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RES 2002-0544 - City urges public to continue participation in recycling program k. ED . �a` °id, l> �l Law Department z r fC�' kr N Omaha/Douglas Civic Center:# 1819 Farnam Street,Suite 804 ® ' ri Q , 3 o.a_ F k ° Omaha,Nebraska 68183-0804 1 Ao pry, d2 (402)444-5115 ��reo FEW/ Telefax(402)444-5125 C\T'f CL-- City of Omaha t,Ac B ck t.S\ . Paul D.Kratz Mike Fahey,Mayor o 1 A 1" `- City Attorney Honorable President and Members of the City Council, The Resolution transmitted herewith is sent at the request of Councilmember Garry Gernandt. The Resolution stresses the importance of Omaha's recycling program and asks for a renewed commitment by citizens to the recycling program. Respectfully submitted, 7"3 AgeTt J. Hamer eputy City Attorney P:\Law1\6705pjm.doc ..' REQUEST TO LAW DEPARTMENT RECEIVED For Law Department Use Only TO: Paul D. Kratz, IO2y fillPrritnil II. 23 Log Book #: DATE: February 22, 20Q�.�, CLERK Date Assigned: Assigned to: OMAHA, N€BRASKA Answered/Sent Out: Withdrawn: REQUESTES/ BEING MADE BY: On behalf of Councilmember Garry Gernandt d Ro �ustin, Council Staff Assistant (AN 4567 (►Name) (Department) (Phone) TIME LINE (Due Date): March 5, 2002 City Council Agenda (12 Working Days from Date Received by Law Department) REQUEST FOR: Resolution Encouraging Renewed Participation in City of Omaha Recycling Program (State Specifically What You Are Requesting) DETAILS: Councilmember Garry Gernandt requests that a resolution be prepared for the City Council agenda of March 5, 2002. This resolution would acknowledge the success of the City of Omaha's recycling program, and ask for a renewed commitment by the citizens of Omaha to an even more successful recycling program in the years to come. This resolution should stress the patriotic value of recycling as well as the economic value that would accrue to the citizens of Omaha in terms of recycling revenues that would be available for City uses that would otherwise be eliminated or reduced as a result of General Fund revenue shortfalls. The net result can be more goods or services to the citizen with less cost to the citizen. A copy of Mr. Gernandt's proposed press release and Mr. Dunn's commentary from the December 1 , 2001 issue of the Public Works Department publication Wasteline is attached to assist in the preparation of the requested resolution. If additional information is needed, please contact Lou Andersen at 5518 or Rod Austin at 4567. INFORMATION ATTACHED: YES X NO NONE AVAILABLE w) c: Councilmembers, City Clerk, Paul Landow, Council Staff (n•andt,Garry,(CCou) J' • From: Dunn, Paul (MoRiver) Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 3:57 PM To: , Gernandt, Garry (CCou) Subject: FW: Wasteline Be Patriotic , Recycle -a commentary by Paul Dunn, Omaha Recycling Coordinator Since the horrendous acts of evil perpetrated on and after September 11, individuals have been asking themselves :how they can help. President Bush and Mayor Fahey have encouraged citizens to continue about their lives with simply more awareness. We can do this, but it hardly seems enough, when our friends throughout the county are !being called up to active military duty or as we watched those first few weeks as bucket after bucket of debris was :passed from one worker to another. Flags proudly hanging from our homes is a first step, but we are looking to be •more involved. You can participate. Those who remember World War II, tell stories of what they did on the home front to .support the war effort. Their stories are of paper drives, steel drives and other recycling activities arranged to support -and-supply the countries defense. They can also tell you of victory gardens, war bonds and ration coupons. Prior to September 11 when recycling industry people gathered together, discussions often turned to the fact that •recycling had slipped from being the front-page story it once was in early 1990's. We also often discussed how fewer .people were recycling or that they are just recycling,less. The comment usually came "we need people to be involved with recycling, like they were during the wars." These are haunting memories now. So, let me encourage you-rebuild America,join the war effort:Recycle, plant your victory garden (using OmaGro, of course), save energy and as the President has instructed us, "live your life." There is no greater affront to the :errorist's actions than to flourish and prosper, making America greater each day. You have it within you. The entire City solid waste staff sends its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who died on September 11 or since. Godspeed to those who serve now,in the defense