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THE TIME IS 2:22 PM ON THE SECOND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2022.
UM, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION.
UH, WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
WE'LL START WITH A, UH, ROLL CALL.
MADAM CLERK COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELA COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
[ ITEMS ]
EVERYONE.UH, WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
SO LET ME START IT, UH, BY TURNING IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER ERIC WALSH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, WE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL, UM, A PRES SOLICITATION BRIEFING FOR THE RECYCLING PROCESSING CONTRACT.
UM, AFTER THAT, UH, PRES SOLICITATION PRESENTATION, THE R F P WAS OPENED, UH, THIS SUMMER AND CLOSED IN SEPTEMBER, END OF SEPTEMBER.
UH, THE EVALUATION PANEL HAS COMPLETED THEIR REVIEW AND IS PREPARED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A CONTRACTOR.
SO THIS IS THE POSTS SOLICITATION PRESENTATION TO THE CON, TO THE, UH, TO THE COUNCIL.
THE, UH, NEW CONTRACT IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON JULY, 2024.
UM, AND, UM, THE LONG LEAD TIME ON THIS PROCESS, UM, IS BECAUSE THE SELECTED CONTRACTOR WILL NEED TO CONSTRUCT A PROCESSING FACILITY.
SO I'M GONNA TURN OVER DAVID NEWMAN.
TROY ELLIOTT IS ALSO HERE, UM, TO WALK THROUGH AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT RECYCLING.
WE HAD A FANTASTIC RESPONSE THAT I WILL SHARE WITH YOU AS WELL AS OUR RECOMMENDATION.
THIS IS THE POST ELICITATION BRIEFING.
IT'S A HIGH PROFILE CONTRACT FOR RECYCLING PROCESSING IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
OUR CUSTOMERS PUT RECYCLABLES INTO THE BLUE CART, UH, INCLUDING CARDBOARD, PAPER, ALUMINUM CANS, GLASS BOTTLES, ET CETERA.
UH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COLLECTS THE BLUE CART MATERIALS AND TAKES THEM TO A CONTRACTOR.
THAT'S WHERE THIS CONTRACT BEGINS.
THE CONTRACTOR WILL SORT THE MATERIAL, THEY'LL BUNDLE IT UP, AND THEN THEY WILL SELL IT FOR FEEDSTOCK FOR NEW PRODUCTS.
OUR CURRENT VENDOR, OUR CURRENT RECYCLER, IS REPUBLIC SERVICES.
THIS WAS A 10 YEAR CONTRACT THAT AS, UH, THE CITY MANAGER SAID EXPIRES IN A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, SO WE ISSUED OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WITH TWO OPTIONS.
UH, ONE OPTION WAS THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF DELIVERY WHERE THE RECYCLER WOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE ON THEIR PROPERTY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THE SECOND OPTION WAS THAT, UH, THE, THE RECYCLER WOULD CONSTRUCT THE FACILITY ON CITY PROPERTY.
AND WE OFFERED UP, UH, THE SOLID WASTE PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED ON CULEBRA ROAD, UH, NEAR LOOP FOUR 10.
IT'S A, A WAREHOUSE FACILITY FOR THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
THE PROPOSED TERM IS 15 YEARS WITH ONE FIVE YEAR OPTION TERM.
THE EVALUATION CRITERIA INVOLVED EXPERIENCE 30 POINTS, PROJECT PLAN 35, PRICING AT 20, LOCAL PREFERENCE AND VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS AT 10 AND FIVE POINTS RESPECTIVELY.
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WE DID REQUIRE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND DUE TO THE LACK OF SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES, SUB BETA REQUIREMENTS WERE WAIVED.WE RELEASED THE R F P BACK IN JULY.
THERE WAS A PRES SOLICITATION BRIEFING BACK IN APRIL.
ONE FIRM SUBMITTED TWO RESPONSES.
UH, ESSENTIALLY THE DIFFERENCE WAS IN THEIR PRICING STRUCTURE, AND I'LL SPEAK TO THAT.
ALL OF THE PROPOSALS WERE DEEMED RESPONSIVE AND THEREFORE EVALUATED AFTER THE EVALUATION BY THE TECHNICAL GROUP.
UH, WE BROUGHT IN AND INTERVIEWED THE FOUR TOP RESPONDENTS.
AFTER THOSE INTERVIEWS, WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TODAY.
THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE CONSISTED OF MR. MCCARRY, MYSELF, A COUPLE OF MEMBERS FROM MY STAFF, AS WELL AS KAITLYN SCHULSKY.
AND AS OF, UH, VERY RECENTLY, SHE WAS A CITY EMPLOYEE WITH THE CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS, THE RECYCLING COORDINATOR, AND NATALIE SMITH, THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER AT THE PEARL.
WE ALSO ENGAGED S C S CONSULTANTS TO HELP US WITH THE PRICING, SPECIFICALLY TO EVALUATE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
THE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT IF A VENDOR CONSTRUCTED THE FACILITY ON CITY PROPERTY, THAT THE SHORT TERM COSTS MIGHT BE MORE, BUT THE LONG-TERM COSTS MIGHT BE LESS DUE TO THE BUILDING BEING PAID FOR, AS WELL AS ASSUMED LOWER OPERATING COSTS.
HOWEVER, UH, AFTER EVALUATING ALL OF THE EIGHT PROPOSALS, UH, THAT DIDN'T HOLD TRUE.
UH, WE EVALUATED IT WELL PAST 30 YEARS, AND THE RETURN DOES NOT OCCUR BEFORE 30 YEARS.
UH, SO THIS, THIS, WHILE THIS R O I WAS BENEFICIAL, UM, THERE WAS NOT A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE PROPOSALS BUILT ON CITY PROPERTY.
AND I'LL ALSO ADD THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS NOT A PROPERTY ON THE CITY PROPERTY.
SO HERE'S THE SCORING MATRIX, AND THIS IS THE INITIAL SCORING MATRIX.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT SEVERAL THINGS ON THIS SLIDE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR IT BEING BUSY.
THE TECHNICAL PANEL THAT I JUST MENTIONED EVALUATED ONLY THE EXPERIENCE, THE BACKGROUND, THE QUALIFICATIONS, THE PROPOSED PLAN, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT EVALUATED THE PRICING AND THE LOCAL PREFERENCE, AS WELL AS THE VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS.
