Resolution No. 09955 1 RESOLUTION NO. 9955
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3 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
VERNON APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A
4 LETTER IN SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL 222 RELATING TO
BIOREFINERIES
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6 WHEREAS, the City of Vernon (the "City") is a municipal
7 corporation and a chartered. city of the State of California organized
8 and existing under its Charter and the Constitution of the State of
9 California; and
1.0 WHEREAS,. the Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management
11 Committee (the "Committee") has requested that the City join the
12 Committee in supporting Assembly Bill-222 ("AB 222"); and
13 WHEREAS, AB 22.2 would create a regulatory pathway for the
14 development of conversion technologies in California by correcting
15 definitions within the Public Resources Code and clarify that energy
16 and biofuels, when produced from carbon-based waste feedstocks, will
17 qualify as renewable energy for purposes of the State's Renewable
18 Energy Portfolio Standard, and will not count as disposal .for the.
19 .purposes of complying with the State's waste disposal reduction
20 mandates; and
21 WHEREAS, if enacted, AB 222 would level the playing field
22 for the development of advanced biorefinery facilities within
23 California, thereby spurring economic development, reducing pollution,
24 generating renewable energy, and reducing dependence on landfill
25 disposal of waste; and
26 WHEREAS, by memo dated April 30, 2009, the Director of
27 Health'& Environmental Control recommended that the City support AB
28 222.
1 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
2 CITY OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS:
3 SECTION 1: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby
4 finds and determines that the recitals contained hereinabove are true
5 and correct.
6 SECTION 2: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby
7 states its support of AB 222 and directs the Mayor, or his designee,
8 to send a letter of support, in .substantially the form attached hereto
9 as Exhibit A and incorporated by reference, to Assembly Members
10 Anthony Adams. and Fiona Ma.
11 SECTION 3: The .City Clerk of the City of Vernon shall
12 certify to the passage of .this resolution, and thereupon. and
13 thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
14 APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of .May, 2009.
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Name: Hilario Gonzales
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Title: Mayor / ~~z-F~e~,^~
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19 ATTEST:
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21 MANUELA GIRON, Cit Clerk
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l STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
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2 COUNTY OF .LOS ANGELES )
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4 I, MANUELA GIRON, -City Clerk of the City of Vernon, do hereby.
5 certify that the .foregoing Resolution, being Resolution No. 9955,. was
6 duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Vernon at a regular
7 meeting of the City Council duly held on Monday, May 11, 200.9 and
8 thereafter was duly signed by the Mayor or Mayor Pro-Tem.of the. City of
9 Vernon.
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12 MANUELA GIRON, -ity Clerk
13SEAL)
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EXHIBIT A
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4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California 90058
Telephone (323) 583-8811
DRAFT
April 30; -2009
The Honorable Anthony Adams
State Capitol, Room 4015
Sacramento, CA 94249-0059
The Honorable Fiona Ma
State. Capitol, Room 3091
Sacramento,. GA-94249-0012
SUPPORT FOR ASSEMBLY BILL 222 (AMENDED APRIL 14, 2009)
BIOREFINERIES
Dear Assembly Members Adams and Ma:
The City of Vernon. supports Assembly Bill 222 (AB 222) relating to biorefneries.
Currently, State law (AB 939) requires cities and counties in California to reduce the
amount of waste disposed in landfills and incinerators. If enacted, Assembly Bill 222
would correct scientifically flawed definitions within the California's Public Resources
Code (PRC) which have dampened the development of conversion technologies, and
establish a new category of industries, termed biorefineries, thereby leveling the playing
.field for the development ofi these facilities within California.
With landfill space at a premium, and disposal rates estimated to increase, California
jurisdictions must .invest in landfill alternatives, such as conversion technologies and
biorefineries that reduce disposal rates, generate jobs, and utilize abundant biomass
and organic waste material in an environmentally beneficial manner. Developing such
facilities in Cal'rFornia has-the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of-solid
waste management (including the. relea$e of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere),
complement our recycling industry, and lessen our dependence on landfilling all while
complying. with strict environmental standards.
Thank you for proposing and sponsoring this important legislation. If you have arty
questions, please contact Lewis Pozzebon, Director, Health ~ Environmental Control,
(323) 583-8811.
Sincerely,
Hilario Gonzales
Mayor
Xc: Anthony Gonsalves
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4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California 90058
Telephone (323) 583-8811
May 11, 2009
The Honorable Anthony Adams
.,State Capitol, Room 4015
Sacramento, CA 94249-0059
The Honorable .Fiona Ma
State Capitol, Room 3091
Sacramento, CA 94249-0012
SUPPORT. FOR ASSEMBLY BILL 222 (AMENDED APRIL 14, 2009)
BIOREFINERIES
Dear Assembly Members Adams and Ma:
The City of Vernon supports Assembly Bill 222 (AB 222) relating to biorefineries.
Currently, State law (AB 939) requires cities and counties in California to reduce the
amount of waste disposed in landfills and. incinerators. If enacted, Assembly Bi11222
would correct scientifically flawed definitions within the California's Public Resources
Code (PRC) which have dampened the developmenfi of conversion technologies, and
establish a .new category of industries, termed biorefineries, thereby leveling the playing
field for the development of these facilities within California.
With landfill. space at a premium, and disposal rates estimated to increase, California
jurisdictions must invest in IandfiN alternatives, such as conversion technologies and
biorefineries that reduce disposal rates, generate. jobs,. and utilize abundant biomass
and organic waste material in an environmentally beneficial manner. Developing such
.facilities in California has the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of solid
waste management (including the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere),
complement-our recycling industry, and lessen our dependence on landfilling all while
Complying with strict environmental standards..
