Title
Environmental Management Department recommending the Board:
1) Accept a grant award from the State of California, Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, Local Government Waste Tire Amnesty Grant Program, TA6 Cycle, Fiscal Year 2021-22, in the amount of $89,977, for the term beginning upon award and acceptance of funds through October 31, 2023; and
2) Delegate authority to the Environmental Management Department Director, or designee, to execute the Grant Agreement and all grant-related documents including, but not limited to, amendments, requests for payment, reports, and all associated documents necessary to secure grant funds and implement the approved grant program.
FUNDING: State of California, Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, Local Government Waste Tire Amnesty Grant Program.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The State of California, Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), administers various grant payment programs in furtherance of the State’s effort to reduce, recycle, and reuse solid waste and hazardous materials generated in the State, thereby preserving landfill capacity, protecting public health and safety, and the environment.
The Local Government Waste Tire Amnesty Grant Program (TA6 Grant Program) provides opportunities for eligible applicants to conduct free amnesty events for the public to recycle their waste tires. CalRecycle has allocated $1,450,000 for the TA6 Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2021-22, and pursuant to Public Resources Code section 42889, is authorized to expend funds from the California Tire Recycling Management Fund to pay for the cost of cleanup, abatement, or other remedial actions related to the disposal of waste tires in California. The Board’s acceptance of the funds under this TA6 Grant Program will ensure that the Environmental Management Department (Environmental Management) is able to contribute towards the State’s goal to reduce, recycle, and reuse waste tires.
In accordance with the Procedures and Requirements for this TA6 Grant Program, Fiscal Year 2021- 20 (Attachment C, D, E), all TA6 Grant Program expenditures must be for activities, products, and costs specifically included in the approved work plan and budget, subject to potential modifications and approval by CalRecycle. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to the following:
Costs of loading tires into transporting vehicles/trailers at the waste tire amnesty events;
Costs of transporting waste tires by a waste tire hauler, registered or exempted by CalRecycle, to a permitted, excluded, or exempted waste tire storage facility, or other solid waste facility;
Costs of disposing of waste tires at a permitted, excluded, or exempted waste tire storage facility or disposal site;
Any salaries and benefits for personnel directly involved in the administration, supervision, or planning of waste tire amnesty events; and
Costs for outreach materials, advertising, and supplies necessary for tire amnesty events.
On April 2, 2021, Environmental Management submitted an application to CalRecycle requesting TA6 Grant Program funds in the amount of $89,976.69 (Attachment F). On June 8, 2021, the County received a notification letter that although the County received a qualifying score, limited funds meant we would not receive a funding award (Attachment G). On April 26, 2022, notification was received from CalRecycle advising of the TA6 Grant Program award in the amount of $89,977.00, with a term of April 9, 2022 through October 31, 2023 (Attachment H). The Grant Agreement (Attachment B), along with the referenced Exhibits, must be executed by the County and returned to CalRecycle by May 9, 2022.
In accordance with the eligible activities and costs stipulated in the TA6 Grant Program, and in order to achieve the goals established for this TA6 Grant Program, Environmental Management intends to use the awarded funds to conduct free tire amnesty events for the public to recycle their waste tires. These events will be conducted on a daily basis by the franchise haulers for the public on the west slope at the El Dorado Disposal, Material Recovery Facility, and on the east slope at the South Tahoe Refuse, Material Recovery Facility. Utilizing funds provided under the previous TA5 Grant Program, the franchise haulers conducted daily tire collection events at the locations above from June 1, 2020 through Jun 30, 2021. These waste tire collection events led to the disposal and recycling of 17,744 tires. As a result, communities were cleared of waste tires from residential properties which, in turn, aided in the elimination of breeding grounds for mosquitos and other vectors.
In accordance with Board of Supervisors Policy A-6, the Board is the sole authority for accepting grant awards and approving grant agreements. After acceptance of a grant award and approval of the grant agreement, the Board may elect to delegate authority to execute the grant agreement and other grant-related documents.
The recommended acceptance of these TA6 Grant Program funds authorizes the Environmental Management Director, or designee, to execute the Grant Agreement and all reports and associated documents necessary to secure and expend the funds for the purpose of implementing this TA6 Grant Program. Environmental Management will continue to obtain Board approval for acceptance of all grant and payment program funds pursuant to Board Policy A-6.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to deny the acceptance of these grant funds. This would result in the forfeiture of the available grant funds awarded to the County under this Grant Program. This funding opportunity provides for additional resources for County staff to perform waste tire enforcement activities and other tasks related to the County’s efforts to eradicate waste tires and illegal dumping of tires throughout the County.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
The Board has previously accepted and/or authorized the following funding opportunities from CalRecycle under the Local Government Waste Tire Amnesty Grant Program:
File No. 15-0295 - Fiscal Year 2015-16 TA3 Grant Program
File No. 17-0702 - Fiscal Year 2017-18 TA4 Grant Program
File No. 19-1301 - Fiscal Year 2019-20 TA5 Grant Program
File No. 17-0961 - Resolution Authorizing Grant Applications
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the TA6 Grant Program Agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated with this item. Approval of this item would increase funding in the amount of $89,977 towards County efforts to meet the State’s solid waste and hazardous materials reduction, recycling, and reuse goals at the local level. No matching funds are required for this TA6 Grant Program. These TA6 Grant Program funds were included in the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget and will be included in future years’ budgets as applicable.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Jeffrey Warren, REHS, Director Environmental Management Department