AND THE SCORES FOR THE PRICING, ET CETERA, WERE NOT PLUGGED IN UNTIL THE TECHNICAL TEAM COMPLETED THE INTERVIEWS AND COMPLETED THEIR FINAL, UH, SCORING.
SO IT WAS REALLY DONE IN A BLIND FORMAT.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS, OPTION ONE BEING PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND WE HAD, UH, UH, FOUR RESPONSES THERE.
OPTION TWO, CITY PROPERTY, YOU CAN SEE THAT F C C SUBMITTED TWICE, AND THEN THERE WERE TWO OTHER COMPANIES THERE.
NOW, THE TECHNICAL TEAM, AGAIN, DID NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF KNOWING THE PRICING OR ANYTHING ELSE.
SO BASED ON THE TECHNICAL SCORES ALONE, THAT'S WHERE WE BROUGHT THEM IN FOR AN INTERVIEW, WHICH BY THE WAY, WAS DONE, UH, BY ZOOM DUE TO COVID.
UH, BUT, UH, HERE IS THAT FINAL SCORING THAT'S BASED ON THE, THE INTERVIEW, UH, AS WELL AS THE FINAL, THE, UH, THE PRICING, ET CETERA.
UM, ALCON'S RESOURCES, AND I WILL TALK QUITE A BIT ABOUT THEM.
UH, THEY HAD THE HIGHEST SCORE AND THEREFORE IS OUR RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.
UH, F C C, UH, CAME IN SECOND.
UH, AND IF YOU, IF YOU TAKE THEIR, UH, UH, STANDARD PRICING SCHEDULE, IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO REPUBLIC SERVICES, WHO IS OUR CURRENT VENDOR.
THEY ARE A RECYCLER AND ONLY A RECYCLER.
UH, MANY OF THE FIRMS THAT SUBMITTED ARE WASTE HAULERS.
THEY OWN LANDFILL CYCLING ON THE SIDE.
UH, BUT BALCONES ONLY DOES RECYCLING.
THEY'RE A, A, A PRETTY GOOD SIZE COMPANY, BUT THEY'RE NOT A GIGANTIC COMPANY AND NOT MULTI GLOBAL, ET CETERA.
THEY HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE AND HA AND OPERATE SEVERAL FACILITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING AUSTIN, ARKANSAS, SARASOTA, FLORIDA.
THEY'RE HEADQUARTERED IN AUSTIN, WHICH IS GOOD.
UH, GIVES US ACCESSIBILITY TO THEIR LEADERSHIP.
I ALREADY HAVE THEIR C E O AND PRESIDENT'S, UH, CELL PHONE NUMBERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT GIVES US A BACKUP IN CASE THERE WERE EVER AN ISSUE WITH THE PLANT IN SAN ANTONIO.
AUSTIN IS VERY CLOSE, UH, AND THAT GIVES US A, A BIT OF SECURITY THERE.
THEIR PERFORMANCE RECORD IS VERY GOOD, AND IN TALKING TO THEIR REFERENCES, UH, THEY HAVE FANTASTIC REFERENCES THAT DESCRIBE THEM AS BEING A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH.
THEY HAVE THE BEST OVERALL PRICING STRUCTURE.
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THE PRESENTATION I'LL SHOW YOU THAT.UH, AND THEIR PROPOSAL INCLUDES THE BEST EDUCATION CENTER AND VIEWING GALLERY THAT WE EVALUATED.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SHALLOW PROMISE EITHER, BECAUSE THEY HAVE VERY GOOD EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IN THEIR OTHER RECYCLE PLANTS.
IN OUR, DURING OUR PRES SOLICITATION BRIEFING BACK IN THE SPRING, THERE WERE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS REGARDING PAY AND COMPENSATION, AND, AND WE TOOK THAT TO HEART.
UH, BALCONES HAS PROBABLY THE BEST COMPENSATION, UH, COMPARED TO THE OTHERS.
UH, THEY ARE PROPOSING 46 NEW JOBS.
ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE FULL-TIME WITH BENEFITS.
THEY ARE QUITE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THEY PROMOTE FROM WITHIN AND INTRODUCED US TO SEVERAL SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS THAT STARTED OFF AS FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
AND ANOTHER VERY NEAT THING THAT ONLY BALCONES AS I, AS FAR AS I SAW WAS, WAS DOING, IS THAT ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THEIR BONUS PROGRAM.
ANOTHER POINT THAT I BELIEVE IS, UH, A BENEFIT NOT ONLY TO THE EMPLOYEE, BUT ALSO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IS THE DESIGN OF THEIR FACILITY.
UH, LEMME START BY SAYING THAT THEIR FACILITY, THEY HAVE ONE SITE THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT, AND THEY ARE, ARE EVALUATING THAT THEY'RE DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, AND THEY ARE, UH, LOOKING AT ABOUT THREE OR FOUR OTHER LOCATIONS.
THEY HAVE SHARED THOSE LOCATIONS WITH OUR DEPARTMENT.
UH, THEY ARE GOOD LOCATIONS AS FAR AS LOGISTICS GO, UH, INDUSTRIAL ZONED AND, AND WILL WORK FOR THEM.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC DUE TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THE THE RED HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET.
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO SECURE THAT.
BUT BACK TO THIS FACILITY, IT'S A, A CAMPUS, AND IT'S A RATHER LARGE CAMPUS AT 20 ACRES.
UH, IT'S TWICE THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY, UH, OF THE, THE SITE AT COLLIBRA AND HAS MANY DESIGN FEATURES THAT I THINK WILL, WILL BE, UM, AN ASSET INCLUDING FOR US FIVE BAYS TO, TO DUMP THE RECYCLABLES IN A DEDICATED ENTRANCE, A DEDICATED SCALE.
THEY ALSO HAVE SOME SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENTS SUCH AS SOLAR PANELS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, WALKING TRAILS AND AN EMPLOYEE RECREATION AREA.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, THAT THE AESTHETICS OF THIS, AS THEY'VE SHOWN US IN THE PROPOSAL, LOOK REALLY NICE.
IT'S NOT JUST A FUNCTIONAL WAREHOUSE BUILDING, BUT SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE, UH, THEY, AND WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
AT THE PRES SOLICITATION BRIEFING, UH, THE, THE MAYOR MADE A COMMENT ABOUT INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, AND I, I BELIEVE THE CONCERN MIGHT HAVE BEEN THAT WITH A LONG-TERM CONTRACT, WOULD THAT HINDER TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS? AND WE TALKED ABOUT KONAS ABOUT THAT, AND THEY SAID, NUMBER ONE, THAT THE, THE LONG-TERM NATURE OF THE CONTRACT ACTUALLY GIVES THEM SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND SOME SECURITY SO THAT THEY CAN INNOVATE.
