San Diego City Council Environment Committee Meeting - November 29, 2018

The San Diego City Council Environment Committee met on November 29, 2018, with Chair Councilmember David Alvarez presiding and Councilmembers Kate and Sherman present (Councilmember Gomez was absent). The agenda included approval of prior meeting records, a non-agenda public comment period, a $919,600 funding transfer for resurfacing the Balboa Park golf course parking lot, an update on a proposed public-private partnership for expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam recycling, and the third annual departmental recycling diversion update. Chair Alvarez delivered farewell remarks noting this was his final committee meeting after eight years as chair.

Consent Calendar

• The committee unanimously approved the record of action items from the November 1, 2018 meeting, on a motion by Councilmember Sherman seconded by Councilmember Kate.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Martha Welch (non-agenda comment): Requested that whoever succeeds Councilmember David Alvarez continue requesting updates on the Pure Water project. She noted that infrastructure is 'very old' (referencing a '1958 pump') and expressed concerns that the city lacks a proper sewer plant, does not perform 'dry solids' processing, and that water department performance audits are insufficient. She also cited snowpack reports (over a foot of snow in the Sierra, two more inches, limited snow at Big Bear) and said she hopes the region is out of the drought.
• Martha Welch (on EPS item): Expressed support for recycling but cautioned not to invest too heavily in EPS recycling because the proposed ban 'is supposed to be... go away.' She said she supports bamboo and sugarcane containers because they break down, and raised concerns about enforcement because the county, not the city, regulates restaurants.
• Sophie Barnhorst, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (representing nearly 2,500 members and about 300,000 employees): Stated the Chamber supports the city's EPS recycling efforts and views the industry partnership as a real opportunity, especially given an expected budget deficit and the depletion of the city's recycling fund. She urged the committee to forward the item to the full council.
• Chris Duggan, California Restaurant Association: Expressed strong support for the partnership, arguing EPS is proven recyclable (staff already incorporate it in curbside containers), that removal would impose significant costs on restaurant operators and customers, and that the product offers functionality and reliability (resists breakdown with hot or cold foods such as soups or coffee). He said it is 'demanded by our customers' and urged moving forward.

Discussion Items

1. Balboa Park Golf Course Parking Lot Resurfacing Scott Bentley (Assistant Deputy Director, Golf Division) and John Howard (Golf Manager) requested approval to move $919,600 from the golf enterprise fund balance to the Balboa Park Golf Course Capital Improvement Program fund to repave the parking lot and adjacent asphalt areas (three parking areas outlined in red, plus yellow adjacent areas). The quoted cost is $836,000 with a 10% contingency. Staff cited disrepair, safety concerns, and poor customer first impressions. Councilmember Sherman confirmed the number of parking spaces will not change and the lot will remain ADA compliant. Councilmember Kate asked whether the department had researched alternative, heat-reducing surfacing materials (piloted in Los Angeles); staff said they became aware of the concept the day before, contacted Public Works but received no information, and would research it before the December 11 council hearing. The motion by Sherman, seconded by Kate, passed unanimously.

2. Public-Private Partnership for Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Foam Recycling Environmental Services Deputy Director Barbara Lamb and Recycling Program Manager Ken Prue reported that the city has accepted EPS block material in curbside recycling since December 2014 and added EPS food packaging in July 2017, processed through a specialized secondary material recovery facility in Los Angeles (Titus). Actual costs in FY18 were $124,000, with $180,000 projected for the current year (transportation/tipping fees). The American Chemistry Council's Food Service Packaging Group (PFPG) proposed a partnership with two components: (1) bridge support funding of up to $250,000 - $35,000 in the first month plus subsequent payments through June 2019 - to offset secondary processing and transport costs; and (2) up to $735,000 per facility (up to two facilities) for optical sorting equipment and retrofitting, through an addendum to the city's curbside recycling request for proposals (RFP) issued November 13, 2018. The partnership is contingent on continued acceptance of EPS food containers; staff stated it would be off the table if Councilmember Ward's proposed EPS reduction policy (which had a first reading at City Council) is adopted and implemented. The RFP closes December 21, 2018 at 2 p.m. Councilmember Kate asked about the timeline and noted that while the bridge funding would be a grant to the city, the equipment partnership would primarily benefit the processor with no direct rebate to the city and could represent a potential added cost for services not provided. He requested that the item return as a potential action item in January 2019 under the new committee chair. Councilmember Sherman noted that even if a ban passes, EPS material (e.g., packaging from online orders) would still enter the waste stream, requiring a policy decision on whether to continue recycling or landfill it; he also raised concerns about China's National Sword policy and its effect on recycling markets. Staff confirmed the RFP was structured to accommodate EPS inclusion or exclusion depending on the policy outcome.

3. Update on Recycling at City Facilities Chelsea Clacious (Supervising Recycling Specialist), with Deputy Director Barbara Lamb, delivered the third annual update. Since FY15, following adoption of the Climate Action Plan and Zero Waste Plan, department directors have been required to comply with the city recycling ordinance, appoint recycling liaisons (34 citywide), and attend quarterly meetings. This year's highlights included collaboratively developed branded signage, facility tours, personalized technical assistance, and diversion support during the executive complex staff relocation. Diversion rates were reported by department for the first time (previously by facility): the number of departments below the 50% diversion rate fell from seven to five to four over three years, with the goal of 50% by 2020. Transportation & Stormwater was reported at 25%, which staff explained reflects heavy operational materials such as asphalt grindings and concrete that were not fully captured; its office/dumpster-level diversion was 77%, and the street division alone is on track to bring the department above 50% this fiscal year. Councilmember Sherman asked whether departments are being held to achievable goals and whether recyclability data is available; staff confirmed the calculations are data-driven and that the 25% figure resulted partly from a data-capture gap in the prior year. Chair Alvarez congratulated staff on the progress, noting Environmental Services, Fleet Services, Treasurer, and Controller clustered at the top.

Chair's Farewell Remarks

Chair Alvarez highlighted the committee's achievements over his eight years: Council approval (a couple weeks prior) of the Pure Water Project Construction with nearly $2 billion in construction contracts for Phase One; changes to water billing rate structure to encourage conservation; working with the IBA to contract an independent rate consultant; the upcoming city council action on the Barrio Logan truck route (recommended by this committee) to reduce noise, traffic, and pollution; storm channel maintenance that protected the city during storms; climate action plan adoption and monitoring; zero-waste strategies to extend the life of the Miramar landfill; PACE program implementation for solar installations; and the forthcoming Community Choice Aggregation decision. Councilmember Kate thanked the Chair for his thoughtful approach and openness to public input. Councilmember Sherman thanked him for his leadership, noting their collaboration on storm channel maintenance and saying he would miss working alongside him.

Key Outcomes

• Approved unanimously: Transfer of $919,600 from the golf enterprise fund to the Balboa Park Golf Course CIP fund for parking lot resurfacing (motion by Sherman, second by Kate). Staff to research cool-pavement alternatives before the December 11, 2018 city council hearing.
• Approved unanimously: Record of action items from the November 1, 2018 meeting.
• Informational item: The EPS recycling public-private partnership update was received; no formal action was taken. Councilmember Kate requested, and Councilmember Sherman voiced support, that the item return in January 2019 as a potential action item with the new committee chair; Chair Alvarez urged the Mayor's Office and IBA's Office to help ensure continuity.
• Next steps identified: The curbside recycling RFP closes December 21, 2018 at 2 p.m.; the EPS partnership will proceed only if the proposed EPS reduction ban is not enacted.