Attachment A
EDCO Transfer Station
February 17, 2009
Fiscal Impact:
The project is estimated to generate approximately $200,000 annually increasing to potentially $1 million or more. Importantly, the host fee revenue generated by the facility serves to diversify general fund revenue sources currently overly reliant on automobile and other retail sales tax revenues.
Background:
On July 8, 2008, the City Council and Redevelopment Agency approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with EDCO regarding development of a recycling and solid waste transfer station at the site (Attachment A) At that time, the Council noted that the project would benefit the community by:
• Generating host fees paid to the City (estimated to start at $200,000 per year and potentially increase to more than $1 million).
• Freezing collection fees for single and multi-family accounts for three years. • Offering free e-waste disposal for City residents.
On February 10, 2009, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the project's entitlements. A representative of the County's Solid Waste Management Program was also in attendance and took comments regarding the agency's permit process. There was no testimony in opposition to the project. By unanimous vote, the Commission approved the project's Site Plan and Design Review and recommended City Council approval of the EIR, two Zoning Ordinance Amendments, CUP and Development Agreement.
Analysis:
Overview
The disposal of solid waste is a pressing regional challenge. The nearest landfill is in Puente Hills and is scheduled to close in 2013. The cost of alternatives such as shipping material outside the area or using alternative disposal facilities such as the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility (known as SERRF) in the Port of Long Beach is expensive. The issue is also a concern at the State level. AB 939 was adopted in 1989 and mandates improvements in local recycling efforts to reduce the volume of waste entering landfills.
Project
Description:
location:
Applicant:
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 09-01
Approved Conditions of Approval
Exhibit A
EDCO Recycling and Solid Waste Transfer Facility with
solid waste transfer station with tipping area, material recovery area, green waste area, construction debris area, office and administration area, recycling buy-back area, household hazardous waste collection and disposal
center, fleet vehicle maintenance shop, truck scale and scale house, fueling station and truck wash area.
2755 California Avenue
EDCO Transport Services
1. The applicant shall agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless, the City of Signal Hill, it agents, officers and employees from any claim, action or proceeding against the City of Signal Hill or its agents, officers or employees to attach, set aside, void or annul, an approval of the City of Signal Hill, its legislative body, advisory agencies, or administrative officers concerning subject approval. The City of Signal Hill will promptly notify the applicant of any such claim, action or proceeding against the City of Signal Hill and the applicant, or owner, will either undertake defense of the matter and pay the City's associated legal costs, or will advance funds to pay for defense of the matter by the City Attorney. If the City of Signal Hill fails to promptly notify the applicant of any such claim, action or proceeding, or fails to cooperate fully in the defense, the applicant shall not thereafter be responsible to defend, indemnify or hold harmless the City of Signal Hill. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City retains the right to settle or abandon the matter without the applicant's consent, but should it do so, the City shall waive the indemnification herein, except the City's decision to settle or abandon a matter following an adverse judgment or failure to appeal, shall not cause a waiver of the indemnification rights herein.
13 2. Approval shall be null and void if a certificate of occupancy is not granted and operations commenced within 24 months of the City Council approval of this Condition Use Permit. Prior to the expiration date, the applicant may request a 12 month extension from the Director of Community Development. Any additional extensions shall be granted by the City Council.
3. The maximum allowable capacity of the facility shall be 1,500 tons of combined recyclables and solid waste per day.
4. The recycling and solid waste transfer uses may operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, however, self-haul shall be limited to between the hours of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Director of Community Development may approve exceptions to the hours of operation limitations for specific nighttime self-haul operations.
5. All refuse must be removed from the facility within 48 hours of delivery.
6. To the extent possible, all facility operations shall be conducted within the building.
7. The building shall be fully enclosed and include powered roll-up doors that can be closed to control dust and odor.
8. No outdoor storage of any material, including green waste, shall be permitted.
9. Consistent with California Integrated Waste Management Board guidelines, the applicant shall develop and maintain a Transfer Processing Report (TPR), Odor Control Plan, Emergency Response Preparedness Plan and Vector Control Plan.
The TPR shall include operating procedures for odor reduction, formulated and tested for effectiveness by first-hand experience at the applicant's existing facilities and to be in place from and followed from the first day of operation.
10. Applicant shall construct and operate the MRF/TS in compliance with all requirements, recommendations, and best management practices ("BMPs") for minimization and mitigation of air quality and odor impacts as detailed in Section 3.5 of the EIR, including but not limited to, compliance with all California Air Resources Board ("CARS") and SCAQMD standards, rules, and regulations as described in that Section; implementation of the construction BMPs listed in Table 3.5-6 of the EIR including but not limited to pre-watering of soil prior to soil disturbances, use of dust suppressants to stabilize stockpiles, pre-watering of material prior to truck loading, and limitation of truck speeds and roadway cleaning, as described therein; implementation of the odor mitigation BMPs listed in Section 3.5.3.2 of the EIR, 14