BUT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE THEY'RE A RECYCLER ONLY, IT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO INNOVATE, UH, TO, TO STAY COMPETITIVE.
AND, AND LASTLY, THERE IS A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO THEM AS WELL AS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THEM TO CAPTURE AND THEN SELL AS MUCH RECYCLABLES AS THEY CAN.
I'D LIKE TO ADD TOO, THAT THE GOLD STAR GLASS RECOVERY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID IN THE CITY OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA AND IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IS THAT THEY, WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING, PROMPTING BY THE CITY, THEY, THEY, UH, RETROFITTED THEIR GLASS COLLECTION SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE MATERIAL SO THAT THEY COULD SELL THE GLASS AT A HIGHER VALUE.
SO I THINK THAT THAT REPRESENTS THEIR COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION.
I MENTIONED PRICING EARLIER, AND THIS SLIDE, I BELIEVE TELLS THE STORY THE BEST.
IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN THE SPRING, I PREDICTED PERHAPS NOT VERY WELL, BUT I PREDICTED THAT THE PRICING WOULD BE AT ABOUT OUR LANDFILL RATE.
AND OUR LANDFILL RATE IS PROJECTED TO BE IN 2024 AT ABOUT $28 PER TON.
THE PRICING THAT WE GOT, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY WE'RE NOT AT THE LANDFILL RATE CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THAT.
BALCONES ON THE LEFT IS AT $2 AND 96 CENTS, SO UNDER $3 PER TON COMPARED TO THE LANDFILL RATE, WHICH ON THIS GRAPH IS REPRESENTED BY THAT GREEN LINE OF $28.
SO THAT IS, IS WONDERFUL NEWS.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER VENDORS PRICING,
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AND LET ME DESCRIBE THE PRICING IN GENERAL.IT IS A, IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TIP FEE, AND WE CALL IT TIP FEE BECAUSE WE DUMP THE TRUCK AND TIP OUT THE MATERIAL OF $92.
AND YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM THAT BALCONES HAS THE BEST PRICE AND THE REVENUE SHARE OF 75%.
SO FOR EVERY TON THAT COMES IN, WE WOULD PAY, OR EVERY TON THAT WE DELIVER TO THEM, WE WOULD PAY THEM $92.
IF THEY SELL THE MATERIAL AT SAY, $93, THEN THEY KEEP 25% OF THAT DOLLAR, AND WE KEEP 75 CENTS OF THAT DOLLAR.
THAT'S HOW THE REVENUE SHARE WORKS.
YOU, YOU SUBTRACT IT FROM THE TIP FEE EXCUSE, UH, FIRST, AND THEN YOU SHARE IN WHATEVER IS OVER.
I HOPE I DIDN'T OVERLY COMPLICATE THAT.
IF IT PLEASES THE COUNCIL, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS COUNCIL FORWARD FOR, UH, AWARD, UH, VERY QUICKLY, UH, HOPEFULLY WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO BECAUSE THE VENDOR DOES NEED TO CONSTRUCT THE FACILITY AND THEN BEGIN OPERATIONS BY AUGUST OF 2024.
AND THAT COMPLETES MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION, DAVID, AND THANK YOU FOR ALSO ADDRESSING THE ISSUES RELATED TO INNOVATION THAT WE BROUGHT UP AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
UH, LET'S GET RIGHT INTO COUNCIL CONVERSATION NOW.
UH, AND LET ME START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KEO BERDA.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I, A JUST A QUICK, I'M NOT SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY ON S BETA, UM, ON THE WAIVER.
TELL ME AGAIN WHAT, WHY WE HAD TO, UM, I, I MIGHT DEFER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY SUBCONTRACTING ON THIS CONTRACT.
COUNCILWOMAN MICHELSON, AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO FOR EACH PROJECT, THE FIRST THING WE LOOK AT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF SMALL MINORITY WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN RELATION TO THE SCOPE OF WORK NEEDED FOR THE SERVICES.
IN THIS CASE, WE DID NOT SEE ANY FIRMS IN OUR CENTRAL VENDOR REGISTRY WHO COULD PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
SO AS A RESULT, WE ESSENTIALLY WAIVE THE PROGRAM FROM THE APPLICATION TO THE SOLICITATION.
SO, NOT TO GET TOO OFF TOPIC, BUT HOW, UM, DO WE SOLICIT BUSINESSES TO BE, TO GET ON THE REGISTRY? ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF MARKETING EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE FIRMS TO GET CERTIFIED AND ALSO, UH, REGISTER WITH US FOR THESE SOLICITATION OPPORTUNITIES.
WE TRY TO PROMOTE A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO FOLKS CAN GET AN ADVANCE NOTICE AND PREPARE TO RESPOND IF THEY'RE TRULY OUT THERE.
I MEAN, I, I, I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I, I, IT, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S PROBABLY SOME WOMEN MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES THAT COULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS CONTRACT.
UM, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND THEM, RIGHT.
SO, UM, ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP FURTHER THAT, UM, PROMOTE THAT AVAILABILITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, I'D LIKE TO HELP.
UM, SO I ACTUALLY, A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT, UH, SUBCONTRACTING, WHICH IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WE'LL BE ABLE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE THING.
AT THE PRES SOLICITATION BRIEFING, I BELIEVE I SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE THAT THERE WAS TRUCKING AVAILABLE, AND I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE RESEARCHED THAT OUR DEPARTMENT DID, AND FOUND THAT NOT ONLY DOES BALCONES DO THIS, BUT MOST OF THE RECYCLERS, THE WHO THEY SELL IT TO ACTUALLY COMES TO PICK UP THE MATERIAL FROM THEM.
SO THAT, THAT WIPED OUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE THERE.
UM, SO MY OTHER FOCUS, OF COURSE, IS, UH, HELPING, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES.
SO OF THOSE SEVEN, HOW MANY WERE, UH, HEADQUARTERED OR HAD A STRONG PRESENCE IN SAN ANTONIO? UH, AFTERNOON.
