Project Description
The City of Santa Clarita used their grant funds for three programs
to encourage and promote reuse: (1) An upgrade to the Santa Clarita Valley
Swap (SCVS), a basic waste exchange of wanted and available materials; (2) A
food waste donation program connecting the local Food Pantry, Santa Clarita
Valley Senior Center, and FOOD Share with local restaurants and other food
service businesses to donate edible food that would otherwise be discarded;
and, (3) An Art Corner program to create arts and crafts from secondhand
materials that are packaged and sold at local thrift stores. Local
artists, crafters, students, teachers, and volunteers ran workshops for
teachers and other interested participants on the use of the packaged
supplies and on how to purchase the packages for classroom and other
projects.
The steps required to accomplish their project are as follows:
In the work plan submitted to the CIWMB, there were 34 tasks to be
completed in four major categories—food donation program, waste
exchange program, art corner program and administration. Here is the current
progress made on the project tasks:
Task 1: MOU or LOA with Nonprofits. (Match)
The City never ended up needing an MOU for the groups to participate in the
program. The City worked with willing nonprofits. They are willing to
participate in this program since it is already part of their organizational
mission to accept food. Task 1 is 15 percent complete; it will not be worked
on further due to program changes.
Task 2: Maintain Advertisements of Wanted Materials on SWAP.
The www.SCVSWAP.com Web
site is currently available.
Task 2 is 100 percent complete.
Task 3: Develop SWAP Advertisements and Press Releases.
The SWAP program is already being promoted within City Hall. Also, City
staff has promoted the site with community members and business leaders at
the Chamber of Commerce Environmental Committee meeting. Following the
promotion of Bike to Work Day (May 19, 2005), City staff will actively
promote via press releases, direct mail to Chamber of Commerce members,
local radio stations, and cable television
www.SCVSWAP.com. Task 3
is 50 percent complete, and will be completed by March 2006.
Task 4: Develop Advertisements and Press Releases for Restaurant
Outreach.
The SWAP program is already being promoted within City Hall and local
nonprofits. Also, City staff has promoted the site with community members
and business leaders at the Chamber of Commerce Environmental Committee
meeting. Also, the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry will promote the Food
Donation program, as well. Following the promotion of Bike to Work Day (May
19, 2005), City staff will actively promote via press releases, direct mail
to Chamber of Commerce members, local radio stations, and cable television
www.SCVSWAP.com. Task 4 is
50 percent complete, and will be completed by December 2005.
Task 5: Design, Edit and Proof SWAP Outreach.
After working with the Graphics Division to find a qualified firm, staff
selected Maury J. Blitz, LLC and Maureen Nishikawa, Graphic Designer to
create brochures and flyers to promote City staff, consistent with the
language on the Web site. The designers developed several versions of each
piece of collateral. Upon review by the management and staff members,
designs were selected, finalized, and approved for print. . The text was
provided by City staff, consistent with the language on the Web site. The
designers developed several versions of each piece of collateral. Upon
review by the management and staff members, designs were selected,
finalized, and approved for print. Task 5 is 100 percent complete.
Task 6: Design, Edit and Proof Restaurant Outreach.
As part of their contract to do SWAP outreach, Maury J. Blitz, LLC and
Maureen Nishikawa, Graphic Designer created Food Donation Program brochures
for restaurant outreach. The text was provided by City staff, consistent
with the language on the Web site. The designers developed several versions
of each piece of collateral. Upon review by the management and staff
members, designs were selected, finalized, and approved for print. Task 6 is
100 percent complete.
Task 7: Work with Technology Services Division and Contractor to
Upgrade Database to Include New Categories and Notification System. (Match)
In June 2004, City staff had a
kick off meeting with Genacom to establish points of communication, needs,
and other contract issues. Staff provided Genacom with some details
necessary to complete the work. During the past year, the City and Genacom
have worked to develop the
www.SCVSWAP.com site for the local waste exchange. Upon overcoming some
confusion with contract language, Genacom and the City's Technology Services
Division worked together to transfer the finished product to the City's
server, taking over the site maintenance. During the transfer and after, it
became apparent there were some non-functioning and poor functioning aspects
of the site. Genacom worked to revise the functionality of the site,
primarily in the administrative area of the program. As of April 2005, the
final changes were made and the site is now available for use. Task 7 is 100
percent complete.
Task 8: Develop Mailing List for Hard Copy Outreach.