of our county. We'll do our part on the home front. —Original Message— Sink, Bob(MoRiver) 6ent: Wednesday, December 19,2001 3:39 PM fro: Dunn, Paul(MoRiver) 'Subject: FW:Wasteline )lease e-mail the text to Garry and send him another copy of Wasteline via interoffice. —Original Message----- from: Gemandt, Garry(CCou) 'Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 2:02 PM "o: Sink, Bob(MoRiver) 'Subject: Wasteline 3ob, Nould you please fax (444-5263) me Pal Down's article on Patriotic Recycling I believe it was on page 3 of the Wasteline. lost my copy and would appreciate your assistance. Thanks. Garry G. • k� I i 1 Co -J CO Ul U1 O) 0 Cn . . NJ N C) = ow•HA,NF OMAHA CITY COUNCIL CHUCKK II ENRSON U�i�`��°s� OMAHA/DOUGLAS CIVIC CENTER FRANKLIN THOMPSONSIDENT VICE PRESIDENT - �' OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68183 FRANK BROWN •' �� GARRY GERNANDT �t"�! �'t Telephone (402)444-5520 ��'trC� ='� P MARC KRAFT & Telefax (402) 444-5263 JIM VOKAL 09�!- ray, =. oRti' DAN WELCH 41.F0 FET105 PRESS RELEASE March 4, 2002 For Immediate Release As Submitted by City Councilmember Garry Gernandt Renewed Commitment to Recycling In a commentary that appeared in the December 2, 2001 issue of Wasteline printed by the City of Omaha Public Works Department, Recycling Coordinator Paul Dunn penned a stirring commentary on the recognized value that recycling efforts on national and local levels have played in our past war efforts, and that recycling has contributed to our ultimate victories of decades past. In view of the events of September 11, 2001, we can once again renew our commitment to recycling as a way to contribute to our newest war effort here on the home front. There is another side of recycling that should serve as an incentive to Omahans to renew their interest in recycling. Since the City of Omaha began its recycling program in 1995, we have realized total "value" to the City of $4,296,129. Total value is defined as revenues from recyclables marketed by Weyerhauser plus landfill fees avoided by citizen participation in the recycling program. We must all appreciate the fact that participation in the recycling program can raise revenues that will lessen the City General Fund tax burden, and also free up landfill fees for other uses that will benefit the general public for such things as equipment, parks and similar uses. I urge the public to continue participation in the recycling program, and to increase their participation wherever possible. It is for these reasons that I will introduce a resolution at tomorrow's City Council meeting calling upon the citizens of Omaha to renew and increase their participation in the City of Omaha's Recycling Program. -30- C-25A CITY OF OMAHA LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER 1 Omaha,Nebraska RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OMAHA: WHEREAS, the City of Omaha has a recycling program in place, which program has since 1995 realized a total value to the City and its citizens in the amount of$4,296,129; and, WHEREAS, such recycling program provides such a monetary value by providing revenues from marketed recyclables and by avoiding landfill fees through citizen participation in such recycling program; and, WHEREAS, such recycling program can strengthen the local and national economy by reducing energy and materials consumption and importation; and,. WHEREAS, in addition to reducing the burden on the City's general tax fund, such recycling program reduces the total area needed for waste disposal fill operations and generally enhances the environmental well-being of the community and, hence, the nation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OMAHA: THAT, the City of Omaha urges the public to continue its participation in the recycling program and to increase that participation wherever possible, to the end of saving local tax dollars and landfill space, enhancing the environment, and local and national economic strength and well-being. P:\Lawl\6706pjm.doc APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY ATTORNEY DATE By = ouncilmember Adopted ;• AR — 5 2002 , 7-o City Clerk Approved.. R "'�' h:..: Mayor / NO. C)if Resolution by . , ) Res. that the City of Omaha urges the public ..' �' ► ' to continue its participation in the recycling '-°- G' � i F program and to increase that participation E 4,, wherever possible, to the end of saving local r r ,I hr tax dollars and landfill space, enhancing the ' / - �,J environment, and local and national economic / ;,,k ij i 1.�.). strength and well-being. '' i1 - P:\Lawl\6706pjm.doc • :" r Li ‘... . . , n Presented to City Council MAR - 5..20Q2 Adopted -o U?utter grown City Clerk