THERE WAS OUT OF THE, UM, RESPONDENTS, THERE WAS ONLY ONE, AND THAT WAS THE CURRENT INCUMBENT.
AND, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCORING, THEY RECEIVED FIVE POINTS.
THEY'RE NOT HEADQUARTERED HERE, BUT THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS PRESENCE LOCATED IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, CAN YOU PULL UP THAT SLIDE WITH THE SEVEN? UM, SLIDE SEVEN.
AND WHICH ONE DID YOU SAY IT WAS? THAT WAS LOCAL? IF YOU LOOK UNDER OPTION ONE TO THE FAR LEFT, UM, YOU SEE RIVER RECYCLING.
YOU SEE L P P RECEIVE FIVE POINTS.
AND THEY WERE SECOND TO, AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THEY'RE BASICALLY HEADQUARTERED OUT OF, UM, I THINK PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
BUT THEY HAVE A OFFICE WITH A SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS PRESENCE HERE, AND THAT'S
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WHY THEY RECEIVE HALF OF THE POINTS.I, I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW YOUR BUSINESS.
I, I, I, AND I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT MORE QUESTIONS I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SAN ANTONIO, UM, HEADQUARTERED BUSINESS, OR ONE THAT HAS A STRONGER PRESENCE HERE, AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE FOR INCLUDING SOME SAB BETA BUSINESSES.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
UM, UH, AND THANKS FOR TAKING OUR FEEDBACK FROM, FROM LAST TIME.
UH, SO WE WERE LOOKING AT, I WAS LOOKING AT THE R F P REQUIREMENTS FOR WHAT MATERIALS SHOULD BE, ARE REQUIRED FOR RECYCLING, AND THEN THE ONES THAT ARE PREFERABLE, UH, AS WELL.
UM, CAN YOU, I GUESS I DON'T SEE PLASTIC SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS ON THE REQUIRED LIST, IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND WILL THIS BIDDER BE ABLE TO RECYCLE SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS? THIS, THE, THE WHAT, WHO WE ARE RECOMMENDING AS WELL AS THE OTHER, UH, RESPONDENTS? UM, THE, THE ANSWER IS NO, NOT THROUGH THE BLUE CART.
UH, WHAT WHAT BALCONES HAS OFFERED IS TO DO THROUGH A DROP OFF PROGRAM, AND THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH OUR AREA RETAILERS TO ENHANCE THE DROP OFFS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
YOU LOOK AS DISAPPOINTED AS I FEEL
I, I DID, I DID THINK THAT YOU WOULD ASK THAT QUESTION.
AND, UH, PLASTIC BAGS ARE A VERY BIG CHALLENGE FOR THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY.
SO HOW FAR DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THAT, UM, ARRANGEMENT WITH OUR RETAILERS, UM, BEFORE WE GO TO CONTRACT? I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN OBLIGATE THEM TO DO THAT BEFOREHAND, AND WE CAN ASK THEM, BUT THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN OBLIGATE THE RETAILERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT EITHER.
NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE, I BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD BE, UH, VOLUNTARY.
UH, TELL ME ABOUT THE OTHER BIDDERS AND, UH, WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO OFFER ALONG THE, ALONG THE LINES OF PLASTIC BAGS.
THE ONLY ONE THAT SAID THAT THEY WOULD ACCEPT PLASTIC BAGS IN THE CART IS A COMPANY CALLED G F L.
UH, THEY'RE HEADQUARTERED, I BELIEVE, IN CANADA AND HAVE A VERY STRONG PRESENCE THERE.
UM, AND I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY COME THROUGH WITH BEING ABLE TO, TO DO THIS.
COUNCILWOMAN NUMBER ONE, WHEN YOU PUT PLASTIC BAGS INTO THIS SYSTEM THAT HAS A LOT OF CONVEYOR BELTS AND, AND MOVING PARTS, IT GETS TANGLED UP AND IT, AND IT REALLY MESSES UP THE SYSTEM.
BUT THE SECOND PROBLEM IS FINDING A BUYER TO BUY THE PLASTIC BAGS.
WE TAKE THEM TODAY IN OUR PROGRAM, BUT OUR RECYCLER IS VERY CHALLENGED TO SELL THEM, UH, IN THE OPEN MARKET.
SO DID THE CANADIAN COMPANY HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR, HOW DO THEY WOULD ADDRESS THOSE TWO ISSUES? I DON'T BELIEVE SO, UNLESS, UH, JOSEPHINE VALENCIA HAS A COMMENT.
BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD ACCEPT THEM, BUT YOU JUST, YOU DON'T BELIEVE THEM.
THEM
SO THE ISSUE IS NOT REALLY ACCEPTING THEM.
MALCOLM'S AS WELL AS THE OTHER FIRMS ALL SAID THEY ARE, THEY HAVE THE TECHNICAL CAPABILITY TO REMOVE THE BAGS AND ACCEPT THEM.
THE ISSUE IS WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THEM AFTERWARDS? THERE'S NO MARKET, EVEN CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, OUR CURRENT VENDOR, THEY ACCEPT THESE BAGS AND THEY'RE STOCKPILING THEM.
SO WHAT BNI SAID IS, IF WE ASK THEM TO ACCEPT THE BAGS, THEY WILL, BUT THEY HAVE NO CON THEY DON'T HAVE A BUYER FOR THEM IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW, THE COMPANY OUT OF CANADA, THEY DIDN'T OFFER A BUYER EITHER.
THEY SAID, YES, WE CAN ACCEPT THEM, WE CAN PROCESS THEM.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE OF ALL THE COMPANIES.
THEY CAN, THEY THEORETICALLY ANYTHING'S RECYCLABLE.
YOU KNOW, THIS PEN, YOU KNOW, FURNITURE, YOU CAN RECYCLE ANYTHING IF YOU'RE WILLING TO, TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ACCEPTING IT.
BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU DO AFTERWARD? I, I, I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU CAN DO FOR RECYCLING IS TO RECYCLE CORRECTLY AND PUT THE RIGHT ITEMS IN THE CART.
THE NUMBER, THE NUMBER TWO MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS BUY ITEMS MADE OUT OF RECYCLED MATERIALS.
SO IF MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT MAKING PLASTIC BAGS OUT OF OLD PLASTIC BAGS OR OUT OF OLD MATERIALS, IF NO ONE'S BUYING THE STUFF US COLLECTING, IT DOESN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE RECYCLABILITY OF IT.
