2015-06-23_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Culver suggested the PWETC, at aminimum, recommend submission of anon - binding Letter of Intent to participate in this RFP process to see what happens since it is intended for public agencies and the collaboration effort should prove beneficial versus the private sector competition in other options. Mr. Culver advised that the City of Roseville's Environmental Specialist Ryan Johnson had met with Mr. Drake and attended an informational meeting at the City of Falcon Heights to discuss this process, and prompting tonight's presentation and update. For the benefit of PWETC members, Mr. Culver clarified that the City would not enter into any binding agreement without knowing the final costs involved, and with the approval of the City Council. By consensus, the PWETC recommended to the City Council entering into a non- binding Letter of Intent to participate in this collaborative RFP process. At the request of Member Seigler, Mr. Drake reviewed the potential timeline for the lottery process for random selection of five tickets per garden, and fifteen days to opt in or not respond; and no commitment until the City signed a subscription agreement and agreed to those particular terms. At the request of Chair Stenlund, Mr. Drake provided a synopsis of how CERT's is funded by the State of Minnesota, Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources, with that funding provided by two foundations: the McKnight and Carolyn Foundations. 6. Update on Resource Recovery Facility (Member Wozniak) Chair Stenlund invited Ramsey County staff person and PWETC member Joe Wozniak to provide an update on Ramsey -Washington County efforts to purchase the Newport Resource Recovery Facility. Mr. Wozniak noted more detailed information was available at: <morevaluelesstrash.com>. The presentation included a history of these collaborative efforts by Washington and Ramsey Counties in response to state goals for recycling and trash management; a review of the many players involved (e.g. cities, haulers, recyclers, and everyone producing waste); current issues with the private facility and intent of a public jurisdictional purchase to reduce expenses in diverting trash from landfills. Mr. Wozniak noted trash is currently trucked to the Newport facility, with a fee per load, and then may be further transported to one of the two burners in Redwing and Mankato, MN. With new technologies available, Mr. Wozniak reviewed those emerging trends, higher recycling goals, expiration at the end of 2015 of the existing agreement between the two counties and the current owner of the Newport facility; and the purchase option allowing improvement to the facility and sorting system to become more economically and environmentally feasible. Mr. Wozniak noted there were policy issues also driving decision -makers, and a critical shift in policy thinking and new technologies for protecting the environment and keeping jobs more local. Page 6 of 16