material, and coordinated the efforts of the Offset Project and the County Parks Department to complete the grant application. The application is due July 7, 2016.
The Strategic Grants Services Program was created by the Board of Supervisors in the Fall of 2014, and focuses on identifying funding for County priority projects. Priorities are defined by the Board’s Strategic Initiatives, the Board’s Legislative Priorities, availability of grant funding, ability to meet grant requirements, and strategic analysis of the proposed project’s ability to submit a competitive application. The program is managed by the County Administrative Office, Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Under the coordination of the Strategic Grants Services Program, the local non-profit, the Offset Project, has substantially assisted in the preparation of this grant application with input and direction from the County Administrative Office - Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division and the Parks Department. The Offset Project will be writing and submitting the grant application on behalf of the Parks Department with approval from the Assistant County Administrative Officer, Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division.
FINANCING:
The Strategic Grant Services Program is funded under the County Administrative Office - Department 1050, Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Division - Unit 8054. The actions requested in this report will not impact to the General Fund. The total cost of the Monterey County Parks Recycling Project will be no more than $250,000. Matching funds will not be required as part of this grant application.
Prepared by: Paul Hierling, Management Analyst III, CAO-IGLA, ext. 5462
Approved by:
__________________________
Nicholas E. Chiulos
Assistant County Administrative Officer
Attachments: Resolution