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OKAY.SO NO MARKET IS BASICALLY WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. VALENCIA.
OF THE ADDITIONAL ITEMS, UH, THAT WERE LISTED AS OPTIONAL, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TELL US WHICH ONES? UH, UH, I'M SORRY, I'M FORGETTING THE NAME OF THE COMPANY THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR WILL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT.
SO, UH, BAI'S WILL, UH, WILL ALSO ACCEPT, UH, ALUMINUM FOIL AND NU ALUMINUM PIPELINE, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING RIGHT NOW.
AND AS MR. NEWMAN SAID EARLIER, BAI'S WHOLE BUSINESS IS RECYCLING.
SO THEY ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO, UH, LOOK AT NEW MARKETS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT, BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING A PILOT PROGRAM IN AUSTIN WITH THE LITTLE K-CUPS FOR, FOR, FOR THE KEURIGS.
SO THEY ARE ALWAYS TRYING, THEY ARE ALWAYS DOING SHORT-TERM TESTS TO SEE IF THERE ARE NEW ITEMS THAT THEY CAN POTENTIALLY RECYCLABLE.
SO THIS, THIS, UH, PROCESSING DOESN'T START UNTIL ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, PACKAGING CHANGES ALL THE TIME.
SO I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT BY THE TIME THE CONTRACT STARTS AROUND, THERE MAY BE SOME NEW ITEMS TO ADD TO THE LIST.
BUT TODAY, ALUMINUM FOIL AND ALUMINUM PIPE PANS.
UM, SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, NONE OF THE OTHER ONES THAT GO FROM TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES, THE SEPTIC CONTAINERS THAT AT THIS POINT, NO, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE PROPOSAL.
THE PLASTICS FIVE, THREE AND SEVEN AT, AT THIS POINT.
THE, UH, AS I SAID, WITH THE PLASTIC BAGS, THEY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE ITEMS. THEY, THE SYSTEM THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN PLACE HAS THE TECHNOLOGY TO SEPARATE AND PROCESS THOSE ITEMS. I'M, I'M REFERRING TO THE LIST OF, UM, OF OTHER POTENTIAL RECYCLABLE ITEMS. THEY ARE, IT'S THE SAME, IT'S THE SAME STORY AS PLASTIC BAGS.
THEY CAN SEPARATE, UH, JUICE BOXES AND GABLE TOPS.
THE QUESTION REALLY IS WILL THERE BE A MARKET TO SELL IT TO? SO NO STYROFOAM RIGHT NOW THEN? CORRECT.
PLASTIC JAR, YOGURT CUPS, PEANUT BUTTER JARS, THOSE HAVE A, UH, THOSE HAVE A STRONG MARKET AND WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.
SO, UM, I GUESS WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GIVE THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT THEY WILL, UM, AFTER THE MEETING RECYCLE? YES.
WHAT, WHAT I TELL FOLKS TO TRY TO, I KNOW OUR RECYCLING PROGRAM IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES.
AND WHAT I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS, IF YOU ATE FROM THIS CONTAINER, IF YOU DRANK FROM THIS CONTAINER, IT'S RECYCLABLE.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE NUMBERS, BOTTLES AND CANS THAT HAD FOOD AND BEVERAGES.
THAT'S ALL THE AVERAGE PERSON NEEDS TO REMEMBER.
UH, MS. VALENCIA, WE WILL, WE WILL SEND YOU A LIST MM-HMM.
'CAUSE I THINK THIS IS, UH, THANK YOU.
UM, THIS IS ALSO GOING TO BE, UM, I GUESS SORT OF A MARKETING CHALLENGE OR A NEW, UH, MARKETING OPPORTUNITY FOR US NOW THAT ALUMINUM FOIL WILL BE RECYCLED 'CAUSE, UH, THAT COMES ON EVERY TACO.
I THINK ANY OF US, UH, EAT, SO.
UH, I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW ON WHAT IS RECYCLABLE AND WHAT MAY NOT BE.
UH, I'M ALWAYS UNCLEAR ABOUT THAT.
I BUY THINGS FROM H E B THAT YOU CAN JUST PUT IN THE OVEN, YOU COOK IT, IT'S GOT AN ALUMINUM CONTAINER AT THE END.
BUT I WAS TOLD YOU COULDN'T THROW THAT INTO RECYCLING ANYMORE.
BUT NOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU CAN.
NOW WE CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ORDER A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, SOME COMES IN STYROFOAM AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT OTHER COMES IN PLASTIC CONTAINERS THAT TO ME, APPEAR TO BE NORMALLY RECYCLABLE.
AND IF THEY CONTAIN FOOD, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE RECYCLABLE WITH THIS NEW COMPANY COMING IN.
AND I JUST THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF CLARIFYING TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I, I THINK I'VE RECALLED US HEARING THAT THREE QUARTERS OF WHAT GOES INTO THE TRASH COULD BE RECYCLED, BUT WE DON'T, I THINK, PROVIDE ENOUGH CLARITY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND A LOT OF IT ENDS UP GOING IN THE TRASH.
SO, UH, ANYWAY, I HOPE THAT WE REALLY WORK HARD TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND THE PUBLIC, AND THIS NEW COMPANY WILL DO THAT SO THAT WE CAN, UH, RE REACH OUR GOAL, WHICH, WHAT IS OUR GOAL NOW FOR RECYCLABLES? I KNOW WE HAD A, LIKE A THREE OR FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR THAT.
AND I KNOW WE'RE IN THE THIRTIES SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? 40%.
HOPEFULLY WE GET, WE GET THERE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT THE TIP FEE.
AND SO THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS YOU'RE SAYING EVERY TIME WE HAVE A TRUCK THAT'S FILLED, PULL UP AND EMPTY, THEY CHARGE US OR GOING TO CHARGE US $92.
BUT WHAT THEY'RE FORECASTING IS THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND RECYCLE ALMOST ALL OF THAT AND MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE, WHICH MEANS WE COULD GET A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE PROFIT OVER, UH, THAT $92 IN COST.
[00:30:01]
I, I THINK SO.I, I THOUGHT I HAD THAT DOWN BEFORE WE CAME HERE TODAY, BUT I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED.
I'M, SHE'S, MS. VALENCIA, OUR RECYCLING GURU SAYS YES.
WELL, WELL, THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CURRENT RECYCLER HAS THINGS THAT THEY CANNOT RECYCLE, THAT THEY TAKE TO THE DUMP.
