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12-05-1995 - Special 2 Meeting - MinutesSPECIAL MEETING OF THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL December 5, 1995 • The special meeting of the West Covina City Council was called to order by Mayor Herfert at 6;40 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina. ROLL CALL Mayor Herfert, Mayor Pro Tem Touhey, council - members Manners, McFadden', Wong Others Present: Starbird, Wylie, Gardner, Miller, Glover, Munoz, Samaniego, Collier,, Berry ATHENS MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITY PROPOSAL Environmental Services Director Miller pre- sented a brief overview of state regulations, current status of Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) proposed in this general area, options available at this point in time to the City Council, the commercial collection rates, and the MRF draft report by Athens. Dennis Chiappetta _Dennis Chiappetta, General Manager of Athens presented Athens' MRF proposal and discussed the facility which they are planning to locate in the County just south of Valley Boulevard. He mentioned that state financing has been secured and the funds are in an escrow account at the bank. Athens is actively seeking fifteen -year commitments from surrounding cities of their commercial waste stream. Athens is particularly interested in securing West Covina's 'commitment, as they already provide trash disposal service for the City and have one of the larger waste volumes. Mr. Chiappetta responded to Council questions, noting that Athens is expecting to be fully operational by June, 1996, and that Athens would pay any fines if the State -required 25% diversion rate isn't met for 1996 through 1999. The City needs to commit by February, 1996. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA Iris Delameter Iris Delameter, 1212 W. Eckerman, supported the MRF proposal as the best method for reaching state requirements. She suggested Athen's agreement be reviewed very 'carefully. She raised several questions about the language contained in the proposed agreement. • Royal Brown Royal Brown, 2153 Aroma Drive, agreed that the MRF is in the future and suggested that the City prepare Request for Proposals to ensure • getting the best possible package for the City. Council Comments Mayor Pro Tem Touhey asked about any other MRFs in the area. Mr. Miller responded in the negative, except one planned for Pomona which is about one year out. City Council Minutes of 12/5/95 Councilmember McFadden asked whether Athens will sell recyclables and will the City be reimbursed for those sales. Mr. Miller responded that a detailed analysis of the proposal has not been done as yet, and that • would be one item to investigate.. City Manager Starbird added that if Council. is interested in pursuing the concept of an MRF, staff will conduct a full analysis of Athens' proposal and can report on other additional items at that time. Councilmember Manners noted that several times in the staff report it was mentioned that there hasn't been time to conduct a detailed analysis, and she felt it was now time to do it. She stated she was in support of pro- ceeding further with the MRF. She had two concerns, one revolved around proposed lang- uage that provided for an automatic annual CPI increase for the next fifteen years and the other related to the paragraph regarding not reaching the 50% diversionary statute after the year 2000. Motion Mayor Herfert asked for a motion to move the matter along.. City Manager Starbird suggested that staff be directed to request information from Athens on the availability of residential service and the basic terms of that, as recom- mended by the Waste Management and Environmen- tal Quality Commission; that staff meet with Athens to refine the commercial service pro- gram as presented this evening; and that staff secure information on the other alternatives for commercial and residential MRF service that might be available in that time frame in the San Gabriel Valley. Motion by Manners and seconded by McFadden to incorporate the City Manager's suggestion as Council's directive to staff. Councilmember Wong was not convinced that there was an urgency to move forward at this time. He felt the City could meet the SB.939 statutes without rushing into a MRF process. He was concerned about committing the waste stream for fifteen years and not at all cer- tain what the City would receive in return for that.. He suggested monitoring this MRF and watching others as well. Councilmember Manners felt the motion enveloped Mr. Wong's concerns. Mayor Herfert opined that MRFs are an exten- sion of automated trash pickup. Mayor Pro Tem Touhey noted that there aren't many MRFs for the City to devote time for RFPs. Mayor Herfert asked for.a vote on the motion. Motion carried 5-0. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Herfert and seconded by Touhey to adjournthe meeting at 7:50 pm. Motion carried 5-0. City Council Minutes of 12/5/95 • Attest: City_Clerk Jane erry • • Mayor St Her ert