MEMORANDUM
TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Lars Ewing, Public Services Director
DATE: March 14, 2017
SUBJECT: 10:15 A.M. - Update on Eastlake Sanitary Landfill Expansion Project
BACKGROUND
The Eastlake Sanitary Landfill in Clearlake is steadily approaching the maximum capacity for the 35 acres of land that has been developed, permitted, and is currently being used for solid waste disposal. The most recent disposal capacity estimate indicates that the landfill will reach maximum capacity in eight to ten years. This forecast accounts for the effects of the massive wildfire debris disposal as well as a reduction in future waste stream quantities resulting from the Mendocino County waste import contract terminating at the end of 2016. In light of the fact that the typical landfill expansion process takes seven to ten years it is important that we take the next steps to ensure we have a plan to provide for future solid waste disposal in Lake County.
Preliminary efforts for a landfill expansion project began in earnest in 2015 when the County retained SCS Engineers to perform a site suitability analysis, which consists of an evaluation of the siting, design, permitting and cost considerations applicable to such a project. In an informational update to the Board in 2016 staff presented a summary of the two expansion options evaluated by SCS Engineers along with two conceptual options presented by Southlake Refuse and Recycling (SLR) for a proposed expansion that would occur largely on property owned by SLR directly north of the landfill. Following the recommendations of two subsequent Solid Waste Task Force meetings in 2016, SCS completed a site suitability analysis of the SLR proposals as well as three other additional expansion options that were requested by the task force to be analyzed. A summary of those options is included and will be presented to your Board.
SUMMARY
At this point it is not necessary for the County to definitively select one singular option. What is necessary at this point is to move forward with field investigations, preliminary design, and environmental review on a more limited range of alternatives in order to have further developed information which will help with the selection of the preferred alternative. The task force’s recommendation is to continue this process for the options titled “Hybrid” and “South Lake”, and furthermore to complete a landfill gate fee analysis to determine an appropriate fee structure that will adequately fund both landfill operations and the capital improvements necessary to carry out those operations.
FISCAL IMPACT: __ None _x_Budgeted __Non-Budgeted
Estimated Cost: $2M - $3M over approximately four years
Amount Budgeted: $750,000 this FY
Additional Requested:
Annual Cost (if planned for future years):
FISCAL IMPACT (Narrative): The cost estimates for the next phase of the project range between $2 million to $3 million, depending on the option selected. Funding for this work is included in the FY 16/17 budget and will be included in subsequent fiscal year budgets.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Staff recommends the Board direct staff to move forward with the next phase of the Eastlake Landfill Expansion Project and take the necessary steps for the completion of a gate fee analysis.