Agenda - Council - 02/23/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session 4. 11. Meeting Date: 02/23/2016 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title Adopt Resolution # 16-02-037 to Enter into a Residential Recycling Program Agreement with Anoka County to Receive SCORE Funds for 2016 Purpose/Background: Each year, Anoka County receives funding from the State of Minnesota pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 115A.557. The County distributes these funds, known as SCORE funds (Select Committee On Recycling and the Environment) to municipalities within the county. In 2016, the allocation includes a base of $10,000 plus $5.00 per household. Ramsey's base allocation for 2016 is $52,500.00. The funding is intended to help municipalities achieve their recycling goals as established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. Ramsey's 2016 recycling goal, established by Anoka County, is 2,399 tons. The goal is based on 195 pounds per person (single family households, up to four [4] units) and 170 pounds per person for multi -tenant households (five [5] or more units). The City of Ramsey has traditionally used these funds to promote recycling and waste reduction education and awareness, notifying new residents of the recycling program components, to offset costs of the spring and fall recycling day events and other collection events/opportunities, and to fund the recycling coordinator position, which duties are a component of the City Planner position. To receive the SCORE funding, each municipality must enter into an agreement with Anoka County that outlines required components of a municipality's recycling program. These required components include providing households an opportunity to recycle at least four (4) broad types of materials, a public information program, recycling drop-off opportunities, and notifying new residents of the recycling program. Furthermore, municipalities are encouraged, but not required, to look at opportunities to expand its recycling program by offering additional drop-off events, implement and/or enhance recycling at community events, enhance multi -family recycling opportunities, and/or develop opportunities for source separated compostables/organics collection. Observations/Alternatives: This year, there are optional additional funding allocations for targeted programs including monthly or quarterly drop-off events, parks and community events recycling, multi-unit/curbside recycling, general program enhancements, and source -separated compostables/organics. Ramsey is eligible for up to an additional $41,000.00 in targeted program funding ($15,000 for monthly collection events, $3,000 for municipal park/community event recycling, $6,000 for multi-unit/curbside recycling, $8,500 for general program enhancements, and $8,500 for organics). Currently, there are not sufficient staff resources to really delve into researching and developing program enhancements that could benefit from this additional funding. However, the Community Development Intern job description has been modified to specify that part of those duties will include working with the recycling program. Those costs attributed to time spent on recycling activities are eligible, reimbursable SCORE reimbursements. This will greatly help with researching new recycling opportunities for the community that could then potentially be funded in future years through the SCORE program. Based on current program activities, Staff is seeking additional targeted funding for recycling in parks and at community events as well as to offer additional recycling drop-off events for the residents. The City currently has recycling containers throughout its' parks system (as required in §115A.151). The City purchases bags to line these