RESEARCH DIVISION
TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY & UTILITIES SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
March 6, 2017
City Council Chamber
Ground Floor, City
Hall
Immediately following the 2:00 Committee meeting.
Attendance: Council Members: Al Ferraro (Chair), Doyle Carter (Vice Chair), Greg Anderson, Anna Lopez Brosche, John Crescimbeni, Reggie Brown, Reggie Gaffney; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Kim Taylor, Council Auditor’s Office; Jordan Elsbury, Administration; John Jackson, Colleen Hampsey, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistants Jessica Matthews, Samantha Lane and Staci Lopez.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 2:46 P.M.
The focus of the Special Meeting was Solid Waste 101: “Services Overview.” John Pappas, Director, Public Works Department, made a PowerPoint presentation.
Mr. Pappas explained the following aspects of his department’s solid waste program: general responsibilities, components of solid waste services, solid waste fee definitions, summary of revenue and summary of expenses.
Mr. Pappas noted that the general responsibilities of the Solid Waste Division and program were to provide environmentally sound and cost effective solid waste and recycling services for the City of Jacksonville. The program consisted residential collections of garbage, yard waste, bulk waste, appliances, tires and recyclables; litter collection & illegal dumping investigation/abatement; the disposal of waste in the active City landfill, inactive “closed” City landfills and private landfill & processing facility oversight (“CON”); household hazardous waste disposal; recycling program and City contaminated site assessment and remediation.
The Solid Waste Division collects garbage, yard waste and recyclables from 272,100 premises (homes). The City contracts with three contract haulers: Southland Waste Systems – Republic that collects from 74,500 premises in the northern portion of the City; Waste Pro that collects from 73,700 premises in the southeastern portion of the City and Advanced Disposal Services that collects from 71,900 premises on the Westside. All three haulers are currently having their rates reviewed by the City Council (Ordinances 2017-57, 2017-58 and 2017-59 respectively). City employees collect in the downtown area.
The City owns the Trail Ridge Landfill; Waste Management, Inc. manages the site used for the disposal of the County’s waste. There are two Inactive “closed” City-owned landfills: the North Landfill located north of the St. Johns Power Park and East Landfill located on Girvin Road. The City manages the Certificate of Necessity “CON” program for private facilities.
The City operates a Solid Waste Facility, located at 2675 Commonwealth Avenue, for the disposal of household hazardous waste. Household hazardous waste is defined as pesticides, pool chemicals or any other type of chemical or acids; car parts, scrap metal, antifreeze, motor oil or used oil filters; gas, propane, kerosene or diesel fuel/containers; gun powder, ammunition, fire extinguishers, fireworks; drain cleaners, paint, varnish, shellac, thinners; thermostats; batteries from vehicles and rechargeable batteries; fluorescent or compact fluorescent lights/tubes/bulbs. There are remote satellite site collection events numbering 12 where on an annual basis hazardous household wastes can be dropped off. There are 9 locations (Blue Cypress Park, Lonnie Miller Park, Normandy Park, Mandarin Park, Oceanway Park, Ed Austin Park, Jax Beach, Drew Park and Baker Skinner Park).
In the recycling program, the Materials Recovery Facility (“MRF”) is privately owned and managed by Republic Services.
Mr. Pappas explained the City-wide EPA ash remediation project and the City-wide FDEP City contamination remediation projects.
Mr. Pappas explained the solid waste fee definitions. A landfill tipping fee is what the City charges for all waste disposed at Trailridge Landfill. A franchise fee is charged to all solid waste collection haulers in Jacksonville. A City department solid waste disposal fee is charged to City departments and agencies for direct disposal at Trail Ridge Landfill. A solid waste user fee is charged to all residential property owners for the collection and disposal of garbage and yard waste ( levied on a property tax bill as non-ad valorem fee). An internal host fee is charged to all disposals at the Trailridge Landfill. It is included with the landfill tipping fee. Mr. Pappas explained additional fees that include an external host fee, commercial tipping fee, residential tipping fee, hazardous waste fee and a waste tire application fee.
Funding resources for the Solid Waste Division’s programs include: the General Fund, the Contamination Assessment Fund (internal and external host fees), the Landfill Closure Fund, the Solid Waste Facilities Mitigation Fund and the Solid Waste Class III Mitigation Fund.
Mr. Pappas explained the Solid Waste Division’s expenses that include operating expenses, salaries and benefits. Operating expenses (professional & contractual services) for the active and inactive landfills include maintenance efforts and groundwater monitoring.
Mr. Pappas fielded numerous questions on the Solid Waste Division’s work.
In stressing the significance the City’s recycling program, Council Member Greg Anderson observed that the less we put in Trail Ridge, the longer Trail Ridge will last.
There being no further business, the special meeting was adjourned at 3:25 P.M.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
03.09.17
Posted: 4:00 P.M.