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HAMILTON COUNTY DATE: March 14, 2002 TIME: 2:00 pm PLACE: Hamilton County
Department of Environmental Services PRESENT:
Policy Committee Members DOES Staff Others In
Attendance ABSENT:
Policy Committee Members DOES Staff I. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Portune called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. Mr. Portune welcomed Dr. Evert and Mr. DiPuccio as the new members of the Policy Committee to the meeting. Dr. Evert stated that he was pleased to be serving on the Committee. Mr. DiPuccio stated he was very pleased to have the opportunity to serve on the Committee and thanked the Policy Committee members for selecting him. II. CLERK'S REPORT A. Approval of Minutes - January 10, 2002 Dr. O'Reilly motioned to approve the January 10, 2002 minutes. Mr. Graham seconded. All were in favor and the minutes were approved by acclamation. B. Additions/Changes to the Agenda Under informational items, add Waterfest, 2002 update.
A. Finance SubCommittee Report - March 14, 2002 Mr. Graham stated that the Finance SubCommittee reviewed one month of revenue thus far and the revenue is above the level it was last January. In addition, the Committee reviewed the expenditures and all was in order.
The Finance SubCommittee reviewed the expenditures and recommended approval of SWR 02/2002 which covers expenditures from January 1 - February 28, 2002. Mr. Graham motioned approval of SWR 02/2002. Dr. O'Reilly seconded and SWR 02/2002 was approved by acclamation. IV. POLICY ITEMS A. EPP Policy and Review Mr. Portune stated that, today, the Policy Committee will have one last discussion and then passage to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners for adoption and implementation. Mr. Portune asked Mr. Aluotto if he wanted to add anything. Mr. Aluotto stated that the Draft EPP Policy, included in the Policy Packet as Attachment B needed to be amended per Wright Gwyn. On page 1, under definitions, specifically under "Recyclable", the definition currently reads "refers to a material or product that can be reprocessed, re-manufactured, or reused". Mr. Gwyn reminded Mr. Aluotto that the word "reuse" was going to have its own definition in the EPP Policy and with this minor amendment, the Draft EPP Policy is ready for the Board's approval. Mr. Portune expressed his happiness in the movement in the EPP Policy understanding that it is a voluntary program in terms of participation. There are two issues to be voted on: 1)Whether the Policy Committee will accept and embrace this Policy outline for a purchasing program and want to recommend that to the Board of Commissioners for implementation and 2) the best way to accomplish it. Mr. Portune motioned to embrace and support the policy framework in the Draft EPP Policy to be recommended to the Board of County Commissioners. Dr. O'Reilly seconded. Dr. O'Reilly briefly commented on job responsibilities of the Environmental Purchasing Coordinator. All were in favor and the motioned carried. Mr. Portune stated that the implementation phase is a bit more delicate. The Policy Committee's intent is for this to carry as much weight and become as much a part of the way of life purchasing county-wide as possible. The Policy Committee discussed how this could be accomplished. Dr. O'Reilly moved that the Policy Committee of the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District recommend the staff of the county departments consider the adoption of the implementation of an environmentally preferable purchasing program at the staff and operating levels. In September, the Policy Committee could consider requesting the Board of County Commissioners to adopt a more formal version if necessary. Mr. Ingram seconded. Mr. Portune amended the motion to include "as embodied in Attachment B of the Policy Packet". Dr. O'Reilly accepted Mr. Portune's amendment. All were in favor of the amended motion and the motion was approved.
Mr. Aluotto stated that a Prosecutor's Opinion was requested, obtained and submitted to the Policy Committee as well as the opinion of the Planning Office of OEPA. Both of those opinions were at odds so at the direction of the Policy Committee, both opinions were sent back to the Prosecutor's Office for further review. To date, the District has not received a second opinion. This item was tabled until a Prosecutor's Opinion was received.
Mr. Aluotto stated that included as Attachment C of the Policy Packet was information regarding an outreach pilot grant opportunity from ODNR for basic promotion and outreach for recycling. ODNR would like to explore and test the effectiveness of promoting recycling through professional sports radio broadcast outlets. Through ODNR's grant program, an advertising package was set up with the Red's On Radio network. If this proves successful, the program will be expanded to other cities and other professional sports radio broadcasts. Mr. Aluotto discussed that the bottom line issue behind this grant is the fact that nationwide, recycling rates have been plateauing; Agencies both state and nationally are searching for innovative ways to increase recycling rates. Mr. Aluotto gave examples regarding Hamilton County's residential recycling rates and discussed the results of the University of Cincinnati survey that was conducted. Mr. Aluotto stated that this grant package would give the District $75,000 with a required a match fund of $54,525. The Plan requires the District to spend up to $65,000 per year for general public awareness and outreach. Due to free advertisement such as television, the Cincinnati Enquirer, community newsletters, etc. over the past few years, the District has not needed to spend much of the allocated $65,000 per year. The free advertisement that was once available to the District doesn't happen as frequently as in previous years. Mr. Portune stated that Attachment C stated that the exposure that would be generated through this grant is roughly equivalent to over $220,000 in advertising costs and asked for clarification. Mr. Aluotto stated that Red's on Radio network typically charges this amount for an advertising packages of this magnitude. The State was able to broker a good deal with the Red's on Radio network. Dr. O'Reilly motioned to adopt the proposal as shown as Attachment C of the Policy Packet for the matching funds needed for the ODNR grant package. Mr. Graham seconded. Mr. Portune asked if the grant package had gone through the Prosecutor's office. Mr. Aluotto stated that it had. After discussion, all were in favor and the motion was approved.
