Title
Environmental Management Department recommending the Board review and approve the release of the Draft Countywide Solid Waste Management Plan, prepared by NewPoint Group Management Consultants for a 45 day public comment period. (Est. Time: 15 Min.)
Body
Background:
During a Board Workshop held on March 16, 2009, to discuss countywide solid waste management issues (Agenda Item # 09-0340), the Board directed the Environmental Management Department (EMD) to establish a working Committee that will assist the Department to research and identify a proactive approach for future solid waste planning. On June 2, 2009 (Agenda Item # 09-0340), the Board directed EMD to proceed with a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Countywide Solid Waste Management Plan (Plan) and approved the membership of the solid waste working Committee. The purpose for the formation of the Committee was further defined to assist the County with establishing the priorities of the solid waste management plan and the development of an RFP for the Plan, as well as to establish a collective approach to solid waste planning within the County.
The Committee met on several occasions and developed the RFP for a Plan. The Countywide Solid Waste Management Plan RFP was approved by the Board, released on September 29, 2009 (Agenda Item # 09-1129), and closed on October 27, 2009. The County received three (3) responses to the RFP. Committee members independently reviewed and scored each proposal. The Committee then interviewed each RFP respondent. As a result of the scoring and interviews, the Committee selected the NewPoint Group/BAS as the best qualified firm(s) to prepare a comprehensive Countywide Solid Waste Management Plan.
On May 25, 2010, (Agenda Item #10-0486) the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement No. 026-A-09/10-BOS with NewPoint Group Management Consultants for the development of the Countywide Solid Waste Management Plan.
Reason for Recommendation:
The Agreement between the County of El Dorado and Newpoint Group required NewPoint Group to:
a. Prepare a draft outline for the Solid Waste Management Plan.
b. Present the Draft Plan to the Solid Waste Working Committee for review.
c. Obtain comments on the Draft Plan from the Solid Waste Working Committee and incorporate said comments into the Plan as appropriate.
d. Circulate Draft Plan for a 45-day public comment period.
e. Respond to public comments, as needed.
f. Revise Draft Plan as necessary based on comments.
g. Participate in a County Board Meeting to assist EMD in presenting the Plan to the Board Supervisors.
h. Prepare a Final Plan for Countywide implementation.
On March 11, 2011, the NewPoint Group provided a Preliminary Draft Plan to the Committee for review and comment. Over the next 27 days the Committee reviewed the Plan extensively and made comments. The comments were forwarded to the NewPoint Group for incorporation into the Plan.
On April 7, 2011, the Newpoint Group met with the Committee to discuss the Plan, answer questions and address concerns. The NewPoint Group took information from the meeting and again revised the Plan incorporating changes requested by the Committee into a revised Plan. The revised Plan was presented to the Committee on May 23, 2011. The NewPoint Group received additional feedback on the revised Plan, which was incorporated into the draft Plan and presented again to the Committee on June 22, 2011. While the revised draft Plan was well received by the Committee, there was concern expressed that it lacked a succinct, prioritized summary detailing the Plan goals and objectives. Based upon this feedback by the Committee, County staff prepared an Action Plan summary. The Committee reviewed the Action Plan and draft revised Solid Waste Management Plan and recommended that the Environmental Management Department request the Board of Supervisors to release the Plan for public comment.
Upon Board approval the draft plan will be released for a 45-day public comment period. The NewPoint Group will require a few weeks to provide responses to the public comments. The EMD and NewPoint Group will then present the Final Draft Plan to the County Board of Supervisors for consideration and adoption.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
Direct the Environmental Management Department to release the Draft Solid Waste Management Plan to the public for or 45-day comment period.
Contact: Gerri Silva, MS, REHS, Director of Environmental Management