NOW, DO THEY PAY THAT FEE NOW? YES.
WILL THE NEXT RECYCLER PAY THAT FEE LATER, OR DO WE PAY THAT DUMP FEE ALSO? THEY, THEY PAY THAT, UH, CURRENTLY, AND THIS RECYCLER WILL PAY THAT AS WELL.
AND, AND AS A JUST KIND OF A A A POINT HERE TODAY, THE, THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL THAT WE TAKE TO THEM IS BETWEEN 80,000 AND 90,000 TONS.
AND ABOUT 18% OF THAT TODAY CANNOT BE RECYCLED.
IT'S THE WRONG THING FOR WHATEVER.
SO THAT 18% IS WHAT THEY WOULD TAKE TO THE LANDFILL.
UM, NOW I KNOW WE SAY WE WANT THE PRODUCT TO BE RELATIVELY CLEAN, DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE EDUCATE EVERYBODY TO WASH EVERYTHING YOU PUT INTO RECYCLING? WE DO, BUT THE MORE IMPORTANT THING, AND AND HERE'S WHERE, AND BY THE WAY, OUR OUTREACH MANAGER IS HERE, AND I'M SURE HE'S TAKING COPIOUS NOTES BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY USING THE PHRASE WRONG.
AND WHEN I SAY CLEAN, WHAT I REALLY MEAN IS THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO PUT THE RECYCLABLE PRODUCT IN THE BLUE CART THAT WE ACCEPT.
I I DON'T WANT THEM TO PUT LEAVES IN THERE.
AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO SUGGEST TO CLEAN THE PEANUT BUTTER JAR UNTIL IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAN.
UH, WHAT WE TELL PEOPLE AS FAR AS CLEANLINESS IS TO RINSE IT.
THERE'S NO NEED TO TRY TO SCRUB IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
MY WIFE, UH, LIKES SALMON, AND IT ALWAYS LEAVES A MESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TIN FAN PAN.
SO I'LL TELL HER NOW, SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO THROW IT IN THE CLA TRASH, AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO CLEAN IT.
UH, JUST RINSE IT OUT AND PUT IT IN THERE.
SO IF, IF SHE WANTS TO CLEAN IT TO THAT NTH DEGREE, WE APPRECIATE THAT TOO.
NO, SHE'D RATHER THROW IT IN TRASH, SO, OKAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE THE MAIN QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
THIS IS A SUBJECT THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR MY HEART.
IT'S SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT A LONG TIME.
SOMETHING I'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU KNOW, UH, 25 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, UM, BEFORE WE HAD CURBSIDE PICK UP RECYCLING, I LIVED NEAR A RECYCLING CENTER, AND ALL OF MY BUDDIES IN COLLEGE KNEW, AND, AND ALL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS KNEW.
AND SO EVERYBODY KNEW MY PICKUP TRUCK, AND THEY KNEW YOU COULD JUST THROW YOUR BEER BOTTLES IN THE BACK OF MY PICKUP TRUCK AND I'D GO DROP 'EM OFF FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THEY'D PILE UP QUITE A BIT OVER THERE.
UM, AND BACK THEN YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO SORT ALL THE GLASS COLORS, RIGHT? AND SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT BARS.
YOU KNOW, UM, I UNDERSTAND PLASTIC BAGS, THAT'S TRICKY.
UM, BUT, BUT I SEE A LOT OF BARS THAT ARE THROWING AWAY A LOT OF BEER BOTTLES AND, AND A LOT OF BEER CANS OR WINE BOTTLES.
AND HOW DO WE GET THEM TO RECYCLE MORE? MOST OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS ARE RESIDENTIAL, AND OUR CUSTOMERS ARE RESIDENTIAL.
BUT WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM, AND IT'S CALLED REWORKS ESSAY, THAT WE ACTIVELY GO OUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE RECYCLING.
AND WE HAVE, UH, DIFFERENT TIERS OF, OF SUSTAINABILITY, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH IT AS WELL, WATER CONSERVATION, UM, UH, ENERGY CONSERVATION AS WELL.
BUT AT ITS CORE, IT IS A RECYCLING PROGRAM.
AND THE SAME PERSON I MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR OUTREACH MANAGER HEADS UP THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND WE GO AND WE, WE WORK WITH THOSE BUSINESSES, AND IF WE IDENTIFY THEM OR THEY COME TO US, UH, WE WORK WITH THEM TO BE BETTER RECYCLERS, AND THEN WE RECOGNIZE THEM, THOSE THAT DO REACH THAT LEVEL OF, OF BEING A GOOD RECYCLER AND IT, ET CETERA.
UM, AND IT HAS BEEN MODIFIED, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GAINING STEAM KIND OF SLOWED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT DOWN, BUT, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE CAN GO OUT AND, AND POUND THE PAVEMENT AND TRY TO GET BUSINESSES TO RECYCLE MORE.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THERE'S NOT A MARKET FOR PLASTIC BAGS.
WHAT KIND OF MARKET EXISTS FOR THE OTHER PLASTICS? THE, YOU KNOW, THE PLASTIC BOTTLES, AND HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THOSE DON'T END UP ULTIMATELY SHIPPED TO A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND BE AND BURN BURNED TO IN ORDER TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY? TWO VERY GOOD QUESTIONS.
UM, LET ME START BY SAYING THAT PLASTIC BOTTLES, I THINK MIGHT BE THE MOST VALUABLE.
THE WATER BOTTLES MIGHT BE THE MOST VALUABLE THING IN THE RECYCLING TODAY AT 800.
THEY'RE EVEN HIGHER THAN THAT TODAY AT EIGHT, MORE
[00:35:01]
THAN $800 A TON.BUT, UH, THOSE CLEAR PLASTIC BOTTLES HAVE A LOT OF VALUE, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE, THE WHO THE RECYCLER SELLS TO.
UH, AND WHEN WE CONTRACT WITH THEM, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT.
WE PUT IT IN THE R F P, THAT THEY, THEY ONLY SELL ETHICALLY AND TO, UH, COMPANIES THAT, UH, ARE, ARE, ARE NOT, UM, JUST MOVING MATERIAL PERHAPS TO AN IMPOVERISHED NATION AND, AND, UM, UH, DOING THINGS THAT WE WOULDN'T APPROVE OF.
