Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Effie Milionis Verducci, Assistant Director, Sustainability Department
Subject: Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $526,000 for Waste, Waste Reduction, and Stormwater Compliance Programs and Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $526,000 from the Commute Alternatives Program to fund waste reduction activities and stormwater compliance programs and services.
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BACKGROUND:
The County’s Sustainability Department (Sustainability) designs, develops, and implements a variety of projects, programs, and initiatives that advance the goal of environmental sustainability throughout San Mateo County. These initiatives include the implementation of programming to comply with unfunded state mandates.
Within Sustainability, the Waste Reduction team implements ordinances and programs to comply with the State’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act (SB 1383) which requires local governments to mandate the curbside collection of organic waste, recover surplus edible food, procure compost to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and coordinate inspections and enforcement program.
Sustainability is also the coordinating department for the state-mandated Municipal Regional Permit stormwater compliance through its Climate Resilience Program which partners with County departments to implement stormwater pollution prevention activities to improve watershed water quality. Programming includes construction of green infrastructure, sediment and bacteria reduction projects, installation of full trash capture devices, annual reporting, and community outreach.
The Pescadero Transfer Station (PTS) is owned by the County and provides solid waste disposal and recycling drop-off services to the South Coast area of San Mateo County. The County opened the PTS when Pescadero Landfill closed in 1986, and it has been operated through a contractual agreement since that time. The PTS is a permitted, limited volume processing facility that processes approximately 800 tons of material per year and serves approximately 400 customers per month.
DISCUSSION:
Staff are requesting the transfer of $526,000 from the Commute Alternatives Program to fund SB 1383 expenses in the Waste Reduction Program, a new agreement to operate PTS, and stormwater compliance projects in the Climate Resilience Program. The Commute Alternatives Program provides transit subsidies to County employees to reduce drive alone commutes and improve air quality through alternative modes of transportation. Employee commute program offerings for County employees have remained unchanged during and post-COVID, therefore, the Department is currently conducting a comprehensive redesign to better meet employee commute needs. While employee participation is increasing, the Department has unspent funds for FY 2024-25 to support a one-time contribution to program funding gaps.
SB 1383 is an unfunded State mandate, the additional funds allocated to SB 1383 via this ATR will allow the Department to take advantage of an opportunity to more quickly launch the state-mandated inspection and enforcement program, and to meet other requirements under this law.
The operating costs of the PTS have historically been funded in part from the County Solid Waste Fund, administered by the County’s Department of Public Works. The Solid Waste Fund has been expended, and this ATR will provide funding for PTS operations while Sustainability explores alternative funding sources. The Stormwater Program is an unfunded state mandate with a requirement to update the County’s trash reduction plan prior to the end of this fiscal year. The ATR will provide funding to accomplish this requirement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the ATR will transfer NCC funds in the amount of $526,000 from the Commute Alternatives Program which are included in the FY2024-25 Adopted Budget to the Waste Reduction Program ($216,000), PTS ($270,000), and Climate Resilience Programs ($40,000). There is no new Net County Cost associated with this action.