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THE AGENCY FOR SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
PROJECTS
WASTE AUDIT OF REDWOOD COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY PROJECT CAMPUS RECYCLING PROGRAM HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY :
Waste Audit for the Redwood Community Action Agency, executed through the Humboldt State University Campus Recycling Program. The Waste Audit is part of a grant to the Humboldt State University Campus Recycling Program by the California Integrated Waste Management Board for a study into waste reduction in Humboldt County, California. The grant was issued as a part of the legislation requiring for the reduction of solid waste being deposited in landfills through the state of California, labeled AB 939.
Presently, RCAA is implementing numerous programs to reduce their waste production and should be commended for their efforts. With the implementation of the programs recommended in this report, it is believed that RCAA can continue to reduce the amount generated, which can translate into cost savings.
SURVEY: JANES CREEK WEST SPECIFIC PLAN PROJECT:
On June 29, the Agency for Sustainable Systems in Science and Technology (ASSIST) conducted a survey of residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the abandoned Simpson Mill site in Arcata, California. The mill site and adjoining properties were proposed to be annexed by the city for development. Two-thirds of the respondents were opposed to the proposed development plan, which called for mixed residential, commercial and light industrial use. Two days before the survey was conducted and nearly a week after ASSIST volunteers met to finalize plans for the survey, the Simpson Redwood Company withdrew from the escrow agreement, citing the present demarcation of the flood plain and public sentiment as the reasons for the decision. The aim of ASSIST is to act as a non-bias source of information and community assistance prompting project coordinators to use volunteers from outside the area with little or no knowledge of the project. The group of volunteers were divided into two teams, interviewing neighbors adjacent to the project area. Of the more than one hundred households directly interviewed, 75% were registered voters in Arcata, 67% were property owners, and have lived there nearly 13 years on average, 13% said that they would like to see the project happen while 67% responded that they would not. The remaining 20% indicated that they were not decided on the issue, many noting that they were not opposed to developing the area but not the present proposal. Almost 80% commented that the realization of this development plan would have a negative effect on the traffic in the area and 71% felt that the environment would be adversely affected, 53% of those surveyed were aware that the city was involved in an escrow agreement with Simpson yet only 23% were aware what the agreement involved. Of those who opposed the project, 25% said it should be reclaimed or stay as agricultural land, 12% suggested a park or recreational area, and 5% favored an environmental or wildlife area. Survey Results
ARCATA/CAMOAPA SISTER CITY PROJECT:
The Arcata/Camoapa Sister City Project was started in 1986 by a group of local residents interested in promoting friendship and understanding. Over the past ten years, the program has completed a variety of projects designed to promote greater understanding. Since the beginning of the sister city relationship over 150 people have traveled from Humboldt County to Camoapa. Among those participating are doctors, carpenters, veterinarians, nurses, school teachers, business owners, students, musicians, dentists and elected officials. All projects are done at the request of a group of Camoapans who represent a wide spectrum of social, political and economic views. All projects carried out in Camoapa are done working side by side with local residents. Because of the crucial need for clean water, upcoming projects in Camoapa will focus on improving the water supply in areas immediately surrounding the town. In January a group of Humboldt County residents will be traveling to Camoapa to work with residents there to improve an existing well. The well will be dug out, lined, and covered. It will then be fitted with a chronologically appropriate "rope pump," manufactured in Nicaragua. This type of pump has the advantage of bring easily operated and easily repaired if necessary. Once the well is covered, a series of wash basins will be installed nearby, as well as showers for the use of residents who have no access to water in their homes. The project will be carried out by Camoapans working with the brigade from Humboldt County. Arrangements will be made for participants to stay in the homes of Nicaraguan (by El Porvenir). Information visits to schools, businesses and health care facilities will be provided to give a well rounded perspective of our Sister City.
SOUTH JETTY WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT:
The South Jetty at Humboldt Bay (CA) is currently the site of a semipermanent settlement of about sixty squatter dwellings, many of them housing families, for a total of approximately 300 people. The inhabitants are generally unemployed, transient, disenfranchised and poorly integrated in the surrounding communities, with little or no source of permanent income. Because it is an unincorporated area (adjacent to the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge), and the occupants are neither renting or owning the property, there are no utilities and services provided to the area; more specifically, there is no organized waste collection and/or disposal service, nor is there any regular recycling program. Because of this situation, waste has been observed to be simply abandoned in the outlying area, with light items being picked up and carried by the wind for often considerable distances, resulting in unsightly and unsanitary conditions. The area is composed of wetlands and dunes that are an essential habitat for several species of birds, whose ecosystem may be impacted. The problem is compounded by the frequent visits of hunting, fishing and boating in the area that also leave waste behind. In the past decades, the area has been used by neighboring communities as an unofficial abandoned car lot. It has been proposed to remove the community (SB 39), but this has not been signed by Governor Wilson yet (10/96) and any action may be slow to come. There are currently no alternative locations or facilities for the inhabitants of this community. With this context, it seems reasonable to assume that the immediate waste problem will be present for at least several more months and is worth addressing specifically. ASSIST is currently seeking funding for support community initiatives to remove the solid waste present on the South Jetty and the surrounding areas. ASSIST volunteers are working with government health officials to facilitate the implementation of a solid waste clean-up of this beautiful area. The Pacific Lumber Company, who owns much of the land on which the waste rests, expressed an interest in cleaning up the dunes and the wetlands so it can be more accessible to day-users. ASSIST is also hopeful that the community can develop means to sustainability control the recurrence of unsanitary conditions.
