DATE: March 7, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Waste Management Equipment Purchase
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Department of Public Health, Integrated Waste Management Org 1156 in the amount of $26,213 (4/5 vote).
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Department of Public Health Org 5620 in the amount of $26,213 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department of Public Health to replace a ten-year-old landfill gas extraction monitor required at the County’s active and inactive landfill sites. The County is one of three counties in the State to be in a unique position of having commercial property developed on landfills. The monitor is used to analyze and regulate the flow of dangerous gases at the landfills. The new monitor and training, services and supplies for the Waste Management Program will be paid for with Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) grant funds, with no Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department would be unable to replace the required monitor, hindering the ability to immediately respond to potential hazards in or around developments constructed on or near landfills and added training and supplies would not be provided.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will increase the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues in the amount of $26,213 in the Integrated Waste Management Org 1156 using CalRecycle (California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) 2016-17 LEA grant revenue to fund an Operating Transfer Out to the Department of Public Health Org 5620. Approval of the second recommended action will increase the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Department of Public Health Org 5620 through an Operating Transfer In from the Integrated Waste Management Org 1156, to purchase the following:
• Gas monitor plus taxes, shipping and one-year service agreement $12,000
• Training, Services and Supplies $14,213
DISCUSSION:
The Department’s Waste Management Program is responsible for the inspection and oversight to ensure safe handling and disposal of solid waste throughout the County in compliance with CalRecycle regulations. Staff monitors and inspects 39 active solid waste processing facilities and 44 closed landfill sites. Additionally, the staff oversees and monitors the construction and development on, and adjacent to, former disposal sites. The County has 77 active sites that require monitoring of buildings to ensure landfill gas alarm systems are properly functioning.
The County is one of three counties in the State to be in a unique position of having commercial property developed on top of old landfills. As a result, Environmental Health must monitor and analyze the gases that escape the landfill. This is especially important for developed properties constructed over landfills, because the buildup of gases could cause explosions, amongst other hazards. During the inspections, staff utilizes the monitor to measure for methane, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and reads atmospheric pressure, differential pressure and calculates gas flow while sampling for gas levels. This monitor is required by CalRecycle for the Department to maintain its designation as the LEA and is necessary to effectively fulfill the duties and responsibilities for the regulatory oversight of solid waste facilities.
The existing landfill gas monitor is over ten years old, obsolete, and irreparable and the Department would be unable to monitor for potential buildup of dangerous gases without it. Additionally, the CalRecycle funding will be used to pay for added training, services, and supplies for the Waste Management Program.
With your Board’s approval of the recommended actions, the Department will be able to acquire the monitor and added training to continue to efficiently administer its Waste Management Program in compliance with CalRecycle regulations. The monitor is expected to have a minimum life span of ten years.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk -Resolution (Org 1156)
On file with Clerk -Resolution (Org 5620)
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia De La Rosa