BALCONES, UH, SELLS TO NORTH AMERICA ONLY.
AND ALMOST, ALMOST ALL OF IT IS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
UH, SOME PAPER GOES TO MEXICO AND, AND MOST OF THE RECYCLERS IN THE CENTRAL US, THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT BAI'S, UH, IS A, A VERY ETHICAL COMPANY, AND I THINK THAT, THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND IT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND SO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FOR A LOT OF RECYCLING COMPANIES THAT WHO THEY, WHO THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE, WHO THEY SELL THE RECYCLED GOODS TO IS PRO CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY AND THEY DON'T DISCLOSE THAT, IS THAT THEY NO, THEY DID DISCLOSE THAT TO US.
AND SO WAS IT NOT DISCLOSED TO US IN THE PAST WITH UNDER OTHER CONTRACTS? UH, IT, IT, NO.
WE KNOW, WE KNOW UNDER OUR, OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WHO THEY SELL TO BECAUSE WE BASE THE, THE PAYMENT, UH, OFF OF WHO THEY'RE SELLING TO.
UH, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, BRAVO, COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRAND.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, UH, AND THE HARD WORK.
UM, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH REPUBLIC.
I THINK THEY WERE A VERY GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND, UM, THEY'VE BEEN A VERY PRESENT PARTNER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO, UM, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MOVE.
I LIKE THAT THIS IS A RECY RECYCLING ONLY.
I THINK THAT'S A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE INNOVATION THAT THEY CAN DO.
UM, THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS REGARDING MARKETING.
WHEN THAT PLAN IS GONNA ROLL OUT, BECAUSE LIKE COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL SAID, IF WE ARE GOING TO THAT ALUMINUM FOIL, WHICH I, I I'M READY TO RECYCLE, UH, AND THOSE, THE, THE PIE PLATES, I'M SURE DURING THANKSGIVING, PLENTY OF PEOPLE ARE READY TO RECYCLE THOSE.
WHEN, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? AND WHEN IS THAT ACTUALLY GONNA ROLL OUT? THE, WE WILL SHARE IN THAT WITH THE, THE VENDOR.
BUT TODAY WE TAKE THAT ON, UH, COMPLETELY.
AND WE HAVE A, A, A BUDGET, WE HAVE A SECTION, A DIVISION THAT DEALS WITH THAT OUTREACH AND MARKETING.
AND, UH, AND WE DO THAT AND WE TAKE THAT ON.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, COVID HAS LIMITED THIS A LITTLE BIT AS WELL, BUT WE DO A NUMBER OF, UH, PRESENTATIONS TO SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES, I THINK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 800 TO A THOUSAND EVERY YEAR.
UH, WE DO SOME BILLBOARDS, WE DO, UM, PRINT AND, AND RADIO AND TV ADS, AND THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
UH, BUT, UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT BALCONES HAS A BUDGET FOR THAT AS WELL, AND THEY'VE SHOWN THAT TO US IN OUR PROPOSAL.
AND ESPECIALLY I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE EDUCATION CENTER.
I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS LACKING TODAY.
AND, AND HAVING THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE FACILITY AND LOOK AT, AT HOW IT'S WORKING AND TO SEE THE PEOPLE WORKING, I THINK THAT WILL HELP US TREMENDOUSLY.
AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND, AND THAT'S THE ONE THING I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, BECAUSE IT CAN GET RATHER COMPLICATED WHEN YOU HEAR A NEW STORY AND IT'S LIKE, THIS PLASTIC CAN'T BE RECYCLED, THIS PLASTIC CAN.
SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MARKETING THAT WE'LL HAVE ROLLOUT FOR THAT, AND YOU CAN COUNT MY OFFICE IN TO HELP WHEN IT COMES TO PLASTIC BAGS.
AND MAYBE THIS IS A, A LARGER CONVERSATION WE HAVE IN CHECK.
UM, THEY'RE VERY USEFUL TO PICK UP YOUR PET'S POOP.
SO MAYBE WE LOOK AT DOING AN INITIATIVE WHERE WE USE THOSE PLASTIC BAGS AT OUR DOG PARKS INSTEAD OF BUYING THE LITTLE MITTS.
UH, I THINK WE CAN GET CREATIVE.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE, WE USE THESE PLASTIC BAGS OR RECYCLE THEM.
UM, AND THEN THAT WAY MAYBE WE CAN TAKE DOWN SOME OF THIS COSTS.
SO LET'S, LET'S, I LIKE THAT IDEA.
BUT I'LL, I'LL YOUR DEPARTMENT GO AHEAD, RUN WITH THAT IDEA, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOMETHING PRESENTED TO OUR COMMITTEES.
UH, THANK YOU DAVID AND, UM, YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS ITEM.
[00:40:01]
FIRST INITIAL FEEDBACK WHEN, UM, HEARING ABOUT THIS PROJECT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT BUILD UPON EXISTING RECYCLING FACILITIES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS? UM, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH FUTURE BUDGETS AND BOND DOLLARS, POTENTIALLY EXPANDING TO CREATE, UH, A REUSE HUB WHERE WE CAN POTENTIALLY RECYCLE, UM, MATERIAL FROM HOMES THAT ARE BEING DECONSTRUCTED.UM, THAT'S MY INITIAL THOUGHT IS EXPANDING THE INVENTORY.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE PUT INTO THIS.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, UM, WILL THE CITY OWN THE FACILITY? UM, OR NOTHING? NO, WE'LL NOT OWN IT.
I, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I APPRECIATED THE CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT'S RECYCLABLE AND WHAT ISN'T.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, IN THE LARGER SCHEME OF THINGS, THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT, UM, WE, WE NEED TO WORK ON MARKETING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES SO THEY KNOW WHAT DOES GO INTO, UH, THE BLUE PEN AND WHAT DOESN'T.
UH, I KNOW WITHIN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ALWAYS UP AND DOWN IN THE JEEP, UH, ISSUING THOSE NOTICES OF WHAT CAN GO INTO WHAT BIN.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK OFFLINE.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT IN THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU.
YOU ALL GAVE ME THE CUTEST LITTLE, UM, RECYCLING AND, UM, JUST BOOKS ABOUT, UH, WHERE YOUR GARBAGE GOES, ET CETERA.
AND, UH, SOMEBODY TAGGED YOUR PAGE, UH, AND THEY LOVED HER.
