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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-04 - AGENDA REPORTS - LANDFILL SOLID WASTE RPT 8 (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Smyth and Members of the City FROM: George A. Caravalho, City Manager DATE: March 4, 1997 SUBJECT: LANDFILL/SOLID WASTE ISSUES STATUS REPORT #8 To keep the City Council and the general public informed on these issues, the City Manager presents a status report at each City Council meeting. This item was continued by Council action from the regularly scheduled meeting of February 25, 1997. I. UCLA Conference On Friday, February 14, 1997, staff met in Burbank from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the sponsors and co-sponsors of the UCLA Conference on solid waste. The meeting was well - attended, and present were representatives from UCLA, County Public Works, County Sanitation Districts, Los Angeles, Culver City, West Hollywood, Beverly Bills, and USA Waste. Paul Brotzman and Bonnie Spiesberger, the proposed conference facilitator, were also in attendance. After introductions and background, Ms. Spiesberger provided us with an overview of the process envisioned for the conference. She indicated that approximately 60 selected participants, representing the many solid waste stakeholders in Los Angeles County, would be invited. This group will be broken into smaller work groups throughout the two-day conference to generate full participation, and the kind of focused discussion needed to surface issues. The small groups will report back to the full group by conference end, and a report will be prepared. Although there was some initial skepticism from several of the representatives, staff believes that by the end of the meeting there was full agreement that the conference will be worthwhile. One,issue, that of providing access to the public, was raised and resolved; members of the public will be allowed to observe and a public comment period will provided. Other concerns raised were also satisfactorily addressed. The group also spent considerable time preparing a draft list of possible conference invitees, a critically important part of the process, Because the `first -cut' list of names numbered well over 60, Ms. Spiesberger is developing this list further, and will share it with us within a few Agenda A,. e,� RE +� �') Status Report #8, Landfill/Solid Waste Issues March 4, 1997 - Page 2 days. Most importantly, staff believes that the meeting was successful in that "ownership" for the conference was transferred from Santa Clarita to the members of the group. Upon execution of a three -party Letter of Agreement with the City, UCLA and County Public Works, UCLA staff will start preparation for the conference in earnest, and the City's role will diminish accordingly; we will continue, however, to provide guidance and information/support. At this time, we are involved in working out the budget, funding, schedule, and other smaller details. We will keep you informed as this project moves forward. II. Committee Actions SCAG Solid Waste Task Force: This group will meet on February 27, 1997, to continue revisions and possibly finalize the Draft SCAG Solid Waste Task Force Report (2/19). Staff will attend this meeting and report any new.information received. Los Angeles County Solid Waste Task Force: This group met on February 20, 1997, to finalize changes to the County Siting Element. The Task Force discussed each chapter of the Element and approved text changes inserted by County staff. Minimal discussion of the document occurred. Public comments on the draft Siting Element, and the County response to those comments, are to be included in a separate appendix to the document, and were not discussed or made available to the group or the public at this meeting. The final Siting Element is to be prepared and submitted to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) for review in mid-March. Upon direction from the BOS, the document will be printed and sent to the 88 Los Angeles County cities approximately two weeks later. This action will trigger a 90 -day response period during which the cities should take council action in response to the document. By law, non -action by any city will be deemed as approval of the Siting Element. City of Los Angeles Environmental Committee: Consultant Paul Brotzman has prepared and submitted a written response to questions from L.A. Councilmember Braude regarding the City of Santa Clarita's solid waste programs and related efforts. Las Virgenes CEO's Meeting: City staff met with this group on February 19, 1997, and gave a ten minute presentation on the status of the Siting Element document and process. The group is composed of city managers (Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Westlake Village), the Sheriff's Department, two special districts, and Supervisor Yaroslaysky's Field Deputy. The presentation was well-received and the group discussed the issue and asked questions for approximately 30 minutes. League of Cities/Los Angeles Division: We have been informed by League staff that a short presentation and discussion of the County Siting Element has been agendized for the Los Angeles Division's meeting on March 6, 1997. Staff is currently preparing a presentation for that meeting for Councilmember. Boyer and/or Councilmember Heidt, as well as for Councilmember Dennis Washburn of the City of Calabasas. Status Report #8, Landfill/Solid Waste Issues March 4, 1997 - Page 3 III. Consultant Progress Gil Smith continues to meet with various County government officials and staff to receivelprovide information, and most recently attended the County Solid Waste Task Force meeting of February 20, 1997, where he spoke with several committee members and Mike Mohajer of County Public Works. Paul Brotzman's efforts were somewhat curtailed this period due to an unrelated issue (death in the family), but he arranged the Las Virgenes CEO's Group meeting, and worked with League staff to agendize the presentation to them on March 6, 1997. IV. Permit/Facilities Monitoring Elsmere Permit (CUP): BFI has not withdrawn the CUP application to date and has not responded to the County Regional Planning Department's written request that it do so. No change in status since last report. Chiquita Canyon Landfill Expansion (CUP): An agreement between proponents and Val Verde Civic Association and Citizens Against Chiquita (opponents) of the Chiquita Canyon landfill expansion has been reached, and was executed on February 24, 1997. The United Water Conservation District also signed an agreement with Laidlaw, settling the District's concerns, earlier in February. There are still several appellants whose status we are not aware of, including Newhall County Water District and Lucha Ambiental de la Communidad Hispana. V. Public Participation The Elsmere Community Leaders meeting was held on Thursday, February 13, 1997. Approximately 12 members of the public and staff attended, including.Councilmember Klajic. Staff updated the group on the UCLA Conference, progress on the County's Siting Element, activities of SCAG, the L.A. County Solid Waste Task Force, Paul Brotzman's meeting with the City of L.A. Environmental Committee, and other City work efforts. The group reiterated information received from Councilmember Klajic at the Council meeting of February 11, 1997, regarding the "tagging" of oak trees in Whitney Canyon, immediately adjacent to Elsmere Canyon. VI. Other Whitney Canyon Update: At the City Council meeting of February 11, 1997, Councilmember Klajic presented a verbal report that oak trees in Whitney Canyon (north and immediately adjacent to Elsmere Canyon) appear to be newly "tagged", and requested that staff look into the issue. Staff has contacted four parties for information, including representatives for the two property owners (Watt Industries and a family trust); to date, no one is aware of any recent activity in the canyon. We will continue to investigate.