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Memorandum To: SWAG From: Solid Waste and Public Works Staff of Orange County and Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough Subject: Priority Items for Inclusion in Interlocal Agreement Date: September 12, 2014 Introduction The SWAG requested at its August 25, 2014, meeting that staff of Solid Waste and Public Works Departments set some priorities among the various issues previously identified and enumerated in the BOCC work session of May 13, 2014, and from the SWAG meeting on August 25 that could be part of an interlocal agreement (ILA) among the parties. To begin the staff discussions, it was felt, in order to establish a contextual framework, that a general set of values should be considered. The proposed values for the Interlocal Agreement for solid waste and recycling are expressed below: The general objective of the ILA is to develop the organizational framework for the Towns, University and County to work together regarding the provision of solid waste and recycling services and facilities, except for those services or facilities excluded from joint purview. The ILA should also: • Include funding parameters and means for covered services and facilities that are equitable and adequate to meet short and long term funding obligations; • Include an advisory function that incorporates substantive citizen and government participation and involvement to provide advice, monitoring, recommendations, etc. to ILA signatories; • Acknowledge the shared interest of signatories in pursuing environmentally responsible policies, programs and practices whose objectives are minimization of waste to be land disposed and maximizing the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste materials; • Ensure cost‐effective and efficient program and facility operations; • Prioritize environmental education and outreach around solid waste issues to all residents, businesses and institutions within Orange County; and • Promote a high level of customer service through programs, services and facilities. Discussion Based on discussions among the Town and County solid waste and public works staffs, various issues for creating a functional ILA and future solid waste governance activities were divided into the following three broad categories: 1. Immediate Priority: Elements that should be part of ILA and addressed in the near term; 2. Short‐term Priority: Elements of importance that can be part of an ILA but whose details for determining governance are not pressing and can be more specifically defined at a later date; and 3. Long‐term Priority: Items of longer‐term interest that can be taken up either later by SWAG or by a subsequent advisory board and are not critical to implementation of ILA.