9.3. SR 05-18-2015 �j
Elk = - Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 9.3
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Work Session May 18, 2015 Zack Carlton,Planner I
Item Description Reviewed by
USAgain/Textile Donation Bins Chris Leeseber , Park Planner/ Planner
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Receive information and provide direction.
Background/Discussion
City staff is seeking direction for the textile collection bins located at a number of sites throughout the
city, including City Hall. We have fielded a number of complaints about the additional trash that has been
accumulating around the collection bins that are intended for clothing and shoes. The trash around the
bins contributes to an unkempt and messy appearance of the location,undermining the city's
beautification goals and overall community aesthetics.
The bins were authorized by the City Council on a handful of city-owned lots in late 2007. The meeting
minutes show that there was concern whether or not the bins were in compliance with city ordinances.
Staff was directed to bring the issue back to the City Council at a later date to discuss addressing the code
compliance issue.
Staff is seeking direction from the Council regarding the placement of for-profit bins on properties
throughout the city. Is there a desire to amend the ordinance to permit these bins or is there direction to
address the issue from a code enforcement point of view?
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
• City Council Staff Report dated November 19, 2007
• City Council Minutes from November 19, 2007
p 0 W I R E a 0
NA UREJ
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R1 iver
REQUEST FOR ACTION
To
Item Number
City Council
6.1.
Agenda Section
Meeting Date
Prepared by
Community Development
November 19, 2007
Nicki Blake - Bradley, Environmental
Technician
Item Description
Reviewed by
Consider Use Again Clothing Recycling Program
Rebecca Haug, Environmental
Administrator
Reviewed by
Lori Johnson, City Admirusttator
Action Requested
Consider for approval, placement of bins on city property locations with high visibility and traffic for
clothing, textiles, and shoe collection by a recycling firm located in Roseville called U'SAgain. Potential
sites include: City Hall campus, Parks and Recreation facilities (senior center, ice arena, recreation facility),
and the Municipal Liquor Stores.
Background/Discussion
Clothing, shoes, and textiles have an outlet for re -use in charitable organizations such as Goodwill and
the Salvation Army (for example). However, there aren't many outlets for those items which may be too
stained or full of holes to be wanted or used by other people. The EPA has stated that 15% of textiles are
diverted from landfills annually. This means that 85% of textile wastes are being landfilled (or
incinerated). Many textile materials that charitable organizations have received have actually been refused
or rejected, meaning that they most likely have also have trade their way to area landfills.
Energy City has established goals surrounding waste reduction, energy and water conservation. Recycling
is one method that, very simply, saves energy and water while reducing waste. It takes far less energy to
recycle an item than to create the some piece from raw materials. By implementing this program, the City
will be taking an active step toward helping to meet the established conservation and waste reduction
goals.
U'SAgain is a commercial company that specializes in recycling and /or reusing shoe and textile materials
to reduce the amount of waste generated in an area and to increase the amount of recycling (and
therefore energy conservation) at the same time. This company accepts clean, dry items in any condition.
The usable items are sorted from the recyclable items and sold to thrift stores throughout the nation (and
perhaps internationally), while the others are sold to textile recyclers where they will be shredded and
made into a vatiety of useful items such as seat cushions (boat, chair, etc).
While Goodwill and Salvation Army may see U'SAgain as a competitor, they could also benefit from the
U'SAgain bins in several ways. They may begin receiving higher quality clothing or have to reject less
items since there will be an additional outlet for "damaged" goods. Another way the non - profits may
benefit from U'SAgain is that they, themselves, could use the bins for disposal of textiles and shoes which
cannot be sold... thereby reducing their waste stream and decreasing disposal fees.
C: \Dm..e.M and Settingx \imdlee \Local Suttinbm \Tmporaty tntema Piles \DIME \Action Requnted- USAyttin.doc
City Council Minutes Page 3
November 19,2007
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5.3. Authorization to Advertise for Bids for Ice Resurfacer
• Mr. Czech presented his staff report.
Mr. Simon reviewed the bidding timeline.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS TO AUTHORIZE THE ADVERTISEMENT OF
BIDS FOR AN ICE RESURFACER. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
6.1. Consider Use Again Clothing Recycling Program
Ms. Blake-Bradley presented her staff report.
Councilmember Motin stated he liked the concept but had concerns with the look of the
containers. He stated he noticed a similar bin overflowing at Wal-Mart. He questioned if the
bins would be more suitably located in front of Goodwill or Salvation Army.He further
questioned how the company was handling its communications.
Janis Bostic, COO and Company President-Stated the Wal-Mart bin has been out for three
weeks and they are trying to determine its usage. She felt the bins in front of Goodwill
would be confusing and people may think they belong to Goodwill.Ms. Bostic stated they
could do some press releases but had concerns with their budget. She stated the company
does pay per pound fee to entities that have the bins.
Mayor Klinzing stated it is a good program but expressed concerns regarding the location of
these bins and their colors.
Councilmember Motin questioned if the bins are an allowed use in the city.
Mr. Beck stated the city should look at addressing this concern via ordinance. He suggested
bringing it back to Council for discussion after a staff review.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER FARBER AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GUMPHREY TO APPROVE FIVE BINS AT CITY
FACILITIES WITH STAFF TO REPORT BACK IN THREE MONTHS WITH
AN UPDATE. MOTION CARRIED 4-1. Councilmember Zerwas opposed.
6.2. Approval of Loading Assessment Non-degradation Report and Outstanding Resource
Value Water Reports
Ms. Haug presented her staff report.
MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER ZERWAS AND SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN TO APPROVE THE ELK RIVER'S LOADING
ASSESSMENT,NONDEGRADATION AND OUTSTANDING RESOURCE
VALUE WATER REPORT. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
•