SUBJECT
Title
ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING APPLICATIONS AND AGREEMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF STATE FUNDING FOR ALL CALRECYCLE GRANTS FOR WHICH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO IS ELIGIBLE AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION AND AUTHORIZATIONS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The State Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency. CalRecycle offers funding opportunities to assist public and private entities in the safe and effective management of various types of waste and recyclable materials. This is a request to adopt a Resolution authorizing applications for State funding from CalRecycle for recycling, cleanup, and resource management grant programs. CalRecycle requires each applying jurisdiction to submit resolutions from its governing body that allow for the application and administration of recycling, cleanup, and resource management grants.
The Department of Public Works’ (DPW’s) current Resolution and accompanying minute order that allow for application and administration of recycling, cleanup, and resource management grant programs is valid through Fiscal Year 2023-24; therefore, to be eligible for future rounds of funding, DPW must submit a new Resolution to CalRecycle that, at a minimum, covers Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 through FY 2028-29.
Previously, DPW received Board of Supervisors authority in five-year increments, most recently from FY 2019-20 through FY 2023-24. The Resolution in today’s action follows that practice and expands it to include additional departments, providing authority for the Departments of General Services, Parks and Recreation, and Planning & Development Services to apply for and administer funding for recycling, cleanup, and resource management grant programs for FY 2024-25 through FY 2028-29.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that applying for State-funded grants may have a significant effect on the environment and that it is therefore exempt from CEQA review.
2. Adopt a Resolution entitled: RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR ALL CALRECYCLE GRANTS FOR WHICH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO IS ELIGIBLE (Multi-Year Resolution).
3. Authorize the Directors, Departments General Services, Parks and Recreation, Planning & Development Services, and Public Works, or their designees, as agent of the County, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to, applications, contracts, payment requests, agreements and amendments, which may be necessary to secure, accept and manage the use of program funds.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
In collaboration with stakeholders, the Department of Public Works created a Strategic Plan to Reduce Waste, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on April 26, 2017 (2). This plan set a goal to achieve 75% waste diversion by 2025. The County of San Diego’s (County) 2018 Climate Action Plan subsequently added a goal to achieve 80 percent waste diversion by 2030. Since this time, the County and its partners in the community have worked to expand recycling programs to achieve these goals. If the Board adopts today’s Resolution, it will allow the County to use grant funds to continue to promote waste reduction and recycling outreach and education to the unincorporated community, while also helping local businesses and residents participate in recycling programs and reduce their waste.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to adopt a Resolution will facilitate application and receipt of funds, if awarded, for recycling, cleanup, and resource management grant programs which may contribute to County of San Diego’s (County) sustainability goals. This includes engaging the community and reducing pollution and waste. This Resolution will support the Departments of General Services, Parks and Recreation, Planning & Development Services, and Public Works to apply for CalRecycle grants, including Public Works’ application for the State Bill 1383 Local Assistance Grant program (anticipated to be approximately $850,535), which will positively impact unincorporated area residents and businesses. Community engagement through education and outreach, site visits and continued correspondence will be a major component of these grants, allowing the County to promote proper management of waste materials and increase recycling efforts, as well as reach County goals of 75 percent waste diversion by 2025 and 80 percent by 2030.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current year fiscal impact associated with these recommendations. On July 24, 2019 (5), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the application and administration of recycling, cleanup, and resource management grant programs through Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24. If this current request is approved, it will extend the application ability through FY 2028-29. If a grant is awarded, the department will return to the Board to appropriate as needed. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The State Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency. CalRecycle offers funding opportunities authorized by legislation to assist public and private entities in the safe and effective management of the waste stream. Public Resources Code (PRC) §48000 et seq., 14581, and 42023.1(g), authorize CalRecycle to make grants to qualifying jurisdictions for implementation of recycling programs.
CalRecycle has several grant programs available to local jurisdictions to promote a sustainable environment in which resources are not wasted but are instead reused or recycled. Grant funds can be used to promote recycling, develop resource management infrastructure, and cleanup illegal solid waste sites. CalRecycle grant programs help local jurisdictions meet State recycling requirements, such as:
• The Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 [Assembly Bill (AB) 939], which mandated each jurisdiction achieve a 50 percent diversion rate and implement various diversion programs.
• The Mandatory Commercial Recycling law (AB 341), effective since 2012, which requires businesses that produce four cubic yards of waste or greater weekly to recycle and requires local jurisdictions to implement a commercial solid waste recycling program and conduct outreach, education, and monitoring of businesses and multi-family complexes. This law also set a State goal of achieving 75 percent landfill diversion.
