Travis County Commissioners Court
July 6, 2004
Item A2
Item A2, consider and take appropriate action on the request to use alternative fiscal for -- landfill disposal.
>> good morning, melinda with the transportation and natural resources department and with me is melanie mcaffee, citizen who is sponsoring this consultation. She has raised some funds to bring neal feldman to Travis County on alternatives to landfill disposal. And it's our understanding that this information she is passing out will tell you a little more about his credentials. He's considered to be a nationally recognized expert on alternatives, waste reduction and minimumization. And the community, ms. Mcaffee and the community is asking Travis County to provide matching funds to $1,250 that she's contributing so we can bring him out here sometime in the next month. What we would do is have mr. Sellman meet with county staff, capco staff and the consultant that's been hired to do a study on this subject, on alternative -- what we would expect to get from the study is, I think, some expertise just to make sure that it's not a routine study. We want to gather all the best information we can to make sure that in this community we are doing everything we can or we know all of our options that could be followed for reducing waste to the landfills. And ms. Mcaffee may have a few words to add.
>> well, just a reiteration of what I have probably said before, that I have been talking to neal for a long time now and feel quite confident that he can bring a perspective of what has been successful all over the country that has worked without changing state laws and going through a tremendous amount of effort that's not feasible, practical or possible. So he comes with that in mind. And he's also anxious to bring rick anthony with him who has been very involved in some of the california studies on a very detailed -- he's been part of the process. So in a way we're kind of getting two for the price of one. So I think it's a real good financial deal also.
>> is criminology -- is that kremlin ology; that kreupl ology in russian?
>> that is a degree he got in the beginning. I guess I could say I got an english degree which is not doing me really any good right now. That was his degree.
>> do we know what is kremlinology?
>> he's a russian.
>> the kremlin.
>> so it's the kremlin. [inaudible].
>> that was during the cold war, wasn't it? [laughter] so how many days will he be here?
>> well, it would be one day, and it would be dependent on -- it's going to be real hard to try to get a schedule. He might fly in one day and meet in the afternoon and then meet again in the morning and then fly out. So it will be a quick visit, but --
>> we can get that much value out of communicating with him to justify the expenditure?
>> I obviously think so. I'm willing to put my money towards it. I definitely do or I wouldn't be spending my money to do so. So yes, I believe very strongly.
>> you have in mind him meeting with Travis County staff, capco representatives, I guess, including solid waste advisory committee members who can become available whatever day he is coming, as well as residents of Travis County? Two meetings or three? Or is that yet to be determined?
>> I think that's probably yet to be determined. I think the main objective is for him to meet with you guys.
>> we'll be working to plan the meeting. I think the goal is to get as many people together at one time in one meeting, but we may have to have two or three in the course of the day, but the goal to get county staff and the members of the subcommittee on the solid waste advisory who will be working with capco on the study. And I hope we'll get more than just what he's bringing to us in person that day. What we really hope to get is to get to know him and what he has to offer as a resource, and we think he could bring with him some information and point out other information to the consultant doing the study that make sure they haven't overlooked. So something that would be valuable to them in the course of doing it before they get underway and it's too late.
>> melanie, where is he flying in from?
>> washington.
>> as somebody that's made that trip a million times, you are better off flying him in the night before and having a full day the next. I would highly suggest if possible to see if you can get some time with the Austin american-statesman with their editorial board, I think that would also be a way to help leverage, spread some of the information and expertise that he might be able to bring as well. I think that would be a really good stop.
>> and it's a good suggestion.
>> but I would highly suggest flying in and having -- it doesn't work flying in and having meetings that evening. [inaudible].
>> this is the subject that the capco consultant is covering also.
>> that's correct.
>> I mean that's why we suggested the consultant kuplt with mr. S -- consult with mr. Seldman.
>> the recommendation was main when that consultant was hired at capco or approved to be hired that the consultant consult with this man and we think it would be husband use full to expand it to -- it would be useful to expand it to county staff.
>> does this the come out of our $98,000 that we have left?
>> that's the recommendation. Now, in my view a question is whether we think we will get $12,050 worth of value -- $1,250 worth of value, and the way we even sure we do is outline exactly what we want his input on. We have a general idea of what we think his areas of expertise are, right? Based on what i've seen and I think in addition to this we probably ought to chat with him and see if he has additional information about himself, projects that he's worked on, look at those and then try to figure out what questions we ought to ask that would benefit Travis County residents before he gets here. And I guess my own view would be rather than have him hop around that is correct we try to get the people that we think he ought to talk with at one location where he's there. And we're all here, and we could come to one location and basically communicate with him. Even if we do it different time slots. If you get him in one place, say capco conference room, 9:00 to 11:00 he's with one group, then a snack. The other thing I would give an invitation for members of the capco executive committee for them to send representatives. If he's at one location, say, six hours, he can do a whole lot of good. But if he's trying to have three meetings in three different places in six hours, then you eat up as much time traveling from one location to the other as do real any the conferences. So, you know, I gave my little talk about plans and not implementing them enough to the executive committee. I think everybody there has heard enough about mr. Seldman to at least be curious to send a staff member if they don't come. I think that would be a good move. As well as trying to get for Travis County what we think we can. Then ms. Mcaffee and others have some ideas. The last time we had the landfill issue on the agenda, several residents came by and talked about recycling more, right? Regarding waste from the landfill. We ought to try to touch base with them and tell them the expert is coming. And if they have ideas, get them to us or if they want to come to one of the meetings, maybe afford that opportunity. So a lot of good can happen from this, I think, but it does have to have a little more structure. And the desire should be for us to get as much from mr. Seldman as we can during the six to eight hours.
