BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate public space recycling grant agreements with a combined total not to exceed amount of $93,598 during the period of May 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 for the following organizations:

Agreement PR00000272 with the City of Minneapolis - $53,900
Agreement PR00000273 with the City of Brooklyn Park - $21,268
Agreement PR00000274 with the City of Richfield - $2,100
Agreement PR00000275 with the City of Shorewood - $2,260
Agreement PR00000276 with the City of Maple Grove - $2,170
Agreement PR00000277 with the City of Bloomington - $10,500
Agreement PR00000278 with the City of Rogers - $1,400; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.

History: To help make recycling more widely available, the county began offering grants to public entities in 2014 to increase waste reduction, reuse, and recycling in public spaces.

Improving recycling in parks, along business districts and in sports facilities will help meet the county’s goal to recycle 75 percent of waste by 2030. Funding for these grants comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. Previously the county has provided 14 grants totaling $192,000 to improve recycling in public spaces.

Current Request: The current request is for the board to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate seven public space recycling grant agreements during the period of May 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, with the total combined amount not to exceed $93,598.

In the spring of 2018, county staff notified city recycling coordinators of available funds to purchase recycling and organics containers for parks, businesses districts, zero waste events and events venues. Guidelines stipulated that the county would fund up to $700 per container. Seven cities submitted requests for funding and all have been recommended for funding.

Staff recommends funding the following seven requests received, totaling $93,598: 

• City of Minneapolis - $53,900
  Funds will support the purchase of 77 recycling containers in the Eat Street (Nicollet Avenue) and the Stadium Village special service districts. There are currently no recycling containers in these districts. The county will contribute 46 percent towards the total cost of the recycling containers.

• City of Brooklyn Park - $21,268
  Funds will be used to purchase 47 recycling bins to expand recycling at eight high use parks.  The city will purchase an additional 20 containers for these parks with its own funds.

• City of Richfield - $2,100
  Funds will be used to purchase three critter-proof, outdoor recycling containers for Wood Lake Nature Center. The county will contribute 41 percent towards the total cost of the recycling containers.

• City of Shorewood - $2,260
  Funds will be used to purchase eight recycling and organics containers for the Shorewood Community Center.

• City of Maple Grove - $2,170
  Funds will be used to purchase five recycling stations for the Maple Grove Community Center.

• City of Bloomington - $10,500
  Funds will be used to purchase 15 recycling containers for the Bloomington Ice Garden. 

• City of Rogers - $1,400
  Funds will be used to replace two recycling stations at North Community Park and Veterans’ Memorial Park.  

Expected outcomes: Funding these projects will add 157 recycling containers to parks and other public spaces making recycling more widely available for residents.