City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Ed Ormonde, Chief of Police
Date: 01/11/2022
Subject: Service Agreement - COVANTA ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with Covanta Environmental Solutions for DEA controlled substances and assured destruction of adjudicated evidence for the Police Department (funding source: General Fund).
BACKGROUND:
Since 2003, the police department has been using Covanta Environmental Solutions for disposal of controlled substances and evidence from adjudicated cases.
In November of 2021, this department was notified of a change in billing policy by Covanta Environmental Solutions, which included a more detailed breakdown of costs per property type being disposed of and an updated price per tonnage to be charged.
These prices are:
Assured Destruction of Evidence and Firearms $533 disposal price per ton DEA Controlled Substance/Narcotics $1,598 disposal price per ton DEA Controlled Substance/Marijuana $1,065 disposal price per ton Confidential Documents $320 disposal price per ton
Due to the undetermined amounts of these items to be seized as evidence by this department in the future, a fixed cost cannot be calculated. Historically, the expense for this disposal service equates to $1,316.68 per fiscal year (average over last three years). Based on the department’s invoice records, the new agreement is estimated to translate into an increase of 18% per visit for destruction of items.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22 includes the annual expected cost of $1,316.68 for the current disposal rates under the outdated contract with Covanta Environmental Solutions. The fiscal impact of this agreement will be an expected increase of $237 for Fiscal Year 2022-23 and beyond.
Attachments:
1. Covanta Agreement