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 4 major categories—food donation program, waste exchange
program, art corner program, and administration. Progress has been slower
than anticipated for this program. Staffing for the project has
improved over this reporting period, allowing for more progress to be
achieved than in the first report. Currently, progress has
been made on the following tasks:
Task 1: MOU or LOA with Nonprofits (Match).
Staff met with the Executive Director of the three local Boys and Girls
Clubs on March 30, 2004. The meeting is the most promising to date. The Boys
and Girls Clubs, including two in the Santa Clarita Valley and one a little
further away, can utilize food every day for the healthy afternoon snack.
Many of the children who belong to the Boys and Girls Clubs have to stay at
the facility until after 6:00 p.m. Much of the snack food currently
distributed includes crackers, cookies, and other non-perishable foods. The
food donation system could provide hot, nutritious food for the children.
Each of the facilities could utilize the unused food from the lunch rush,
send volunteers to collect the food, and distribute the food, many times
within 30 minutes of picking up the food. This will be important to meet
health code regulations for safe food handling, a motivating factor for
participating restaurants. At this point, staff intends to initiate a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Food Pantry and the Boys and Girls
Club. There is another group, Single Mothers' Outreach, which could also be
a partner. Staff intends to meet with this group and have the MOUs signed
within the next 60 days. Task 1 is ten percent complete.
Task 2: Maintain Advertisements of Wanted Materials on SWAP.
This project will be started upon completion of the contract in Task 1.
Staff anticipates completion by summer 2004.
Task 3: Develop SWAP Advertisements and Press Releases.
Staff has initiated this task in light of the contract with Genacom for
the SWAP site. When the contract in Task 1 is 50 percent complete, staff
will begin work on press releases. Staff anticipates proceeding with Task 5
and 6 when the contract in Task 1 is signed and work is completed.
Advertisements will be completed as part of Tasks 5 and 6, while the press
release will be developed by staff. Staff will obtain venues for the
advertisements. This task will be initiated in summer 2004. Task 3 is one percent complete.
Task 4: Develop Advertisements and Press Releases for Restaurant
Outreach.
Staff has initiated this task in light of the contract with Genacom for the
SWAP site. When the contract in Task 1 is 50 percent complete, staff will
begin work on press releases. Staff anticipates proceeding with Tasks 5 and
6 when the contract in Task 1 is signed and work is completed.
Advertisements will be completed as part of Tasks 5 and 6, while the press
release will be developed by staff. Staff will obtain venues for the
advertisements. This task will be initiated in summer 2004. Task 4 is one percent complete.
Task 5: Design, Edit, and Proof SWAP Outreach.
Staff will work with local designers to create a coordinated look, including
brochures, electronic images, and print ads for the SWAP site. This will
include a new look for the brochures and coordination with the contract work
in Task 1. Staff will review the text for errors. Staff will send the draft
product to the CIWMB Grant Manager for review and approval. Upon completion,
the project will move to Tasks 9 and 11, as well as be included on the
City's website. Task 5 has not yet been started.
Task 6: Design, Edit, and Proof Restaurant Outreach.
Staff will work with local designers to create a coordinated look, including
brochures, electronic images, and print ads for the restaurant food donation
program. This will include a new look for the brochures and coordination
with the contract work in Task 1. Staff will review the text for errors.
Staff will send the draft product to the CIWMB Grant Manager for review and
approval. Upon completion, the project will move to Tasks 10 and 12, as well
as be included on the City's website. Upon completion, the project will
move to Tasks 10 and 13, as well as be included on the City's website. Task 6 has not yet been started.
Task 7: Work with Technology Services Division and Contractor to
Upgrade Database to Include New Categories and Notification System (Match).
Staff sent a Request for Proposals for the Salvaged Waste and Art
Program (SWAP) in March 2004. The City sent the proposals to several firms
for proposals. The selected firm is Genacom. Genacom has extensive
experience with this type of work, developing such projects as NapaMAX for
the City and County of Napa, and ProMAX for the County of Santa Cruz. The
proposal submitted for the work was $10,000, half of the $20,000 budgeted
for this task. The Reliable Contractor Declaration form has been signed and
submitted to the CIWMB Grant Manager. From the time of contract signing, the
project should be complete within six weeks, anticipated to be near July 1,
2004. Task 7 is 25 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 has not yet been started.
Task 9: Spanish Translation of SWAP Ads and Outreach.
This task will be completed upon completion of Task 5.
Task 10: Spanish Translation of Restaurant Ads and Outreach.
This task will be completed upon completion of Task 6.
Task 11: Print SWAP Outreach Development and Flyers.
This task will be completed upon completion of Task 9.
Task 12: Print Restaurant Outreach.
This task will be completed upon completion of Task 10.
Task 13: Promote Volunteers Through City Resource Center/ServSafe
Training.
This task is part of the promotion of the program that will occur in tandem
with other volunteer efforts. Some of the food needing organization have
existing volunteer networks and employees who can pick up food. Upon
identification of the appropriate volunteers, staff will coordinate ServSafe
training. Food Share, a Ventura County food pantry, has access to a low cost
ServSafe trainer. Staff will approach that organization to coordinate the
appropriate training. Task 13 is one percent complete.
Task 14: Restaurant Program Refrigerator and Food Storage.
Upon signing the MOU with the appropriate agencies, a final
determination of which organization will get the refrigerator will be
established. Currently, the Food Pantry is the group with the greatest need.
