Agenda Item No: 1.j
PLACENTIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: September 3, 2024
Submitted by: Elsa Robinson
From: Public Works
Subject:
City Response to Orange County Grand Jury Report Entitled: "Talking Trash: Recyclables and Organic Waste"
Financial Impact:
Fiscal Impact:
None
Summary:
The Orange County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) publicly issued a report on June 11, 2024, entitled: "Talking Trash: Recyclables and Organic Waste", focused on how Orange County cities are implementing Senate Bill (SB) 1383. SB 1383 established targets to achieve a 50% reduction in statewide disposal of organic waste into landfills from 2014 levels by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025. To achieve these reduction targets, SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to provide organic waste recycling services to all residents and businesses.
The 2023-2024 Grand Jury Report investigated how Orange County jurisdictions are complying with the requirements and goals of SB 1383 that impact single-family residential units. The Grand Jury Report (Attachment 1) provides a series of findings and recommendations for local agencies to address and implement. The City of Placentia, along with all Orange County cities and the County of Orange were directed by the Grand Jury to review and respond to its findings and recommendations. Pursuant to State law, the City is obligated to provide a response, which is attached to this agenda report for the City Council's review (Attachment 2).
Recommendation:
Recommended Action: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Review the City's response to the Grand Jury Report; and
2. Direct Staff to submit the attached letter to the Presiding Judge of the Orange County Grand Jury, to be signed by Mayor Yamaguchi.
Strategic Plan Statement:
This item is consistent with the City Council approved 5 -Year Strategic Goal #8 to Improve City Governance, under Objective # 8.1, which is to update all rules and policies consistent
with State regulations and Objective #8.2, to monitor legislation, unfunded mandates and ballot measures from Sacramento.
Discussion:
On June 11, 2024, the Orange County Grand Jury released a report entitled, "Talking Trash:
Recyclables and Organic Waste". The purpose of the report was to study how Orange County jurisdictions are responding to the organics diversion mandate under SB 1383, their successes and challenges, and the impact of this new requirement on Orange County residents. In the report, the Grand Jury made ten findings and seven recommendations, all of which are applicable to the City and require a written response. A complete copy of the report is included as Attachment 1.
The Grand Jury's initial focus was to answer the two questions listed below. However, the content of the final report provides additional relevant information about Orange County recycling and waste management.
1. What actions have Orange County jurisdictions taken to implement organics collection for their residential customers, and how do they measure the success of these actions?
2. Given that one key to the success of SB 1383 is public participation, have local jurisdictions conducted sufficient outreach and education? California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05 requires any public agency that the Grand Jury reviews to respond to the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury Report. The City of Placentia is required to respond because it is referenced in the report along with the other 33 Orange County cities and the County of Orange. Staff has reviewed the Grand Jury Report and drafted a response letter for the Mayor's signature on behalf of the City Council for consideration. The proposed response letter in Attachment 2 responds to each of the applicable findings and recommendations listed on pages 22-24 of the report.
Pursuant to California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, the City's response to the Grand Jury Report is due on September 10, 2024. Staff recommends that the City Council review the proposed response, provide input to staff, and authorize the Mayor to sign Attachment 2.
Fiscal Impact Summary:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended actions.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Orange County Grand Jury Report, a€ceTalking Trash: Recyclables and Organic Wastea€
Attachment 2 - City's Response.pdf