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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-03-2004-8hORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 3, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. 191 SUBJECT: Scheduling a Public Hearing on Orange County's 3-Year Solid Waste Plan Update DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 12/17/03 State Plan Components Memo Draft Solid Waste Management Plan 3- Year Update (Under Separate Cover) Draft Memorandum to Towns Draft Resolution INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Wilson, 968-2885 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill Durham Mebane 968-4501 688-7331 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To schedule a Public Hearing to receive public comments on the 3-Year Update of Orange County's Solid Waste Management Plan. BACKGROUND: In 1997, the County and the three Towns adopted a solid waste management plan which included a long-term waste reduction goal of 61 % per capita and a comprehensive plan for achieving that goal. Plan development was based on a previous multiyear process that involved a consultant assisting the governments and citizens' committee to develop three waste reduction scenarios from which the governments developed the plan framework in 1996. The resulting plan was further refined and submitted to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1997 as required by State statute, In addition to meeting the statutory requirement, the planning document also served as the County's guideline for future solid waste reduction planning and as a basis for projecting financial needs to meet those goals. In 2000, the plan was updated and the same goals and plan framework were reaffirmed. By the time the plan update was submitted, governance of solid waste had shifted from a structure wherein the Landfill Owners Group provided policy guidance and the Town of Chapel Hill managed daily operations to one in which Orange County was the lead agency with policy advice from the Solid Waste Advisory Board. All four governments in the County are still integrally involved in solid waste management and all formally supported the 2000 solid waste plan update. Orange County is now the lead agency relative to plan development and submission; however, the Towns also maintain a formal role in the plan approval process. A December 2003 memorandum to the BOCC describing the components of the plan is attached. The subsequent three-year update to the plan was due June 30, 2003, 2 During discussions that led to the BOCC's last endorsement of the plan, several Commissioners expressed only qualified support for the plan and stated that they would be interested in revisiting certain aspects of the plan prior to any future endorsements. Staff has been receiving input from Commissioners over the intervening months on preferred modifications to the plan and now believes the necessary changes have been made based on that guidance. Staff now believes the plan (draft attached) is ready for presentation to the public and consideration by the various Boards. Following the public hearing, staff can make any additional revisions, as directed by the BOCC, and then submit to the three Towns to allow them to proceed with their individual processes for consideration and adoption. Attached is a draft of a memorandum that will be distributed, once the hearing is called, informing the Towns of the public hearing, their responsibilities regarding the plan, and the goal of submitting the Plan to the State by March 15, 2004. The draft plan was discussed at the January 8, 2004 Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) meeting. The SWAB decided to prepare and submit a letter to the BOCC offering its comments on the plan. That letter is still under development by SWAB members. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact related to conducting the public hearing. The financial impact of the actual solid waste management plan is considerable and is being discussed relative to ongoing budgetary and alternative financing deliberations. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board schedule a public hearing on the 3-Year Update of Orange County's Solid Waste Management Plan for February 17, 2004 at the Board of Commissioners regular meeting. Memorandum To: John Link, Manager From: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Director Subject: Components of the State-required Solid Waste Management Plan other than the Waste Reduction Plan Date: December 17, 2003 At the November 20 BOCC work session an inquiry was made regarding the components of the State's three Year Solid Waste Management Plan update that were not related to the waste reduction plan. This memorandum outlines, from the State's guidance document (copy attached) what other information is required in the three year plan update. Overall: • Identify how the plan fits with other related plans for waste collection, disaster debris management, hazardous waste management, etc. • Evaluate the waste stream(s) by type and geography. (For this we submit our 1995 and 2000 waste characterization data as well as 2002-03 landfill report and analysis). • Identify population growth or other trends within the County that may affect waste generation rates. • Establish methods for public input to the plan - public hearings (mandatory), written comments, solicitation from interested civic groups. • Include resolutions adopting the plan by all governments involved (mandatory). • Detail how the planning process was created and how plans were implemented or why they were not. • Show how the plan provides stable, predictable means for hauling, processing and disposal of solid waste over ten years, including an alternative disposal means, Plan Elements that must be included, other than those related to Waste Reduction and Recycling • Waste collection practices, capabilities and costs, • Full cost accounting for waste and recycling collection and disposal, • Incineration (explain why it was not selected), • Transfer out of geographic area, • Assessment of current disposal practices, • Illegal disposal/littering • Disaster response Please let us know if you need anything further. DRAFT Memorandum To: Cal Horton, Chapel Hill Town Manager Eric Peterson, Hillsborough Town Manager Steve Smith, Carrboro Town Manager From: John Link, Orange County Manager Subject: State Solid Waste Management Plan 3-Year Update Date: February 4, 2004 The Orange County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing for February 17, 2004 to receive citizen comment regarding the Draft 3-Year Solid Waste Management Plan Update. The update was due last summer, however, the County was granted a delay due to Commissioner interest in examining the plan in more detail. The Commissioners completed their review in December, 200.3 and the plan has been modified accordingly. The Solid Waste Advisory Board discussed the draft plan update at its January 8 meeting. Each of the three municipalities are required to adopt a resolution endorsing the plan update prior to it being submitted. The Towns are not required to conduct further public hearings/meetings, but of course may hold additional meetings/forums as they choose. The Inter local Agreement assigns Orange County the lead agency role in the state planning process. Our goal is to obtain all Town endorsements and submit the plan by March 15, 2004. A draft copy of the plan is enclosed for your review. A draft resolution of endorsement is also included should you choose to modify it for your own use. County Solid Waste staff are available to attend meetings and provide information to your Boards as necessary. Please contact Solid Waste Department Director Gayle Wilson or I anytime with questions or comments regarding this matter. DRAFT A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING ORANGE COUNTY'S 10-YEAR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN, INCLUDING A 61 PERCENT WASTE REDUCTION GOAL AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE SOLID WASTE PLAN TO THE STATE: WHEREAS, Orange County adopted in 1997 a general waste reduction plan framework as part of its overall solid waste goals and adopted specific waste reduction goals of 45% per capita by 2001 and 61 % per capita by 2006, and WHEREAS, Orange County achieved a 40% waste reduction rate in 2001-02 and 46% waste reduction rate in 2002-2003, thus exceeding its interim waste reduction goal of 45% and the State goal of 40%, and WHEREAS, this is recognized as the highest level of waste reduction in North Carolina, while during the same period the state overall has experienced a significant decrease in waste reduction, and WHEREAS, participation in County waste reduction and recycling programs continue at a high level, and WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina does not contribute in any meaningful manner to funding local government waste collection, waste disposal, or waste reduction programs or services, and WHEREAS, Orange County is considering alternative means of financing its solid waste programs which it will likely implement in FY 2004-05, and WHEREAS Orange County is must balance public investment in waste reduction with available funding and its current success relative to the remainder of the state; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Orange County is maintaining its long-term goal of 61 % waste reduction per capita, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Orange County adopts the solid waste plan update attached hereto and authorizes the County Manager to submit the plan to the State. This is the _ day of 2004