Thank you for proposing and sponsoring this important legislation. If you have any
questions, please contact Lewis Pozzebon, Director, Health & 1=nvironmental Control,
(323) 583-8811.
Sincerely,
Hilario Gonzales
Mayor
Xc: Anthony Gonsalves
E.xcCusiveCy IndustriaC
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APPRQVI:~ MAY ~ i '
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STAFF REPORT ~f
HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DER T
DATE: April 30, 2009
TO: Mayor and City Council ~,P~ 3 0 .2009
FRO: Lewis Pozzebon, Director /Health Officer GIB CLERK`$ OF~iCE
RE: Request for Approval of Letter of Support -for Assembly Bill 222,
Energy: Biofuels
The Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee (Committee) has
forwarded a request, dated April 20, 2009 (attached) for the City of Vernon to join the
Committee in support of Assembly Bill 222 (AB 222). AB 222 would create a regulatory
pathway for the development of conversion- technologies in California by correcting
definitions within the Public Resources Code. AB 222 would clarify that energy-and
biofuels, when produced from carbon-based waste feedstocks, will qualify as renewable
energy for purposes of the State's Renewable, Energy Portfolio Standard, and will. not
count as .disposal for the purposes of complying with the State's waste disposal
reduction mandates,.
According to the State Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce, there are a
number of enti#ies in addition to the Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management
Committee. that are supporting. the passage of AB 222 including: County Sanitation
Districts of Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, Solid
Waste Association of North America, and various private disposal and energy
companies. Registered opposition of AB 222 include: California Resource Recovery
Association, Californians Against Waste, and the Sierra Club.
Based- on my review of AB 222, I am recommending that the City Council authorize the
issuance of a letter of support (draft attached).
Attachments: Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee Letter, April 20,
2009
Draft Support letter
Cc: Eric Fresch, City Administrator
Jeff Harrison, City Attorney
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4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California 90058
Telephone (323) 583-8811
DRAFT
April 30, 2009
The Honorable Anthony Adams
State Capitol, Room 4015
Sacramento, CA 94249-0059
The Honorable Fiona Ma
State Capitol, Room 3091
Sacramento, CA 94249-0012
SUPPORT FOR ASSEMBLY BILL 222 (AMENDED APRIL 14, 2009)
BIOREFINERIES
Dear Assembly Members Adams and Ma:
The City of Vernon supports Assembly Bill 222 (AB 222) relating to biorefineries.
Currently, State law (AB 939) requires cities and counties in California to reduce the
amount of waste disposed in landfills and incinerators. If enacted, Assembly Bill 222
would_correct scientifically flawed.definitions within the California's Public Resources
Code (PRC) which have dampened the development of conversion technologies, and
establish a new category of industries, termed biorefineries, thereby leveling the playing
field for the development of these facilities within California.
With landfill space at a premium, and disposal rates estimated to increase, California
jurisdictions must invest. in landfill alternatives, such as conversion technologies and
biorefineries that reduce disposal rates, generate jobs, and utilize abundant biomass
and organic waste material in an environmentally beneficial-manner. Developing such
.facilities in California has the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of solid
waste management (including the release of greenhouse gases into-the atmosphere),.
complement our recycling industry, and lessen our dependence on landfilling all while-
complying-with strict environmental standards.
Thank you for proposing and sponsoring this important legislation. If you have any
questions, please contact Lewis Pozzebon, Director, Health & Environmental Control,
(323) 583-8811.
Sincerely,
Hilario Gonzales
Mayor
Xc: Anthony Gonsalves
E.xcCusiveCy IndustriaC
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LOS ANGELES COUNTY
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE/
INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE.
900 SO_ UTH FREMONT AVENUE, ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA 91803-1331
P.O. BOX 1460, ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA 91802-1460
GAIL FARBER www.lacountyiswmtf.org
CHAIR
April 20, 2009
TO: All City Mayors and County Board of Supervisors in California
URGENT REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR ASSEMBLY BILL 222
On behalf of the Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Committee/Integrated
Waste Management Task Force (Task Force), I am writing to urge you to support
Assembly Bill 222 (AB 222). Ifi enacted,. AB 222 as amended on April 14, 2009, would
level the playing field for the. development of advanced biorefinery facilities within
California, thereby spurring economic development, reducing pollution, generating
renewable energy,-and reducing dependence on landfill disposal of waste.
Pursuant to Chapter 3.67 of the: Los Angeles County Code and the California Integrated
Waste Management Act of 1.989 (AB 939, as amended),. the Task Force is responsible
for coordinating the development of all major solid waste planning, documents. prepared
for the. County of Los Angeles and the. 88 cities in the County of Los Angeles with a
combined population in excess of ten million. Consistent with these responsibilities, and
to ensure a coordinated, and cost-effective and environmentally-sound solid waste
management system in the County of Los Angeles, the. Task Force also addresses
issues impacting the. system on a Countywide basis. The Task Force membership
includes representatives of the League of California Cities-Los Angeles County Division,
the- County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, the City of Los Angeles, the waste
management industry, environmental. groups, the public, and a number of other
governmental agencies.
For many years, local governments have led the efforts to establish a pathway .for
permitting advanced conversion technology #acilities that could make more productive
use of our waste and biomass resources. Conversion technologies refer town array. of
biological, chemical and thermal technologies (other than combustion) capable of
converting post-recycled (residual) solid waste into useful products, green fuels, and
clean, renewable energy. These technologies, already proven effective in Europe and
Japan, hold significant promise for revolutionizing the way we manage waste. AB 222 if
enacted, would correct scientifically flawed definitions within the California's Public
Resources Code which have dampened the development of conversion technologies.
AB 222 would also establish a nevv category of industries., termed biorefineries, under
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