As a part of the City's outreach to the community, staff will provide an
option for those people who do not have computer access and require printed
copies of the SWAP items. Staff will add addresses to the mailing list only
upon request to reduce junk mail. Potential people on this list may include
seniors, construction sites, and low income community members. It is
anticipated this task would begin upon completion of Task 11. Task 8 is 0
percent complete, and will begin immediately, but a bigger push will be on
September 17, 2005, during the next River Rally and again in the spring of
2006, during the Pride Week promotion.
Task 9: Spanish Translation of SWAP Ads and Outreach.
The www.SCVSWAP.com
brochure was translated into a Spanish language version. Task 9 is 100
percent complete.
Task 10: Spanish Translation of Restaurant Ads and Outreach.
The decision was made not to translate the Food Donation Program brochure
due to the limited number when compared to the general SVCSWAP brochure. The
www.SCVSWAP.com was
translated and includes some information on all the waste exchange programs.
Task 10 is ten percent complete; some Spanish language information is in the
general information brochures.
Task 11: Print SWAP Outreach Development and Flyers.
This task was completed. The brochures and flyers were printed with soy
based ink on recycled paper containing 50 percent sugar cane pulp and 50
percent recycled fiber, of which 30 percent was post consumer. The City has
printed 10,000 general information brochures in English, 2,500 general
information brochures in Spanish, and 5,000 general information flyers. Task 11 is
100 percent
complete.
Task 12: Print Restaurant Outreach.
This task was completed. The brochures and flyers were printed with soy
based ink on recycled paper containing 50 percent sugar cane pulp and 50
percent recycled fiber, of which 30 percent was post consumer. The City has
printed 2,500 Food Donation Program brochures. Task 12 is 100 percent
complete.
Task 13: Promote Volunteers through City Resource Center/ServSafe
Training
The City worked with the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry to identify
volunteers to receive ServSafe Training. Working with a ServSafe trainer is
recommended by other food donation programs in nearby Ventura County, the
City helped provide textbooks, tests, and classroom ServSafe training. On
April 27, 2005, two volunteers attended the ServSafe training in Ventura
County. In addition, the City purchased six ServSafe books and tests, so
there are four remaining that can be used by new volunteers interested in
receiving the certification in the future. Task 13 is 100 percent complete;
additional training may occur if more people volunteer.
Task 14: Restaurant Program Refrigerator and Food Storage.
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry refrigerators finally burned out.
Therefore, for a couple of months, they had extremely limited refrigeration
capability. In the City's ongoing discussions, they mentioned that grant
monies would be available for improving the refrigeration capacity if they
participated in the Food Donation Program. As a result, the Santa Clarita
Valley Food Pantry decided, in light of the grant, to install an energy
efficient walk-in refrigeration unit with sufficient space to handle
restaurant food donations.
The City also worked with them to determine that Coleman coolers were
needed to safely transport food from donators until the food could be
refrigerated. The City purchased these coolers plus cooler ices for the
volunteers to utilize. These were chosen because of their ease of transport.
Many of the volunteers are elderly and could not handle larger units. Task
14 is 100 percent complete.
Task 15: Mail SWAP Flyers.
This City has received the flyers. However, they will likely distribute the
flyers via the Chamber of Commerce mail out and other mailing operations.
The budget did not allow for the entire City to receive a copy of the flyer
(165,000 people). However, the City will actively promote the program. Task
15 is ten percent complete, but will be completed when the flyers are
distributed on September 17, 2005 (during the next River Rally), and again
in the spring of 2006, during the Pride Week promotion.
Task 16: Presentation Art Corner Project to Art Alliance Council;
Network with Contacts. (Match)
The City will promote the program by sending flyers to the Art Alliance
council and the Community Services Department. In addition, the City will
mail the flyer to California Institute of the Arts, and appropriate
departments at the College of the Canyons. Task 16 is five percent complete;
mailing will occur prior to the end of June 2005.
Task 17: SWAP Outreach to Haulers, Construction Sites, Etc.
The residential hauler for the City has already taken some
www.SCVSWAP.com
brochures to distribute at a home improvement show. Staff will place the
brochures and flyers at public counters at City Hall. In addition, the City
will have the Stormwater Inspector distribute the flyers when performing
construction site inspections. Task 17 is 50 percent complete, and will be
completed by October 2005, when all construction site inspections for the
year will need be be completed.
Task 18: Distribute Restaurant Ads to Restaurants.
The City will direct mail the brochures to all restaurants within City
limits. The list was compiled for required storm water inspections. In
addition, when additional storm water inspections are required, the Storm
Water Inspectors will let the restaurants know about the program. Task 18 is
50 percent complete.