• The Mandatory Organics Recycling law (AB 1826), effective since 2016, which requires businesses that produce four cubic yards of waste or greater weekly to recycle organic materials and requires local jurisdictions to conduct outreach, education, and monitoring of businesses and multi-family complexes.
• The Short-Lived Climate Pollutants law [State Bill (SB) 1383], signed into law in 2016, which establishes a target to achieve a 75 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025 and establishes an additional target that not less than 20 percent of edible food that is currently disposed of is recovered for human consumption by 2025.
CalRecycle grants have helped the County of San Diego comply with these regulations, including by providing funding for technical assistance, bins, and promotional materials to establish or expand residential and commercial recycling programs.
SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program
This program allows CalRecycle to administer a grant program to provide aid to jurisdictions in the implementation of SB 1383 organic waste reduction programs. In 2023, the Department of Public Works (DPW) received an SB 1383 payment program award of $703,210 to expand education and outreach efforts to residents and businesses within the unincorporated county. Through this award, DPW has provided technical assistance, recycling containers, signage, container stickers, educational flyers, and workshops to assist residents as well as staff, students, and visitors to schools, businesses, apartments and condominium complexes to comply with new organic material recycling regulations. DPW also conducted site visits to edible food generators to provide education and assistance to help these facilities comply with new surplus edible food donation requirements.
In its latest funding cycle, CalRecycle has transitioned funding for this program from a payment program to a grant program. CalRecycle will award funding on a non-competitive, per-capita basis and requires a grant resolution to be eligible for this funding. DPW applied for $850,535 in funding to continue SB 1383 education and outreach efforts under the current Resolution and Minute Order, however the authorization letter expires July 24, 2024. The proposed Resolution would allow the County of San Diego (County) to continue expending grant monies received under the new CalRecycle grant program and to apply for future rounds of grant funding, if offered.
Farm and Ranch Cleanup Grants
This program provides funding to clean up illegal solid waste sites on farm and ranch properties. Since 2006, the County has received two cleanup grants totaling about $56,000 to clean up four properties.
Reuse Assistance Grants
This competitive grant program provides incentives for local public agencies to promote and apply the concept of reuse to their business communities, such as for the establishment of an on-line exchange for discarded furniture or other materials. The County applied for this grant in 2004 but was not awarded funds.
Solid Waste Disposal and Site Cleanup Grants
This program allows CalRecycle to expend funds directly for cleanup or emergency actions, provide loans to responsible parties who demonstrate the ability to repay State funds, or provide matching grants to local governments to assist in remediation of environmental problems at landfills. Since first applying in 1993, the County has received eight solid waste disposal site cleanup grants, resulting in work on six solid waste disposal sites and two illegal dumping sites using $3,613,675 in State grant funds.
Tire Recycling, Cleanup, and Enforcement Grants
Several different grant programs are available to local governments to divert waste tires from landfills by promoting markets of recycled-content products and for enforcement and cleanup. Since 2004, the County has leveraged $644,608 in State funding to collect 56,627 tires from the public through amnesty day events and paid and volunteer cleanups. Illegally dumped tires pose a threat to public health, safety, and the environment-particularly when tires are improperly disposed of or catch fire. Illegally dumped waste tires also create harborage and breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests and vectors.
Previously, DPW received Board of Supervisors authority in five-year increments, most recently from Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 through FY 2023-24. The Resolution in today’s action follows that practice and expands it to include additional departments, providing authority for the Departments of General Services, Parks and Recreation, and Planning & Development Services to apply for and administer funding for recycling, cleanup, and resource management grant programs for FY 2024-25 through 2028-29.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines provides a general exemption from CEQA review for a project where it can be seen with certainty there is no possibility that the activity in question will have a significant effect on the environment. The project involves submitting applications for possible State funding to facilitate recycling, cleanup, and resource management programs. The purpose of the project is to facilitate the receipt of funds without any commitment to a particular project. As such, the project is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to adopt a Resolution authorizing applications for State grant funding for recycling, cleanup, and resource management grant programs supports the County of San Diego’s (County’s) Sustainability Initiative in the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by actively combatting climate change by increasing recycling opportunities and reducing waste disposal. State grant programs enable the County to protect our natural resources and provide proper management of waste materials.
Respectfully submitted,
Dahvia lynch
Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution of the County of San Diego Authorizing Submittal of Applications for all CalRecycle grants for which the County of San Diego Is Eligible (Multi-Year Resolution)