03-06-2023 Council Work Session Packet

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WS – Item 4 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 4 Date: March 6th, 2023 To: City Council From: Andy Nelson, Environmental Coordinator Re: Organics Enclosure Location Background The City received approval for $25,000 in supplemental recycling grant funding from Anoka County to be used for an organics site enclosure. The best quote for an organics enclosure and concrete pad meeting city and hauler specifications came in at $29,198. The remaining $4,198 will be paid by SCORE grant funds for 2023. Entering into the agreement, and constructing the enclosure at a location in Sunrise Park, were approved by the Council in Resolution No. 22-123 on October 10th, 2022. After receiving Council approval, staff contracted with Frontier Concrete and Keller Fence to begin construction of the enclosure and concrete pad. Construction started on October 20th, 2022. The grant contract agreement with Anoka County required that the enclosure be fully built and functional by December 31st, 2022. After receiving comments from concerned residents near the project site during open mike at the October 24th, 2022 City Council meeting, staff was directed to reevaluate location options for the organics site. At this point, the site was already under construction with site preparation completed. Staff informed the contractors that the project would be put on hold pending Council approval of a new location. Anoka County subsequently agreed to an extension of the grant agreement deadlines. Under the new terms, the site must be fully built and functional as soon as possible but no later than December 31st, 2023. Failure to meet this deadline will result in defaulting on the signed contract and losing the grant money. Also, the City will have to make payments both to the contractor who performed the site preparation work at Sunrise Park, and to the fencing contractor for purchase of the specialized materials for this project. At the February 6th, 2023 City Council Work Session, staff proposed a second location in Sunrise Park that attempted to address resident concerns by locating the site farther from residential properties. Council expressed concerns about location of organics sites in parks, and directed staff to evaluate other location options.