HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - LACO LANDFILL ELSMERE (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
BACKGROUND
AGENDA REPORT
Item to be presented by: V
George A. Caravalho
July 8, 1997
STATUS REPORT #12 ON LA COUNTY LANDFILL ISSUES AND THE
PROPOSED ELSMERE CANYON LANDFILL IN THE SCV
City Manager
To keep the City Council and the general public informed on these issues, the City Manager presents
a status report once each month at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. This status report
was continued from the Council meeting of June 10, 1997.
I. COUNTY SITING ELEMENT
On June 24, 1997, the County Board of Supervisors ("BOS") voted 5-0 to remove Towsley
Canyon from the Countywide Siting Element, and directed staff to release the document to the
88 cities. While Elsmere Canyon remains identified within the document, the deletion of
Towsley constitutes a significant policy change for the County. (The unanimous vote itself
is also of significance.) The document will be forwarded to the cities, likely this week, and
it is possible that it will be approved by a majority of the cities representing a majority of the
population in the County. Staff will be contacting each of the cities directly or indirectly with
the UCLA Summit report and video, and will also be working through Paul to provide the
cities with information. If it is approved, the Element will return to the BOS (October) for a
public hearing prior to being submitted to California Integrated Waste Management Board in
Sacramento. Staff believes that additional changes may be possible by working through the
Board staff if issues remain.
H. UCLA SUMMIT AD HOC COMMITTEE
The UCLA Policy Summit Ad Hoc Committee was formed at the end of the Summit to carry
forward the ideas and vision generated by the 60 participants of the Summit in April. The
committee has now met three times (June 9, June 23, and July 2) to review the technical
report, executive summary and video which are the lasting products to come out of the
Summit. Those items, which UCLA is now producing, are expected to be delivered by July
11, 1997. The reports and video will be mailed out to County departments and the 88 cities
to coincide with the release of L.A. County's revised Countywide Siting Element.
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The committee has also taken several tentative actions to formalize itself as a standing, as
opposed to ad hoc, nature. These actions include appointment of a chairperson (UCLA's Dr.
Grigsby), adoption of committee procedures, and a change of name to the UCLA Countywide
Solid Waste Resource Policy Committee. City staff support these actions, as the committee
is a key vehicle for the solid waste management reforms and leadership sought in the region.
I11. SCAG Conference on Solid Waste ("The Next Generation")
On June 13, 1997, approximately 150 persons attended an all -day conference on the future of
solid waste which was hosted by SCAG in the City of Industry. Two City staff attended, as
did Marsha McLean. The conference was standard in its format and presentation of material
in a panel -audience format. The speakers were interesting and informative, but the conference
actually focused substantially on what's happening now, as opposed to the future, as was
billed. (The UCLA Summit was much more future -oriented in this regard.) One item of
significant importance was reported, when Steve Maguin of the County Sanitation Districts
expressed his opinion that the era of L.A. County's independence in solid waste was nearing
the end as he believes no new landfills will be built in the County in the future. While other
County officials have shared this privately, Mr. Maguin's public comments were the first
announce publicly, and may have been designed to send a message to all parties in the solid
waste industry.
IV. Committee Actions
The SCAG Solid Waste Task Force met in June to make minor language adjustments to the
report. The future of this Task Force is unclear at this time as its work assignment, the SCAG
Report, has been completed. SCAG staff has also indicated that continued funding (staff time)
is problematic.
Los Angles County Solid Waste Committee/Task Force: The regularly scheduled Task Force
meeting for June was held on June 19, 1997. The agenda was light, and was primarily
administrative in nature, with no items of significance to the City or to regional solid waste
policy. The next meeting of the Task Force is tentatively scheduled for July 14, 1997.
V. Consultant Progress
Staff met with Paul Brotzman of the consultant team on June 12 to discuss and finalize our
strategy regarding the expected BOS action on the Siting Element on June 24, 1997.
Gil Smith had significant activities to report, primarily his efforts directed towards
communicating the City's position to all five of the County BOS. Gil indicates that County
staff remains comfortable in its decision to identify both Elsmere and Towsley Canyons in the
Siting Element, but that some progress has been made with the various BOS offices and
deputies.
A detailed listing of the consultants' activities will be forwarded to the Council under separate
cover.
VI. Public Participation
The Elsmere Community Leaders meeting was held on June 3, 1997. Staff presented the group
with an update of all City staff and consultant activities. Additionally, staff presented the group
with an overview of the City's "deal points" and strategy for amending the Siting Element.
This information, and feedback from the group, was related to the Council at the June 3
Council study session. The group also requested that the City make available a bus for
residents to attend the June 24 BOS meeting.
VII. Permit/Facilities Monitoring
Elsmere Permit (CUP): No change in status since last report. BFI has not withdrawn the CUP
application to date and has not responded to the County's written request that it do so..
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Receive and discuss update information, provide guidance, and consider any potential new direction
to staff.
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