ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 14, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Zachary Meyer, Public Works Director
DATE: May 14, 2025
SUBJECT: Redesign and upgrade of the sorting line at the Materials Recovery Facility.
1. Agreement with Green Machine Sales, LLC not to exceed $5,147,934, for the redesign and upgrade of the sorting line at the Materials Recovery Facility.
2. Appropriation of $4,273,000 Refuse Enterprise Fund Balance to the Public Works Department’s Capital Improvement Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Agreement and appropriation.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) located at 2260 South Union Avenue processes up to 20,000 tons of residential and commercial recyclables annually. Originally acquired by the City from BARC in 2021, the facility has a sorting line with 25+ year old equipment that is difficult to repair and maintain due to its age. The existing sorting line frequently has mechanical breakdowns, which does not allow for the efficient processing of the incoming recyclable commodities. Not being able to efficiently process the recyclables causes a backlog of materials and increases the amount of recyclables sent to the landfill. Ultimately, outsourcing the processing of the recyclable backlog costs thousands of dollars ; and sending recyclables to the landfill decreases the landfill diversion rate.
Item No. 1: To consistently process incoming recyclables , the sorting line requires a redesign and replacement of old equipment that has come to the end of its natural life; while retaining and incorporating any existing equipment and infrastructure that still is in good, usable condition. The sorting line redesign and equipment upgrade will modernize the facility to support the City’s housing and population growth, as well as keep curbside recycling program costs down for residents and business owners.
Resolution number 052 -2025 dispensing with bidding under section 3.20.060(D)(5) of the Bakersfield Municipal Code approving the design/build construction procurement process for the sorting line at the MRF was voted in by Council on April 24, 2024. Bids were solicited for a contract to redesign and upgrade the sorting line at the MRF and four (4) bids were received in response to the design-build solicitation.
Additionally, Solid Waste Division has secured reimbursement grant funds from The Recycling Partnership in the amount of $400,000.00 and CalRecycle’s Beverage Container Quality Infrastructure Grant Program in the amount of $5,147,934. These grants will cover the costs for the installation of the new MRF sorting line, and cover any unknown contingency that may arise during construction.
Staff recommends approving the agreement for Green Machine Sales LLC to redesign and upgrade the sorting line at the MRF, not to exceed $5,147,934.
Item No. 2: Currently, there is $875,000 of Refuse funds within the Public Works Capital Improvement program in Project #P3K31800 for improving the MRF sorting line. An appropriation of $4,273,000 from the Refuse Enterprise Fund to the Public Work’s Capital Improvement Program is needed to fully execute this agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding will be from the Refuse Enterprise Fund and will be reimbursed by the two grants outlined in the Background. There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Agreement with Green Machine Sales
2. Green Machine Sales LLC_RFQP Response
3. Design-Build Resolution