1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: January 11, 2022
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Ken Berkman, Public Works Director
VIA: John Molinar, Assistant Public Works Director – Street and Sanitation BY: Amber Duran, Recycling Coordinator
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Application for the CalRecycle Edible Food Recovery Grant for Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AUTHORIZING
SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
RESOURCES RECYCLING AND RECOVERY (CALRECYCLE) FOR THE
CALRECYCLE EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM (EFR GRANT), AND IF
AWARDED, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE EFR GRANT AND AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 -22 BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING FUNDS (Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND
The decomposition of food waste in landfills is a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In a new State regulation, Senate Bill 1383 (SB1383), California established ambitious organics management goals, including a target to recover 20% of currently disposed edible food by 2025. To achieve this goal, specific business types are required to donate the maximum amount of edible food possible and jurisdictions are required to build programs to support the business’s recovery of surplus edible food, before disposal, for the purpose of feeding people. SB1383 directs local government officials, zero waste advocates, and edible food recovery organizations and services to collaborate and develop turnkey food recovery programs.
CalRecycle administers a grant program called the Edible Food Recovery Grant (EFR1) to provide opportunities for the support of new and expanded edible food recovery PUBLIC
WORKS
2 projects in California. These projects must reduce the amount of edible food being disposed in landfills, thereby helping to achieve the State’s methane reduction goals.
Public Works’ Recycle Center staff applied for the FY2021/22 and FY2022/23 EFR1 grant on December 16 , 2021 using the attached narrative (Attachment 2) and budget (Attachment 3) . To complete the application, the Council must adopt a r esolution authorizing the application for the EFR1 grant by specifically naming the grant and the nonprofit for which the City is partnering with to execute the project.
DISCUSSION
The Recycle Center has formed a partnership with two entities as part of the required effort to receive the grant funding: Burbank’s Vallarta Market, to donate excess food and North Valley Caring Services (NVCS), a local non- profit specializing in food recovery to expand their current operations into Burbank.
Using funding from the EFR1 grant, NVCS will provide transportation of donated food from Vallarta Market, and other markets and restaurants, and leverage their relationships with local entities to serve as distribution locations for new food recov ery. These new distribution locations include Burbank First Presbyterian Church, Westminster Burbank Church, Burbank Housing Corporation, and Family Promise of Verdugo Hills. This model has proven successful in North Hills, where NVCS was recognized by CalNonprofits and District 46 Assembly Member Adrin Nazarian as the “2020 Non-profit of the Year”.
The City of Burbank’s Edible Food Recovery Project includes purchasing a refrigerated van for NVCS to keep perishable food items protected from direct sunlight along with a wrap on the exterior to advertise the program. As part of the program, NVCS will hire and train two staff member s: a part-time driver and a coordinator to facilitate the collection and redistribution of donated food. The grant funding also provides a software subscription to connect food donations to non- profit food banks and kitchens and will provide City staff with data necessary for SB1383 reporting.
The proposed program will result in the recovery of an estimated 720,000 pounds of edible food over two years with the $249,760 of requested grant funds . Implementation of the proposed project will also bring Bur bank into compliance with one of the requirements of SB1383 to develop a food recovery program to capture food otherwise destined for the landfill . This project will also result in measurable environmental and social impacts, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with food decomposition in landfills, increased food security within the Burbank community , and creation of green jobs for under-represented individuals.
3 FISCAL IMPACT
To prepare for the anticipated award of the grant funding, s taff is requesting Council authority to amend the FY2021/22 Budget by appropriating $249,760 from revenue account number 498.PW000.48010.0000.24474.00000 (Refuse Collection and Disposal Fund, Other Intergovernmental Revenue, CalRecycle Food Grant ) to the following expenditure accounts:
• $102,000 into 498.PW31C.15101.0000.00000.000000 (Refuse Collection and Disposal Fund, Recycling Section, Vehicles – Clearing) for the purchase of a refrigerated van for NVCS;
• $5,500 into 498.PW31C.62475.0000.24474.000000 (Refuse Collection and Disposal Fund, Recycling Section, Fund 532 Vehicle Equipment Rental Rate, CalRecycle Food Grant) for maintenance and warranty for the duration of the grant;
• $500 into 498.PW31C.62170.0000.24474.000000 (Refuse Collection and Disposal Fund, Recycling Section, Private Contractual Services, CalRecycle Food Grant) for education and outreach of the City’s food recovery program;
• $6,000 into 498.PW31C.62170.0000.24474.000000 (Refuse Collection and Disposal Fund, Recycling Section, Private Contractual Services, CalRecycle Food Grant) for software system to track food donations; and,
• $135,760 into 498.PW31C.60001.1001.24474.000000 (Refuse Collection and Disposal Fund, Recycling Section, Salaries & Wages, CalRecycle Food Grant) for personnel costs to run the program for two years.
Funds will initially be drawn from 498.ND000.30011.0000.00000 (Refuse Collection and Disposal Fund, Non-Departmental Assigned Fund Balance) until reimbursed.
CONCLUSION
To complete the application and remain eligible for the EFR1 grant funding, the Council must adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the cooperative application specifically for this grant by January 20, 2022.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Proposed City Resolution, Edible Food Recovery Grant Attachment 2 – Narrative EFR1
Attachment 3 – Budget EFR1