COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

 

DATE:

December 23, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 4, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Time Extension - Agreement for the Operation of the Pescadero Solid Waste Transfer Station

 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an amendment to the Agreement for the Operation of the Pescadero Solid Waste Transfer Station (Transfer Station) which extends the term of the Agreement until a new Agreement for the operation of the Pescadero Transfer Station takes effect, or until June 30, 2005, whichever occurs first.

 

Vision Alignment

Commitment: responsive, effective and collaborative government

Goal 20: government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impacts rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

 

An extension of the agreement will allow us to fully analyze the options and obtain public input prior to making a recommendation to your Board.

 

Background

Previous Board Action

Contracted with Browning Ferris Industries(BFI) to operate the Transfer Station and extended the term of the Agreement to December 31, 2004.

 

History

Customer surveys have confirmed that the Transfer Station is a valued community resource in the County’s South Coastal area, as it provides convenient recycling and solid waste disposal service; and BFI’s operation of the facility rarely generates complaints.

 

The Transfer Station is nineteen years old and its original compaction equipment is worn out. The Department’s study of the usage of the Transfer Station has demonstrated that compaction equipment is not necessary to effectively handle the volumes of waste that arrive at the facility. What is needed, though, is an improvement in the ability of the Transfer Station to operate as a recyclable materials drop-off facility, a use that was not envisioned or included in the original design of the facility.

 

An amendment to the Agreement and a resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel and BFI has executed the amendment.

 

Discussion

The first phase in updating the Transfer Station is the upgrading of the agreement that governs the operation of the facility. The Department is currently drafting a new operations agreement and preparing procurement documents to solicit bids to operate the Transfer Station. An extension of the term of the County’s existing agreement with BFI is needed so that the Transfer Station can remain open during the procurement process. Therefore, we are recommending that your Board amend the Agreement to allow its term to be extended until a new Agreement for the operation of the Transfer Station takes effect, or until June 30, 2005, whichever occurs first.

 

Fiscal Impact

The cost of operating the Transfer Station ($269,026 in FY 03-04 and projected to be approximately $275,000 in FY 04-05) is funded by an appropriation from the Solid Waste Fund. Disposal fees collected at the Transfer Station ($53,714 in FY 03-04 and projected to be $60,000 in FY 04-05), are revenues to the Solid Waste Fund and offset the costs. There is no impact to the General Fund.