Mr. Aluotto passed out the amended resolution from the January 10, 2002 Policy Committee meeting that was agreed to and amended. Dr. O'Reilly stated that on March 6, 2002 he attended a meeting with Commissioner Portune, Mr. Aluotto, and Municipal Court Administrator Tony Upton and was delighted to find out that an environmental court could be done without adopting legislation. Approximately $160,000 would be needed for the magistrates and support staff to manage the program. Also, it would be a "session" versus a "division". Dr. O'Reilly motioned to amend resolution 03-2002 to read the following starting after Therefore be it resolved: That the Policy Committee requests that the Hamilton County Commissioners, in consultation with the Presiding Judge of Municipal Court and the Prosecutor, take the steps necessary propose to the General Assembly the appropriate legislation for the creation of an Community Offenses Court Session Division within of Hamilton County Municipal Court. Also, the last paragraph, before Therefore be it resolved was stricken due to not needing any legislative action. Mr. DiPuccio seconded. A discussion ensued regarding the specifics of conducting an environmental court and Mr. Portune stated that a formal request needs to be initiated to Prosecutor Mike Allen from the District. Mr. DiPuccio asked if there was any disadvantage to not still pursuing a legislative change. Dr. O'Reilly stated that since the judges are cooperating, there is no need to pursue any legislative changes. After further discussion regarding the specifics, Dr. O'Reilly suggested that further research be done on the cost and the value of this program. When the research is done, the administrative council of the Hamilton County Municipal Court Judges will decide whether or not they proceed with the creation of such a session. Mr. Portune suggested that the amended motion be tabled until the May 9, 2002 Policy Committee meeting so Prosecutor input and support could be obtained. Dr. O'Reilly stated that the purpose of passing the amended resolution is so that the legislative language is removed. Mr. Aluotto stated that as instructed at the previous Policy Committee meeting, Staff will hold off on forwarding it to the Board of County Commissioners. Dr. O'Reilly restated the amended motion and now it currently reads as follows: Therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Policy Committee requests that the Hamilton County Commissioners, in consultation with the Presiding Judge of Municipal Court and the Prosecutor, take the steps necessary for the creation of a Community Offenses Court Session within Hamilton County Municipal Court. As stated earlier, Mr. DiPuccio seconded the amended motion; all were in favor and the new wording for the amended motion was approved. Mr. Portune asked Mr. Aluotto to issue a formal follow-up letter to the Prosecutor's Office regarding this issue. This issue will be placed on the agenda for the May 9, 2002 Policy Committee meeting.
A. Facility Updates Mr. Aluotto stated that on February 26, 2002, the Cincinnati Board of Health denied Waste Management's license to operate a Transfer Station at the ELDA site. Waste Management would like to inform the Policy Committee that they will be appealing the ruling. B. Scrap Tire Grant and Market Development Grant Update Mr. Aluotto stated that ODNR has informed the District that Cinergy has been awarded $35,000 to perform a test burn with TDF material. Cinergy had originally requested $75,000 but ODNR received additional projects therefore, cuts needed to be made. The reason Cinergy was cut was that they were planning on providing $40,000 of the grant funding to the University of Cincinnati to do a more academic type of study on the research they were going to do. Mr. Aluotto stated that this grant will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for approval due to a supplemental appropriation being needed for Cinergy which the District will be fully reimbursed. A brief discussion occurred regarding the Cinergy grant. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District submitted a Market Development Grant Application on behalf on Omaha Paper Stock Company for the addition of processing capacity at their plant. The results should be made available in April and the Policy Committee will be informed. C. Yardwaste Site Update Mr. Aluotto stated that the District's three yardwaste sites will open on March 23, 2002. The three sites are Rumpke Landfill in Colerain Township, Kuliga Park in Green Township, and Evans Landscaping in Newtown. For 2002, Rumpke will be operating the Kuliga Park site compared to Evans Landscaping operating it in 2000 and 2001 as well as their landfill site. Evans Landscaping will maintain their site. The sites will be open weekends 11:30 am - 5:00 pm through November 17, 2002. The sites will re-open for a week in early January 2003 to recycle Christmas trees. Last year, these sites serviced over 35,000 households from Hamilton County. The Policy Committee briefly discussed different yardwaste issues and programs. D. Mercury Collection Program Ms. Christmann stated that as written in the Manager's Memo, the District, along with several other agencies, is conducting a mercury thermometer exchange program. This program will allow residents to bring in their old mercury thermometers and, in return, will receive a new digital thermometer. There will be 13 drop-off locations throughout Hamilton County which are mainly health departments. This program will run throughout the month of May. Mr. Aluotto stated the main purpose behind this program is to start and target some of the worst materials that are in the waste stream.
Mr. Aluotto stated that the District in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Management, and the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition will sponsor an environmental green purchasing vendor fair which will be held in Blue Ash on May 16, 2002. The purpose of the fair is to bring together local government purchasers with vendors of environmentally preferable products as well as offering training sessions. Mr. Portune will be the keynote speaker at the fair.
Mr. Aluotto stated that Waterfest, 2002 will be held on March 26, 2002 at the Cincinnati Convention Center. Mr. Aluotto elaborated on the specifics of Waterfest.
VII. POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS' COMMENTS The Policy Committee had no further comments. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS Ms. Brugger stated that she would like to recognize that Mr. Aluotto has been nominated and is a finalist for the 2002 Public Administrator of the Year Award in the Early Careerist category. This award is sponsored by the American Society of Public Administrators. Ms. Brugger stated that, on behalf of the District, wished Mr. Aluotto luck and stated that everyone was very proud of him. The Policy Committee congratulated Mr. Aluotto. IX. UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETINGS The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2002 at Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services located at 250 William Howard Taft Road. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 3:36 pm. |