TWO BOYS LOVE WATCHING THE RECYCLE TRUCKS SPECIFICALLY COME AROUND.
AND SO I, UM, HAD THOSE MAILED OFF TO THE BOYS AND, UM, THEY WERE JUST SO EXCITED.
SO I JUST HAD TO PUBLICLY SAY, THOSE BOOKS ARE AWESOME.
I TOLD ERIC WALSH THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE BOOKS.
AND SO, UM, UH, Y'ALL GAVE ME SOME MORE FOR KIDS IN MY DISTRICT AND I'VE BEEN JUST GLADLY GIVING THEM AWAY.
THAT IS MARCUS LEE AND HIS GROUP.
HE'S GETTING A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
JUST, UH, A COUPLE MORE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T MENTION BEFORE.
OUR ARE, WHEN, I GUESS WHEN THEY CHOOSE A LOCATION, WILL THAT BE BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL FOR OUR APPROVAL? YES, SIR.
IN FACT, UH, WE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT BEFORE WE SIGN A CONTRACT, SO WHEN WE COME BACK, WE, WE WON'T COME FORWARD UNTIL IT'S, UH, A DONE DEAL.
UM, AND I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE, THE NEW COMPANY TO WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH H E B AND WALMART AND TARGET AND COSTCO AND TRADER JOE'S AND ALL OF THOSE GROCERY STORES OR PRODUCT STORES SO THAT EACH OF THOSE COULD PUT OUT A LIST THAT SAYS THIS PRODUCT IS RECYCLABLE.
UH, I THINK IT WOULD HELP US ALL IF WE, IF WE SHOPPED AT, YOU KNOW, H E B AND WE WANTED TO KNOW IF SOMETHING WAS RECYCLABLE, WE COULD LOOK ON THAT LIST AND SAY, OH, YEAH, IT'S RECYCLABLE.
SO I KNOW IT'S EXTRA WORK, BUT I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR OWN GROCERY LIST OF WHAT WE CAN RECYCLE WOULD HELP US BE BETTER RECYCLERS.
UH, YES, WE WILL GO DOWN THAT PATH AND TRY TO DO THAT.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA, GARCIA'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE BOOKLETS REMINDED ME ABOUT THE MAGNETS THAT YOU ALL HAVE, THAT YOU DISTRIBUTE THAT EXPLAINS TO PEOPLE HOW TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T RECYCLE.
AND I, YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE IS EDUCATION ON WHAT CAN AND CAN'T GO IN THE RECYCLING BIN.
AND THEN I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO OPERATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS LIKE AN AIRBNB, UH, AND THEY'VE GOT NEW PEOPLE COMING IN AND STAYING IN THEIR HOMES EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY WEEK, UH, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND HOW, HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM UP TO DATE? AND SO I THINK IT'D BE REALLY GOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, DISTRIBUTING THOSE BOOKLETS, BUT ALSO MAYBE THOSE MAGNETS, IF WE COULD GET PEOPLE WHO OPERATE SHORT TERM RENTALS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE MAGNETS ON THEIR REFRIGERATORS THAT COULD REALLY HELP WITH, UM, PEOPLE WITH, WITH THAT EDUCATION, WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO VISIT OUR CITY.
AND, UM, YOU COULD PROBABLY GET A PRETTY UPDATED LIST REALLY SOON WITH EVERYBODY WHO'S THE APP, THE APPLICATION.
WE CREATED OUR S T R RULES ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND THEY WERE THREE YEAR CONTRACTS TO BE ABLE TO DO, TO HAVE A PERMIT, I GUESS.
AND SO THOSE ARE ALL COMING DUE, AND SO EVERYBODY'S RENEWING THEM RIGHT NOW.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE MAYBE TO TRY TO, UH, IMPROVE WHAT YOU, I GUESS WHAT MAYBE WHAT YOU REFER TO AS THE CLEANLINESS OF OUR RECYCLING AND THE QUALITY OF OUR RECYCLING.
[00:45:01]
I DO, I DO LIKE THE MAGNET IDEA.UH, YEARS AGO WE PUT STICKERS ON THE LIDS OF THE CARTS, BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS STICK AROUND.
AND SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE GREAT, THE MAGNET.
UH, THAT'S THE BALANCE OF OUR DISCUSSION TODAY.
AND SINCE, UH, WE WERE GETTING INTO THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIFIC ITEMS, I DO HAVE A, A DEBATE THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY SETTLE FOR ME NOW SINCE THE, THERE'S SOME CHANGES IN WHAT CAN GO IN THE CART, DO EMPTY PIZZA BOXES GO IN THE BRUSH RECYCLE OR THE RECYCLE BIN.
NOW THE, THE GREEN CART, THEY STILL GO IN THE GREEN CART, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE CARDBOARD.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE CARDBOARD, THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT THEY HAVE GREASE ON THEM AND PERHAPS CHEESE AND UH, AND MOST PROGRAMS WOULD BE THE GREEN CART.
SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WIN THAT ARGUMENT IN MY HOUSEHOLD THEN.
AS, AS, UH, AS THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT COLLECTS FROM 368,000 HOMES ACROSS THE CITY, THERE'S A LOT OF PIZZA BOXES OUT THERE.
AND THE LAST THING IS, I, I LIKE THE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THERE'S BEEN CHANGES IN WHAT CAN GO ON THE BIN AND THAT I THINK THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE OUR, OUR RECYCLE NUMBERS ONCE THE WORD GETS OUT.
DAVID, UH, BOTH DAVID'S, YOU GUYS HAVE HAD THE BEST INTERNAL P S A COMMUNICATIONS, UH, OVER THE LAST YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT SPECIFIC, UH, TO THE CHANGES AND WHAT CAN GO IN THE BIN THAT YOU GUYS GET YOUR CREATIVE TEAMS ON.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN, THAT'S AN INTERNAL CREATIVE TEAM.
THEY'VE JUST DONE INCREDIBLE WORK AND HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WON AT EASE FOR IT.
SO ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THAT, UM, WITH THAT NEW MESSAGE.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the Presidio Conference Room or the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following: ]
THAT IS THE BALANCE.OUR DISCUSSION, THE TIME IS 3:08 PM ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2022.
THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5 5, 1 AT THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND C OVID 19 PREPAREDNESS UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071.
THE TIME IS 3:35 PM ON THIS SECOND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2022.
CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AND OUR B SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED.