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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSWAB minutes 080207 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 Attendance : Jan Sassaman, Bonnie Norwood, Remus Smith, Al Vickers, and Michelle Grunwald Staff: Gayle Wilson, Blair Pollock, Paul Spire, and Wanda McCain 1 . Adoption of Minutes from June ? SWAB meeting Vickers moves to accept. Smith 2nd . Passes unanimously . 2 . Board Member Comments Norwood states that there have been some complaints about people being able to stay longer than they are suppose to at the convenience center on Eubanks . I ' ve spoken to Van about it on occasion . Someone else has complained and now the rules are being enforced . There was a woman who used to keep the shed clean; she' s there all the time, recycling and moving stuff around, not knowing about your operation, I was wondering if she could volunteer there ? Wilson states that it would be better to enforce the rules and have the attendant do the job . The drivers can help the attendants if they have time on their routes . There are some liability issues with volunteers and someone would need to manage them . As formal volunteers they would have to wear , safety gear and we would be responsible if something happened to them . Pollock adds that there are other people who hang out there and help citizens but also use that time to salvage themselves . Vickers states that getting in and out of the convenience center on Eubanks Rd . is crazy and very dangerous . Can we change the traffic pattern to one way in and one way out? Spire states that a solution is being looked at for all the sites . Wilson notes that narrowing the entranceway to slow traffic has also created a bottleneck . Pollock adds that the overflow from closing Hwy 57 has come largely to Eubanks Road, not Walnut Grove Church Road as we had expected it might. Norwood adds the gravel entranceway to Eubanks Road also creates a problem with entering the road at an appropriate speed . Sassaman states that Chapel Hill hasn' t reappointed me nor have they dis-appointed me . 1 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 3 . Transfer Station Development Wilson states that currently a detailed permitting timeline is being developed . Permitting will be through the Town of Chapel Hill . It will begin with a request for zoning change from a landfill to a transfer station. The permitting process should take about eighteen months to two years . A local contact/ development coordinator is being sought out to help our consultant, Olver Inc . , through Chapel Hill ' s process . Also, with the location of the transfer station the current solid waste convenience center was going to be moved . There are new rules that govern the set backs from streams which would take the site [new convenience center] away . The Town of Chapel Hill could issue a variance or waiver . If they choose not to there will not be a convenience center there and we may need to purchase new property for it. There is other property in the area, but it is expensive . Grunwald asks if the stream could be moved . Wilson replies no . A detailed discussion ensued of various roadzvay configurations that might go through landfill property, both the Greene and Neville tracts, to bring traffic from nezv development in the Rogers Road area to Eubanks Road . There are some potential conflicts zvith these routes for nezv roads and zvhere the relocated Eubanks Road convenience center might be located (on the south side of the landfill tract) . Wilson further notes that in addition, our subconsultant, RRSI, Jim Frey, has proposed an alternate way of developing the transfer station site that includes other operations like recycling processing . He has made a rough master plan of how to get more of these functions on the site . It shows that there can be a transfer station, a MRF beside it, and the convenience center . It would allow the mulch and yard waste operation to stay, but the maintenance building would have to be relocated . What is gained in their scenario is a MRF . The MRF and transfer station don' t become part of the same structure but operate next to each other . While this seems workable, there are other reasons not to pursue this related to our relationship with the surrounding community . Vickers refers to the theoretical site plan and asks if the convenience center could be moved down to this new proposed site and leave this space for the MRF . Wilson replies that if there is never going to be a MRF that key space can' t be left empty and I have to build a maintenance building somewhere else, but there are political considerations of what to put on that site . It is further complicated by the fact that the site is in both the Towri s and County' s jurisdictions . I can' t risk the 2 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 possibility of losing the transfer station site for this theoretical possibility of maximizing our operational potential . Spire states that the maintenance building was built to service the landfill equipment but now works on mostly trucks and once the landfill closes, we won' t have much heavy equipment. The only way that this might work is in the long- term, the maintenance building could move to where it would be more convenient to service the recycling and sanitation vehicles because there won' t be much equipment at the transfer station and C &D landfill . While the concept is sound, we cannot give up our maintenance building . Wilson notes that they have 165 acres on the Greene Tract that they can work with for recreation, but the Towri s interest is focused on the Neville Tract, which is space we need for storm debris management when the next big storm comes . Sassaman asks, what is the realistic probability that there would be a MRF built on the Eubanks Rd . site ? Wilson replies a ten percent chance . Vickers states that having the MRF on there is a political poison. Norwood notes that there may be some other terminology to use to describe the facility . Tipton asks if the transfer station could be built there now and everything else we might need to put there could wait? Wilson notes that the solid waste convenience center has to move soon and if the site next to the transfer station is the choice rather than on the south side, we need that site . The convenience center could be built where the maintenance building is, but then the maintenance building has to be moved and we have no site for that. We don t know if there is a site for a new maintenance building within the Town of Chapel Hill . 4 . Expansion of Landfill Buffers Wilson states that there is a small piece of property near the landfill that has been on the market a couple of times over the years but hasn' t sold . In being consistent and sensitive to the neighborhoods' concerns of the landfill being here, the county should think about, when possible and reasonably priced, buying property around it [the landfill] for � buffer to insulate impacts of the landfill on the surrounding community . This is going to develop and there would eventually be someone living along this section of Eubanks Road . I am recommending to the Board to authorize [the Department] to conduct a market 3 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 appraisal of this property and based on that and the asking price consider purchasing the property as a buffer only . I would like to buy not only that but adjoining properties just for buffer . It could eventually be used for some other County uses . Norwood states that I would like to recommend you purchase that property that is a strip of land northwest of the intersection of Eubanks Rd . and the railroad tracks . We need to purchase that, I' ve heard you say, because of the topography if the old landfill messes up, it [any landfill leakage] will end there . Wilson states I have noted that but that the property is out of my price range . But I do hope to purchase part of it for a sewer easement for the leachate sewer so we can finish that after four years . That is also going to provide sewer for the animal shelter and ultimately for the transfer station sewer too, but not the solid waste operations center . On this other property for a buffer, you could support or oppose the pursuit o of that property for a buffer or do nothing, but I did feel obligated to bring it up . Norwood asks if that acreage is big enough for the convenience center ? Wilson notes that it' s not the right shape or big enough to do something on. Norwood states that it' s not clear how the neighborhood would take that purchase anyway but there may need to be more fire service out there, so perhaps this is a site in the future for that. Vickers states that buffers don t hurt you so we should consider increasing buffers and moves that the SWAB advises the Solid Waste Department that it endorses the concept of increasing the buffers along the roadway of Eubanks Rd . to the west of the construction debris landfill and purchases that would increase the buffers . No second . Motion dies . 5 . Solid Waste Management Plan Work Group Process Pollock states that the work group met in June to discuss the dropoff sites and the rural solid waste collection services analysis . The rural residential solid waste collection service looked good economically . There was no action taken on either item . At the next meeting there will be two big analyses coming forward that relate to the MRF, work that was done for bids to evaluate whether to go with one of the MRFs in the area or to build our own MRF . The consultant will come back with the results evaluating the three bidders and the haulers and the equipment bid . There was one equipment bid that wi11 be incorporated into the design for building our own MRF . That will help us compare the building our own MRF with going to an already existing merchant MRF . 4 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 Combined with that there will be the first element of the commercial recycling and solid waste evaluation. The commercial piece is to try and solicit the interest of the commercial community . There has been a series of meetings with the Chapel Hill- Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development division of Orange County, the Visitor ' s Bureau, the Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber, and the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, to expose the idea of commercial recycling . They are on board with ways to look at that. We will recommend to the work group a process where we go out and get information through a series of focus groups and use that to produce a survey - survey the business community based on what the focus groups tells us they are interested in solid waste and recycling and drive that towards some options . Options will include publicly owned and operated services, franchise services or use regulations to drive materials out of the waste stream into the recycling bim. Those analyses will help us form the plan . Because this is such an information- dense process, there are so many pieces to the individual pieces that they are taking a long-time, the integration will take a long time . We will probably propose at the next work group meeting, hopefully to be held next month, to do a placeholder, interim plan and get off the State ' s list of not complying and continue the work on the plan. Smith asks is it your opinion that the work group recommend a MRF to put pressure on the County Commissioners to make a decision. Vickers states that it is sort of like a hazardous waste incinerator, it may make the most technical, feasible and economic sense but politically it will not happen. Pollock states that what is interesting about the work group is nominally you have four elected officials in the room . It is a good opportunity to get a litmus test with the elected officials about their feelings regarding that. If you want to look at the numbers and regardless of what the numbers say, ask them their opinion . Wilson states that this process will give us the data and the analysis that will allow anyone that wants to know what the benefits are, if any, of having a local MRF . The material will be picked up and processed somewhere . The elected officials will do what they think is right and feasible . Sassaman states that there are two issues — we said earlier there is little chance of having a MRF on the Eubanks Rd . property and there is a finite possibility that they could decide to site a MRF elsewhere . Norwood states that our job is to come up with any convoluted ideas we can regardless of if we feel that. way, and present them . We can' t make them make decisions . We shouldn' t put ourselves in a position that we don' t propose ideas . If we 5 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 have an idea and we don' t throw them out, that is more dangerous than if we just throw out what we come up with . Wilson states that the work group [and SWAB ] should recommend the plan and its components that it thinks will deal best with the waste and recycling generated in Orange County . Norwood adds that the more educated they are now the easier it will be for them to say ' yea' or ' nay' Grunwald asks how much acreage is needed for a MRF . Wilson replies for a stand alone facility you need approximately ten acres depending on the size of the property and the topography and ensuring enough buffer . Smith notes the County owns a perfect spot at Blackwood Farm ( on New Hope Road) and it' s near the interstate . Wilson states that as the analysis start to come in, we may ask the work group to consider meeting more frequently to come to some end game on these issues . We also may need an interim plan. Sassaman states that we also need to get a degree of consensus on the content of the interim plan as a work group to try to increase the probability that all the jurisdictions will sign off on it. Wilson states that the County Commissioners decide whether we need an interim plan, whatever towns don' t agree they just do their own plan . Tipton states that just so everyone knows Jim Alty is no longer with UNC . 6 . Programs/Services Update Solid Waste Operations Center/Temporary Administration Relocation Wilson states that it has been delayed since February trying to reconcile the innovative sustainable approach to waste water reuse . There has been a lot of redesign . It may go out to bid next week . In a related manner, a week ago we were notified that we have to be off the University property by September 30 . Purchasing received noticed that we may be able to stay a little longer if we move closer to the animal shel W ima ter . e will submit a site plan to the University next week . Grunwald asks where does the office space have to be . Wilson replies that ideally it would be in the northern part of Chapel Hill . 6 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 Vickers asks if the Mellot building has been considered . Wilson replies yes but there would be a large investment to make it usable . There are no walls or bathrooms . Rogers Road Community Enhancement and Monitoring Task Force Wilson states that there have been several meetings . Where we are now is finalizing a map for the historic ity area map which is more of a heritage area and recognizes Rogers Road commun the presence of the many longtime families . As a subset of that is what I call the landfill impact area, which is a smaller area that has been impacted by the landfill over the years and for which we are looking for enhancement measures to compensate the area for the burden of dealing with the landfill . There is a list of 26 items that the neighborhood came up with that lists issues, concerns and wants . From a previous discussion there is a list from 1997 of 12 things and a couple of new things from the last meeting . Before the next meeting I have to turn that into one list to allow the task force to come up with an ultimate goal of what the neighborhood wants . The next meeting will be September 12 . Also on that agenda will be where do we go from here . On the list there are about seven things that the County has control over . The other things will require a representative to come in and talk about what it will take and the cost to have it done . After the list has been decided the group will stay and as mom the implementation of what is done . a group and Wilson further discusses the future of the area in the northeast corner of Rogers Road and Eubanks that is in the rural buffer and part of Chapel Hill ' s planning jurisdiction . Norwood states that I ' ve tried to explain to the neighbors and as Moses has stated be careful what you ask for . Once sewer is out there all those on septic tanks can pump one time, then its mandatory and they will eminent domain your house and you will have to pay over $10, 000, before OWASA ' s 40 % increase . You will have to hook up to the sewer and pay Chapel Hill town taxes . Wilson also notes that the coming of sewer will bring heavy development pressure, next to the Greene Tract, Duke Forest, and Carolina North coming . Wilson then distributes a copy of the interim report on the Rogers Road community . Landfill Leachate Sezver Project Wilson states that we are recommending condemning an easement so we can finish the project. Multi family Shift to Dual Stream Collection Pollock states that it was decided that this year we would convert multifamily which means we' re going to use one cart at each apartment complex for all containers [cans and bottles] and one cart for all paper, including mixed paper . The way that it is being done is putting the labels on the 7 Minutes - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board August 2, 2007 Approved September 6, 2007 containers complex-by-complex and then we' ll send the notification after the fact. We do expect to do substantial education after the implementation and hope to get a bump in volume as we did in curbside, up to 25 % more tonnage . 3 -R Fee Increase Wilson states that it was adopted . Theft of Recyclable Materials - Deferred Sanitation Reorganization into Solid Waste Management Department Wilson states that things are going well . Fairly smooth transition. Other None 7 . Other Business None Smith moves to adjourn . Norwood 2nd . Adjourn 99. 00 pm Next meeting : September 6, 2007 Government Services, Hillsborough 8