However, it is unclear if they will be the greatest food users. If more
freezing capability was provided to the Food Pantry, they would probably be
able to use more food. It all likelihood, this will be the organization that
receives the refrigerator/freezer. However, the Boys and Girls Clubs also
have need, although they would likely have their children consume most of
the food the same day it was donated. This will be decided upon completion
of Task 1. Task 14 has not yet been started.
Task 15: Mail SWAP Flyers.
This task will be initiated upon completion of Tasks 8 and 11.
Task 16: Presentation Art Corner Project to Art Alliance Council;
Network with Contacts (Match).
The local art councils were made aware of the art corner project. A member
of the council who is also a writer for The Signal, the local paper,
wrote a story regarding the Reuse Assistance Grant and the Art Corner project. There is
significant interest in the art corner project, and staff may consider
moving forward more quickly with the art corner project, and slow down the
timeline for the food donation project. Task 16 is five percent complete.
Task 17: SWAP Outreach to Haulers, Construction Sites, Etc.
One of the most cost effective ways to outreach regarding SWAP is through
site visits. The City recently hired a new exclusive franchise hauler for
the commercial sector. That group will perform waste audits of commercial
waste streams. In addition, staff inspects construction sites for erosion
control regularly. It is anticipated that staff will distribute the
developed outreach materials through these site visits and inspections. This
task will be initiated upon completion of Task 11.
Task 18: Distribute Restaurant Ads to Restaurants.
One of the most cost effective ways to outreach regarding SWAP is through
site visits. The City staff performs storm water inspections at restaurants
regularly. It is anticipated that staff will distribute the developed
outreach materials through these site visits and inspections. This task will
be initiated upon completion of Task 12.
Task 19: Outreach and Presentations to Valencia Industrial Association
and Chamber of Commerce (Match).
Staff has attempted several methods to approach the restaurant community in
the Santa Clarita Valley. First, staff has attempted several times to
contact the restaurant managers at Rattlers, Hometown Buffet, KFC, and
Corner Bakery. None of the managers have responded to meeting requests. Per
their request, staff donated a letter to the Corner Bakery to ask for a
meeting regarding this program. Per the local store manager, he needed to
submit the request to the corporate office. As of this report, no response
has been received. The SWAP site will include a section for the food
donation program to outline the requirements of each of the food needing
organizations, but has not been completed yet. On a positive note, the local
Chamber of Commerce is developing an Environmental Committee and has
requested that Environmental Services Division staff participate in the
meetings. This will allow staff an opportunity to outreach directly to the
businesses. In addition, once the brochures and Web site are complete, staff
will request the information to be included in the Chamber of Commerce
newsletter and announced or presented to the Valencia Industrial
Association. Task 19 is five percent complete.
Task 20: Maintain List of Donor Restaurants and Quantities of Food.
Upon completion of the SWAP site, this will be initiated.
Task 21: Forward (Coordinate) Restaurant Inquires to Food-Needing
Agencies.
Upon completion of the SWAP site, this will be initiated.
Task 22: Monthly Advertisement of Restaurant Food Donation Program.
Staff will initiate this task when Task 12 is complete.
Task 23: SWAP Upgrades With Contractor.
This task will be completed as part of Task 7.
Task 24: Maintenance of SWAP Web Page.
Technology Services Division will assist Environmental Services Division
staff in this effort upon completion of Tasks 7 and 23.
Task 25: Post Upgraded Database.
This task will be completed as part of Task 7.
Task 26: Disseminate Food Upon Restaurant Participation.
Staff anticipates completing this task soon after completion of Task 18.
Task 27: Report Pounds of Food Collected.
As part of Tasks 1 and 13, this information should be submitted. Task 27 has not yet been started.
Task 28: Assess and Select Art Corner Thrift Store.
This task may be initiated by summer 2004 depending on the SWAP site
completion date and staff availability. However, staff will not be limited
to thrift stores. The local art community and art colleges may be better
sites for this project. Task 28 has not yet been started.
Task 29: Set Up Spaces, Distribution and Tracking System.
This task may be initiated by summer 2004 depending on the SWAP site
completion date and staff availability. Task 29 has not yet been started.
Task 30: Materials and Supplies for Art Corner.
This task may be initiated by Fall 2004 depending on the SWAP site
completion date, SWAP utilization rates, and staff availability. Task 30 has not yet been started.
Task 31: Workshops for Art Corner Projects.
This task will be initiated upon completion of Tasks 28, 29, and 30.
Task 32: Develop User Database for Art Corner Outreach.
Upon completion of Task 7, staff should be able to complete this task. Task 32 has not yet been started.
Task 33: Establish Awards Program for Restaurant and Waste Exchange
Donors.
Staff anticipates this award in April 2005 to correspond with Earth Day.
Staff may also wish to correspond the award with any WRAP award winner. Task 33 has not yet been started.
Task 34: Coordinate SWAP Outreach During Commercial Waste Audits.
One of the most cost effective ways to outreach regarding SWAP is through
site visits. The City recently hired a new exclusive franchise hauler for
the commercial sector. That group will perform waste audits of commercial
waste streams. It is anticipated that staff will distribute the developed
outreach materials through these site visits. This task will be initiated
upon completion of Task 11. Task 34 has not yet been started.
Task 35: Quarterly Report to CIWMB (Match).
Staff is providing this quarterly report to the CIWMB. Task 35 is 20 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 five percent complete.
*Permission was obtained from grant recipient to publish project profile.
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