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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 04071992 - EA.2 A4— BOARD OF SUPERVISORS L �' 2 ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMI.TTEE Cont}}r'a FROM: SUPERVISOR NANCY FAHDEN, CHAIR �} SUPERVISOR TOM TORLAKSON Jo la DATES APRIL 7 , 1992 County SUBJECTt REPORT ON RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING PROJECT; THE CONCEPT OF AN INTEGRATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR EAST COUNTY WETLANDS SITES SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION- RECOMMENDATIONS: 1A. Accept report entitled Waste Reduction/Recycling Options at Byron Boys ' Ranch. lb. Direct the Community Development Department to explore the use of a portion of the Contra Costa County-Byron Airport Wetlands Mitigation Fund and other resources to cover the` cost of equipment and supplies for the Recycling , and Composting Project at Byron Boys' Ranch. lc. Authorize the Chair to sign a letter of support for the Recycling and Composting Project at the Byron Boys' Ranch to the Contra Costa County Superintendent, the Superintendent of Byron Union School District, the Probation Department and Byron Boys ' Ranch. 2a. Accept the concept of an ecological and biological education program focusing on the wetlands and the unique habitat as natural study areas. Potential sites for such programs are the Ironhouse Sanitary wetlands area and the Byron Boys' Ranch. 2b. Direct the Community Development Department to explore the use of a portion of the Contra Costa County-Byron Airport Wetlands Mitigation Fund and other resources to cover costs for the development of an ecological and biological education program and development of' interpretive centers and tour programs for East County school districts . 2c. Authorize the Chair to sign a letter expressing interest in the concept of an ecological and biological educational program focusing on the wetlands and other unique East County habitat nature study areas and other East County locations to the Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, the Superintendents of: Antioch Unified School District, Brentwood Union School District, Byron Union School District, Knightsen School District, Liberty Union CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATUREt RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS (ABSENT _ ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AYES: NOES: AND-CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC. Community Development Dept . (CDD) ATTESTEDCounty Administrator Phil Batchelor,gerkofthe BoWof • County Counsel CCC Superintendent of Schools (via CDD)' `SIIp6fYIS01S8IId�WII>ty{1�(�I1�Stiaf�[ All East County School Districts (via CDD) Probation Department Maes/7•sa -BY DEPUTY Byron Boys ' Ranch Ironhouse Sanitary District Oakley Water District High School District, Oakley Union School and Pittsburg Unified School District, the Contra Costa Community College District, the Probation Department, Byron Boys ' Ranch, East Bay Regional Park District, the Ironhouse Sanitary District, the Oakley Water District, the Contra Costa Water District (the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project) the Contra Costa County-Byron Airport, the Department of Fish and Game, the Delta Regional Chapter of the Sierra Club, and the Environmental Alliance .of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties . 3 . Direct Community Development Department to organize a meeting of the interested agencies on the issues and provide a report back to the Board of Supervisors . 4 . Direct Community Development Department to analyze and report back to the Board of Supervisors on potential funding mechanisms for the development of a Recycling and Composting Project and ecological and biological educational program focusing on the wetlands as a natural habitat study area. FISCAL IMPACT No fiscal impact to the County General Fund. The Community Development Department will be exploring potential funding resources to cover the cost of the development of a Recycling and Composting project, and ecological and biological educational program focusing on the wetlands and other unique East County habitat as nature study areas and for support staff . BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS On February 5, 1991 Supervisor Tom Torlakson referred to the Finance Committee and the Environmental Affairs Committee the concept of setting up a recycling center at Byron Boys ' Ranch. A referral also went to the Probation Department and Community Development Department to analyze potential cost and revenues . A number of meetings were held resulting in, the determination to pursue a recycling and composting program outlined in the attached staff report entitled "Waste Reduction/Recycling Options at Byron Boys ' Ranch. " On February 10, 1992 the Environmental Affairs Committee addressed the concept of developing and ecological and biological educational program focusing on the wetlands as a natural habitat study area. The concept of establishing an ecological and biological educational program focusing on the wetlands and other unique East County habitat nature study areas has several appealing features . To expand the educational curriculum at the Byron Boys ' Ranch is a positive goal . Additionally, direct "hands-on" educational and potential job training experience in the recycling and composting field for the youth at the ranch would be extremely beneficial. The Byron Boys' Ranch could adapt many parts of the curricula - from science and conservation, to mathematics and economics. An environmental curriculum coordinator and interpretive program coordinator would be beneficial to all East County school districts . The Environmental Affairs Committee recommends that the Community Development Department explore the possibility in the development of an ecological and biological education program. The Environmental Affairs Committee has further recommended that letters be sent out to the Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, the Superintendent of Byron Union School District, the Probation Department and Byron Boys' Ranch expressing the Board's interest in the Recycling and Composting Project and the concept of an ecological and biological educational program. I All minors committed to the Byron Boys' Ranch are required to attend an individually designed school program. Classes are designed to prepare the boys for a successful return to regular school and for a productive adult life. There are a variety of classes offered at the Byron Boys' Ranch which include science, vocational training, career exploration, and work experience education. Special programs also offered at Byron Boys ' Ranch include building trades program, workability, and an educational transition program. To implement and incorporate the concept of an ecological and biological educational program, the curriculum could be diversified to include a variety of projects and classes not presently offered. An expanded curriculum consisting of a recycling and composting project, ecological and biological science courses, could be an integrated part of the existing school program. Curriculum for creative learning experiences could include, i.e. , ecosystems, life cycles, C2/CO2 cycles, food chains, water chemistry, water treatment and purification. An intrepretive program could be developed in conjunction with the created wetlands at the Byron Boys' Ranch, including the Ranch students . For example, an educational program using instructors from Byron Boys' Ranch and/or from surrounding schools could have ecological and biological science courses on site or take their students on mentor or group wetland tours. An ecological and biological educational program would be considered a positive and beneficial public relations effort for the Byron Boys ' Ranch. The opportunities for creative partnerships to provide learning experiences for the boys at the ` ranch are enormous. Direct hands-on learning is possible with a wetland site at the Byron Boys' Ranch. An educational program with diverse curriculum could help develop job skills, as well as social and life skills . Staff has provided to the Board of Supervisors, under separate cover, draft copies of the proposed, above-referenced letters . Board members and the public are invited to join a tour of fantastic wetlands in the Oakley area on May 16th. Discussion of an East County habitat, educational and interpretive program will be part of the tour. For more information on this event, please call the Ironhouse Sanitary District office at (510) 625-2279 .