Agenda - 02-04-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 1 is being convened tonight with this report in front of them for the first time. He said there is one 2 more meeting between now and the end of the year, and he understands the urgency to 3 provide information by the end of the year. 4 Mayor Chilton said he has not looked at the numbers from other contractors, but he 5 would like to point out that Orange County was the first County to achieve, in a meaningful way, 6 the state's solid waste reduction goals through recycling. He said the County has set and 7 achieved the most aggressive target of any County in North Carolina. 8 He said people visit from all over the world to see the County's solid waste management 9 system. He would hope that the numbers would have to be extremely compelling in order for 10 the Chapel Hill Town Council to walk away from the state's most successful solid waste 11 management system. He realizes it is not impossible to work together even if Chapel Hill has a 12 separate contract for curbside collection; but the program has gotten this far together, and he 13 feels the Towns and County should move forward together to take it to the next level. 14 Mayor Kleinschmidt said he does not want there to be any perception of a lack of 15 appreciation for the success that has been achieved over the last few decades. He said this 16 achievement is understood by every member of the council, and this will inform whatever 17 decision is made. 18 Mayor Kleinschmidt said he does want to note that the solid waste system that exists 19 today is not the same system that existed two years ago. He said there is no longer a landfill in 20 Orange County, and waste is being shipped elsewhere. He said the curbside recycling is 21 contracted by Orange County to operate in the Town limits. He said these are different parts 22 than existed two years again, and he thinks it is not unwise to reflect on how the Town might 23 use these parts to best achieve the goals of the citizens. 24 He said he understands the urgency, and he anticipates a decision very soon; however 25 he is not going to get ahead of his council on what that decision will be. 26 Council Member Ward said he does not understand the urgency yet. He hears the 27 words, but he has also heard that the end of the year timeline is not the only time frame by 28 which this can be done. He would like to understand more about the current timeline, as well 29 as the best alternatives should that deadline not be met. He has heard that this roll cart system 30 could be rolled out just as easily in September of 2014, which would allow 2 more months for a 31 decision. 32 Michael Talbert said this could be done in September. He said there have been some 33 changes, as mentioned by Mayor Kleinschmidt; however, the rural and curbside recycling has 34 continued to operate at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners through the use of 35 reserves in the solid waste fund. He said this has been very seamless for the Towns and the 36 rural areas. He said staff has moved forward with a single stream, and the system continues to 37 use the smaller 18 gallon containers to do this. He said this is not as efficient or as easy as it 38 would be with the larger roll carts. 39 He said this could be delayed; however the consideration is the feasibility of levying the 40 fees as part of the budget for next year. He said this fee would be effective as of July 1. He 41 said the goal is to deliver, as a show of good faith, on July 1, a new and upgraded service to the 42 citizens paying that fee. He said the goal is to improve the system, increase the recycling 43 capacity and achieve the goal of 61 percent. 44 Roger Stancil said the Town has considered the County's interest, and this is why that 45 proposal has been presented to move quickly. He said if you just consider Chapel Hill, there 46 are active bids on the table. He said if the Town were to go its own way, the council would 47 need to act on these bids. He said one of these bids includes waste zero as part of its 48 proposal. He said if these proposals are going to be pursued the Town will need direction, 49 because there is either a tax rate implication or a fee that must be established on the budget 50 amendment. He said the program cannot run without any money.