At its July 8, 2015 meeting, the City Commission accepted the recommendation of the May 27, 2015 Sustainability and Resilience Committee, to proceed with a pilot program and explore a range of financing options proffered by Big Belly Solar without advertising and subsequently adopted Resolution 2015-29067. On December 4, 2015 the City and Big Belly Solar, Inc. (Bigbelly) agreed to launch a 12-month pilot program that would allow for the lease of twenty-four (24) Bigbelly + Smartbelly Double Stations under a service contract at a monthly rate of $128 per station, for a total monthly cost of $3,072.
These stations were installed in key locations throughout the City, including the Entertainment Districts, Commercial Districts and City Parks. The determining factors for the placement of these stations were pedestrian traffic, the available space allowing for ADA requirements, and the availability to sunlight. The larger footprint of the units does provide a challenge along narrow sidewalks.
Servicing of these stations is based on: email notification, visual inspection and customer complaints. During the development of the pilot, it was estimated that there would be a decrease in the required servicing with these containers. On average, the stations have seen service reductions from:
• Entertainment areas: from eighteen (18) times per week to seven (7) times per week
• Commercial areas: from seven (7) times per week to two (2) times per week
• Park areas: from seven (7) times per week to three (3) times per week
The stations were most effective in high traffic and commercial areas. It was also determined that these containers would be more user-friendly if they could be activated with a foot pedal as there was some resistance to having to open the container with the handle.
ANALYSIS
At its October 26, 2016 Sustainability and Resiliency Committee meeting, the Resiliency Committee requested a financial analysis be conducted of the Bigbelly pilot program. A presentation was made to the Finance and City Wide Projects Committee on December 16, 2016. Preliminary cost information and program expansion possibilities were discussed.
The Administration is still interested in extending the pilot program to see if the technology offers sufficient efficiencies in service and recycling to offset the higher cost of the Bigbelly stations.
A discussion was held at the January 20, 2017 meeting of the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee. The Committee voted to expand the pilot program along Washington Avenue from 5th Street to 17th Street with the direction to report back in six (6) months. In addition, future financial analysis over an extended period of time should include cost of living adjustments for labor components.
The item was discussed a the January 23, 2017 meeting at the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee and the expansion of the pilot program was also endorsed.
Staff will negotiate pricing for an extension of the pilot program. The current term of the pilot program expires at the end of February 2017. Until a new agreement can be reached and approved by City Commission. Formal action to extend the existing program under the same terms is required.