>> judge, on that, as far as trying to get structure, after talking to him many times, it's become quite obvious to me that there is so much information that he can share with us. My hope is that he can do a lot of talking about all these different projects that he's doing that are -- have not been brought to the attention of the county and that it can be a listening process and that a learning process and that through those hours of hearing of all these projects that he's done around the country, that at that point you determine, oh, I really like that idea or I like that idea. Where to try to establish that idea before he's come, I think, is somewhat problematic. In that I think he will be bringing some new ideas that it would be hard to determine, oh, we want this or we don't want that. Before he's come.
>> well, would it be possible to get a -- get copies of written summaries of the most successful projects before his arrival?
>> yes.
>> I would think he has probably spoken to most of them in other speeches --
>> I would get summaries of these projects listed at the end here.
>> it has a list of the things, I mean like his speeches. Necessary but not sufficient for sustainable economy, that whole page right there.
>> judge, Commissioners, john kuhl, environmental officer. Let me jump in and help out on some of the missing pieces here that I think we've got. One thing is to remind folks that seldman's got historical context here. He was involved early on the late 80s, early 90s consulting with the city of Austin when they were designing their recycling programs and pay as you throw programs and so forth. And so, you know, there is a history here within this community so he's got somewhat of a jump start on what we are doing at least in that large component of the county that is city of Austin. Secondly, you know, I guess the -- technically he's the president and co-founder of the institute for local self reliance and I'm assuming richard anthony has worked for him for years in that sort of capacity. Those folks or those organizations have websites that can be looked at. They are respectively www.ilsr.org for the institute for local self-reliance, and www.richardanthonyassociates.com . There's a whole bunch of others. I found some information that didn't make it to you that didn't make tonight the packet you are looking at and I can get thaw as well. I think that, for example, what melanie is talking about are we can hone in on what projects he's worked on. For example, perhaps the [indiscernible] for san luis ibispo and immediately start asking questions about what's being done there versus here and also relate it to looking to the future. You know, what this is about is, you know, the environmental community coming to local government and saying consider a paradigm shift. Right now we've spent three fairly agonizing years talking about landfills and, you know, related information and considering that as our model for the future. And practically speaking, I think that's time well spent. I mean we -- that is the model that's out there, but there are other ways to think about this and that's all we're saying is let's make sure that we've got all of the cards in the deck, you know, that we're dealing with to look into the future. Ultimately these guys suggest you can perhaps minimize or completely do away with landfills. Is that possible? I'm not here to tell you it is, but it ought to be considered if we're planning on a grand scheme, and I hope that we are.
>> I think all we're saying is we just want a slick format that we want to know what we're going to get out of this thing before we get there.
>> no problem. I understand.
>> what we need to have you do, john, is put something together that says here's how this thing is going to be because obviously this guy can talk us into the ground with this thing, but really identifying as good he's got history with this community knowing what -- and probably knowing what we're -- how we got him here.
>> right.
>> so I just think you all work up the schedule, let everybody know where they ought to be because the judge is right, as opposed to moving this guy around, get all the necessary people to go to him. I look forward to listening to that.
>> yeah, I hear you and I just think it behooves us as a staff and to get with melanie and the rest of the community and get it very well organized. Realistically speaking, I think it's the beginning of a dialogue and there may be more down the road with this gentleman or folks like him. So I don't want you guys to come away thinking that we're going to get everything done in one day that needs to get done, but -- [laughter]
>> we want it done as efficiently as possible utilizing his time as well.
>> certainly.
>> we believe $2,500 will cover his fee plus all expenses? Hotel, travel? Food? Et cetera?
>> right.
>> he's going to be staying out at [inaudible] mansion, isn't stphe.
>> we'll be feeding him.
>> it's my understanding that the $2,500 brings neil seldman and his partner rick anthony from the west coast. So two people to Austin for one day. And that we wouldn't be asked to pay any more than half of that amount. The community, if it did go over, the community would be absorbing the rest of the cost.
>> I'm agreeable to that.
>> well, the 1250 is what you are asking the county for. And we get to participate fully. [laughter] paragraph.
>> we'll even invite to you dinner.
>> that's why I move approval.
>> second.
>> any more discussion in? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you very much for your persistence, ms. Mcaffee.
>> thank you, judge.
>> we'll look forward to that dinner. [laughter]
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Friday, October 28, 2005 9:40 AM