Task 19: Outreach and Presentations to Valencia Industrial Association
and Chamber of Commerce. (Match)
Staff will request the information be included in the Chamber of Commerce
newsletter, potentially mailed to the Chamber of Commerce members, and
announced or presented to the Valencia Industrial Association. Task 19 is 50 percent
complete.
Task 20: Maintain List of Donor Restaurants and Quantities of Food.
When listings are posted on the
www.SCVSWAP.com site,
staff will capture the information. Task 20 is 100 percent complete, and is
an ongoing task.
Task 21: Forward (Coordinate) Restaurant Inquiries to Food Needing
Agencies.
When listings are posted on the
www.SCVSWAP.com site,
staff will capture the information. The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry and
the Single Mothers' Outreach will receive brochures to distribute to
interested parties. Task 21 is 100
percent complete.
Task 22: Monthly Advertisement of Restaurant Food Donation Program.
As the collateral was just completed, this task was not able to be
completed. The City will promote the program. Task 22 is 0 percent complete,
but will be completed intermittently as part of the regular outreach
program.
Task 23: SWAP Upgrades with Contractor.
This task was completed as part of Task 7. Task 23 is 100 percent
complete.
Task 24: Maintenance of SWAP Web Page.
Technology Services Division is providing this service. Task 24 is 100 percent complete.
Task 25: Post Upgraded Database.
This task was completed as part of Task 7. Task 25 is 100 percent
complete.
Task 26: Disseminate Food Upon Restaurant Participation.
Staff anticipates completing this task soon after completion of Task 18.
Task 26 is 0 percent complete; ongoing promotion will result in completion.
Task 27: Report Pounds of Food Collected.
As the database and outreach were only recently completed, this task has not
begun yet. However, all postings need to estimate the number of pounds of
materials to be exchanged. The database will capture this information. Task
27 is 0 percent complete; ongoing promotion will result in completion.
Task 28: Assess and Select Art Corner Thrift Store.
The City decided to have the Art Corner project to be virtual rather than
physical. Therefore, this task will not be completed. However, the thrift
stores will be notified of the
www.SCVSWAP.com
program. Task 28 is 0 percent complete.
Task 29: Set Up Spaces, Distribution and Tracking System.
The City decided to have the Art Corner project to be virtual rather than
physical. Therefore, this task will not be completed. Task 29 is 0 percent complete.
Task 30: Materials and Supplies for Art Corner.
The www.SCVSWAP.com
site will be utilized for harvesting this information when it becomes
available. The City will send information flyers to the Art Alliance council
and the Community Services Department. In addition, the City will mail the
flyer to the California Institute of the Arts and appropriate departments at
the College of the Canyons. Task 30 is 0 percent complete, and will be
initiated upon appropriate listings being posted on the Web site.
Task 31: Workshops for Art Corner Projects.
This task will be initiated upon completion of Tasks 28, 29 and 30. Task 31
is 0 percent complete, and will be initiated upon appropriate listings being
posted on the Web site.
Task 32: Develop User Database for Art Corner Outreach.
This information will be gleaned from postings to create a user database
when appropriate listings are posted on the Web site. Task
32 is 0 percent complete, and will be initiated upon appropriate listings
being posted on the Web site.
Task 33: Establish Awards Program for Restaurant and Waste Exchange
Donors.
Staff anticipates this award for 2006 when the program has at least a year
of activity completed. Task 33 is 0 percent complete, and will be initiated
upon appropriate listings being posted on the Web site.
Task 34: Coordinate SWAP Outreach During Commercial Waste Audits.
There is a new position in the Environmental Services Division—the Project
Development Coordinator. The Project Development Coordinator will be
conducting commercial waste audits now—not necessarily the commercial waste
hauler. The position has recently been filled. Upon completion of the
materials recovery facility design and siting, the waste audits will likely
begin. Task 34 is 0 percent complete, and will begin upon completion of the
material recovery facility process.
Task 35: Quarterly Report to CIWMB. (Match)
Staff provided regular reports to the CIWMB. Task 35 is 100 percent
complete.
Task 36: Staff Coordination Meetings as Necessary. (Match)
The Environmental Services Division has coordinated with the Community
Services Division, Technology Services Division and other departments, as
required. In particular, the SWAP project has been reviewed by both
Technology Services and Purchasing Divisions. Technology Services Division
staff will help manage the SWAP project. Task 36 is 100 percent complete.
Submitted by Travis Lange, Environmental Services Division Manager
May 11, 2004
*Permission was obtained from grant recipient to publish project profile.
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