DATE: March 6, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Relocation of Household Hazardous Waste Facility
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
Approve the potential use of an 11.25-acre parcel adjacent and to the west of the American Avenue Disposal Site and a site adjacent to Kearney Park as the new location of the Household Hazardous Waste Facility currently sited at the American Avenue Disposal Site.
REPORT
The County’s Regional Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW Facility) is currently located within the footprint of the American Avenue Disposal Site (AADS). As planned, AADS will need the use of this land for future landfill capacity in approximately three to four years. Because there is no additional land available within AADS, the HHW Facility will therefore require relocation outside the boundaries of AADS. Staff has identified two potential locations to relocate the HHW Facility. The first location is on a County owned 11.25-acre parcel (APN 20-210-16) adjacent and to the west of AADS as shown on the Attachment 1. The second location is within a County owned property adjacent to Kearney Park as shown on Attachment 2. If the Board agrees with these two potential locations, staff will start working on the siting and permit process to determine the viability of these locations in addition to other locations as determined by the AB939 MOU Committee. This item pertains to District 1.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The Board may deny the recommended action and direct staff to focus on other sites.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no Net County Costs associated with the recommended actions. The siting and permit process for relocation of the HHW Facility is anticipated to be fully funded by accumulated and current surcharge revenues on each ton of landfilled solid waste generated in Fresno County. The work associated with this agenda item is budgeted in the Public Works and Planning - Resources, Org 9015, FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget and funded by the County’s Solid Waste Management Program surcharge fees. Sufficient appropriations will be requested in subsequent budgets.
DISCUSSION:
The County HHW Program serves the 15 jurisdictions and unincorporated County area residents and businesses located within the County Boundaries through use of the HHW Network Sites and the HHW Facility. The HHW Facility is the central essential feature of the program responsible for collecting most of the HHW generated within the County for safe and proper handling and disposal. The HHW Facility is currently located within the footprint of the AADS. The HHW Facility was originally proposed for development at many sites throughout the County over a number of years, however because of various reasons including sensitive receptors, zoning codes, surrounding existing land uses and environmental justice concerns, siting was difficult and all proposed sites were denied. Because of the siting difficulties, the AADS offered the use of a portion of their landfill site to the County for locating the HHW Facility in 2011. From 2011 through 2014, the County developed, permitted and constructed the current HHW Facility at its current location at the AADS. The Facility began operations in August 2014, and its use has increased significantly in over three years of current operations. The AADS will need the use of this land for future landfill capacity in approximately three to four years. Because there is no additional land available within the AADS, the HHW Facility will therefore require relocation outside the boundaries of the AADS.
The County owns a vacant 11.25-acre parcel (APN 20-210-16) adjacent and to the west of the AADS and a County owned site adjacent to Kearney Park. Staff is requesting the Board to agree to potentially site the HHW Facility on either of these locations if it is determined that either site is ultimately the best location, as determined by the AB939 MOU Committee (MOU Committee).
Staff estimates that it will take up to two years to research and assess a number of potential locations. The assessment will include research on zoning codes, fire and building codes, surrounding existing land uses, sensitive resources and receptors, ingress and egress to major roads and highways, access to utilities and appropriate space for safe operations and security.
The County is the lead agency and manages the HHW Facility regionally for the MOU Committee. The MOU Committee consisting of the County and the 15 cities within the County, was formed through execution of an MOU to address and implement the Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 on a regional basis. This includes the responsibility to manage, operate and fund the HHW Facility. The HHW Facility is funded through a fee paid by MOU Committee members on each ton of landfilled solid waste generated in Fresno County. A portion of these monies will be used to permit, develop and construct the relocated HHW Facility. At the December 13, 2017, meeting of the MOU Committee, the Committee approved initiating the siting and permit process to determine the viability of relocating the HHW Facility to include the 11.25-acre site and other potential sites such as County-owned property adjacent to Kearney Park.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #43, June 19, 2012
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment 1
Attachment 2
CAO ANALYST:
John Hays