Title
Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Live Zero Waste, Inc. for Various Efforts to Advance the City’s Work on the Circular Economy ($150,000.00)
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor has set the ambitious and essential goal of a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030 (known as A2ZERO). Guiding this goal is the City’s “Living Carbon Neutrality Plan,” which includes seven strategies and forty-four actions. Strategy five of A2ZERO calls for the movement to a more circular economy - one that is more relational as opposed to consumptive. Work to usher in a more circular economy is vast and necessitates a variety of skillsets, expertise, capacity, and knowledge.
Over the last two years, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) and Public Works have been working with Live Zero Waste (ZeroWaste.Org) on a variety of circular economy activities, ranging from a returnable container pilot to zero waste challenges to neighborhood swap days. As these individual projects have gained momentum, it has become clear that more capacity and coordination around these and other activities to advance the circular economy is necessary. That is why OSI proposes working with Live Zero Waste (ZeroWaste.Org) on the following six tasks:
1. Support the returnable container (A2R3) program and help scale the program
2. Support and scale zero-waste challenges
3. Organize, coordinate, and conduct education on the circular economy
4. Support and host neighborhood swap days
5. On demand support to advance circular economy efforts
6. Weekly check-ins to align work and coordinate
The staff recommends a 2-year contract with Live Zero Waste (ZeroWaste.Org) with a 1-year, administrative option to extend.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funding to support this work with Live Zero Waste (ZeroWaste.Org) was integrated into the Office of Sustainability and Innovations 2024 Council adopted budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director
Reviewed by: Paul Matthews, Interim Public Works Manager
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, In June 2020 Ann Arbor City Council unanimously adopted the A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan, which set the goal of community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030;
Whereas, Moving towards a more circular economy is one of the core actions identified in the A2ZERO Plan;
Whereas, Significant public support and engagement has taken place in the last two years to advance various elements of the circular economy, including neighborhood swap days, zero waste challenges, fix-it clinics, community engagement, and more;
Whereas, Interest in the circular economy is growing, necessitating additional time, attention, and capacity to support more residents with engaging in circular economy activities and with supporting work to advance the circular economy;
Whereas, The Office of Sustainability and Innovations and Public Works have been working with Live Zero Waste (ZeroWaste.Org) for nearly two years on things like the A2R3 returnable container program, zero waste challenges, and community education on the circular economy; and
Whereas, Additional capacity is needed to scale these and other activities, activities for which Live Zero Waste (ZeroWaste.Org) has unique knowledge, local context, and historical experience;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves a two-year Professional Services Agreement with Live Zero Waste, Inc. in the amount of $150,000.00 for efforts to advance the City’s work on the circular economy;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes an optional one-year extension of the agreement upon approval by the City Administrator;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign the agreement after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney;
Resolved, That the City Administrator is authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution, including signing all necessary documents and sub-agreements; and
RESOLVED, That this contract be modified to add a task to, at least annually, track and report on the impact and efficacy of the scope of services, including details on number of stakeholders engaged, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, and other metrics relevant given the scope of services.
As Amended and Approved by Ann Arbor City Council on July 6, 2023