This proposal provided the scope of work and administrative information associated with a proposed contractual agreement between the City of Arcata (City) and the Agency for Sustainable Systems in Science and Technology (ASSIST).
ASSIST, a non-profit organization proposes to render services primarily as an Administrative Board which would meet monthly to disburse funding to volunteers of the Arcata Free Bike Program for the initial and ongoing activities related to the program and coordinate the reporting of quarterly and final progress reports. In addition, ASSIST proposes to be a liaison between the City and the Volunteers of the Arcata Free Bike Program (Volunteers) for the implementation of education and public outreach campaigns related to the Program, coordination required to maintain a supply of Free Bikes in Arcata, and oversight assuring the Program general ongoing success.
The proposed scope of initial activities were:
1.1 Structuring of Administrative Board and Program Procedures:
The Administrative Board (Board) will meet at the end of each month, with the Volunteers and a representative of the City, to receive invoices for reimbursement from the City. These meetings will also be used to review the projects progress, and plan the following month's project activities. The Board will be responsible for submitting the invoices to the City for payment and paying all invoices before the next business meeting.
1.2. Outfitting and Deployment of Initial 75 Bikes:
The Volunteers will have a majority of bikes painted, outfitted with plaques, and deployed by November 1, 1997. All seventy-five bicycles and the subsequently twenty-five replacement bicycles will be deployed before June, of 1998. ASSIST will register all bicycles with the City police department and before deployment the Volunteers will record each bike in the Projects maintenance logbook. No bikes shall be deployed until it is inspected and verified by the City Transportation Superintendent.
1.3. Arrangement and Coordination of Volunteer Group
1.3.a. The Education and Outreach Group:
The Education and Outreach Group's makeup will consist of a minimum of at least three Volunteers during the entire duration of the project.
1.3.b. The Maintenance Assistance Work Group:
The Maintenance Assistance Work Group's makeup will consist of a minimum of at least three Volunteers during the entire duration of the project.
The proposed scope of on-going activities were:
2.1. Outfitting and Deployment of Replacement Bikes:
Outfitting the replacement bikes will be conducted at workshops on a bimonthly schedule. The workshops will also be used to familiarize Volunteers with standard procedures in upgrading bicycles.
2.2. Repair and Servicing of Program Bikes by continued coordination with the Maintenance Assistance Work Group:
On a minimum of three month period (one month period if it is requested by insurance provider), each bike will be retrieved and returned for servicing by the Volunteers. Service scheduling will be determined by maintenance logbook records. Activity that occurs to each bike will be recorded and dated. Any bike that can not be recovered or considered unserviceable, will be reported to the City police department and the City Transportation Superintendent. No bikes shall be redeployed until it is inspected and verified by the City Transportation Superintendent.
2.3. Continuing Outreach and Education by coordination with Education and Outreach Group:
Outreach and Education programs will be performed on a bimonthly basis. The purposes of these programs will be to inform the probable user-groups of the benefits of using the free bicycles and educate them on how to use the program effectively. This will include but not limit to the following:
Visits to Arcata's junior and high schools
Visits to clubs and organizations at HSU
Advertise educational workshops in the local papers
Visits to local businesses
2.4. Project Reporting:
Quarterly reports will be written by the each of the Volunteers work groups, then reviewed and submitted by ASSIST to the City.
The Annual report will be composted by the Volunteers, members of ASSIST and City representatives.
The work progress plan was:
1. Organize Volunteer Work Groups
2. Obtain credit with local bicycle suppliers
3. Meet all City mandated deadlines
And the proposed budget was:
Initial program start-up expenses,
(including tools, parts, garage space rental and deposit) $2395.00
Program administration $55/mo x 11 months 605.00
12 month insurance policy (approx until actual bid comes in) 3000.00
Ongoing program expenses,
(including tools, parts, and maintenance and education campaigns) 5000.00
Total Proposed Budget $ 11,000.00
The project was approved by the Arcata City Council on September 16, 1997, but on November 17, 1997, ASSIST had to remove their proposal because of inability to secure insurance for the project. The City of Arcata had to return the grant money because insurance was impossible to obtain for the project. The volunteers received a $5,000 grant from the City and immediately put 35 bikes on the street. ASSIST continues cooperating with the volunteers, and seeking an insurance that will cover the project.