Title
Resolution to Approve a Youth Environmental Education Contract with Ecology Center, Inc. ($33,000.00/year)
Memorandum
Attached is a resolution to approve a five-year contract with Ecology Center, Inc., for youth environmental educational services at $33,000.00/year with a 3% increase/year. The first-year funding for this contract has been included in the solid waste enterprise fund (90%) and the water utilities fund (10%), both within the Public Services Area approved FY2010/11 budgets, with proportional increases from each of the funds planned for subsequent years. Continuation of the contract in the second through fifth years will depend on the availability of funding in the budgets for those years. The City has contracted for youth outreach presentations since 1982.
The FY2010/11 contract and renewals provide for the design, promotion, scheduling and follow-up of 110 on-site presentations on waste reduction and water quality protection, reaching over 3,000 students per year, to local schools.
Through this contract, Ann Arbor-based teachers will be able to select from six environmental program options, which are geared to different subject areas and age-levels. Copies of the existing curricula and past teacher evaluations are available upon request.
Bid #722 was promoted to 22 area educational groups, environmental consultants and waste haulers, and was posted on BidNet. Three applications were received. A review committee was comprised of two city staff and four Ann Arbor teachers. Ecology Center, Inc., received Contract Compliance and Living Wage approval on August 19, 2010.
Staff
Prepared by: Nancy Stone, Public Services Communications Liaison
Reviewed by: Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, It is the City's responsibility to manage and reduce the solid waste stream in a cost-effective, service-oriented, and environmentally responsible manner and to promote water quality protection;
Whereas, Gallup polls indicate that 75% of American parents say they recycle and adopt conservation behaviors because their children expect it of them;
Whereas, To increase the volume of recyclables diverted from the waste stream and keep the recovered materials relatively free of contaminants, the City engages in cost-effective solid waste education measures to increase community understanding and compliance;
Whereas, The City is required by the MDNRE to engage in source water protection educational efforts;
Whereas, To address the educational needs of youth in environmental conservation education, the City conducted a competitively-bid request for proposals in June 2010, reviewed by a committee representing Ann Arbor school teachers and the City;
Whereas, The proposal document specified the services to be provided for five years, with the continuation of services in the second through fifth years being dependent on the availability of funding in the budgets for those years;
Whereas, Funds for youth environmental educational services have been budgeted in the solid waste enterprise fund (covering 90%) and the water utilities enterprise fund (covering 10%), both within the Public Services Area approved FY2010/11 budgets, with proportional increases from each of the funding sources to be proposed in subsequent budget years; and
Whereas, Contract Compliance and Living Wage approval for Ecology Center, Inc., was received on August 19, 2010;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a contract with Ecology Center, Inc., for five years for solid waste youth educational services as identified in RFP #772 in the amount of $33,000.00/year for the first year and with a 3% increase in the amount per year in each of years two through five; and
RESOLVED, That City Council authorize and direct the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the contract with Ecology Center, Inc., subject to approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary actions to implement this resolution regardless of fiscal year.