To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
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APPROVE THE RESPONSE LETTER TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY GRAND JURY'S REPORT ENTITLED "A DIET FOR LANDFILLS: CUTTING DOWN ON FOOD WASTE.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury released a report in July entitled "A Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food Waste" and asked local jurisdictions for responses to a number of suggested programs and actions designed to improve organics recycling. The responses are due to the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury by October 30, 2020. The Public Works Department has drafted a response letter to the report and is recommending Council's approval of these responses prior to submitting them to the Grand Jury.
BACKGROUND
In the State of California, civil grand juries are authorized to "investigate and report upon the operations, accounts, and records of the officers, department, functions, and the method or system of performing the duties of any such city or joint powers agency and make such recommendations as it may deem proper and fit." (Cal. Penal Code 925(a)).
On July 31, 2020, the Los Angeles County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) issued the report entitled "A Diet for Landfills: Cutting Down on Food Waste" (Report). In the Report, the Grand Jury identified several opportunities for supportive public policies that can incentivize and create avenues to increase food waste recycling and organic waste diversion rates. At the conclusion of the Report, the Grand Jury requested a response from the eighty-eight Mayor's within Los Angeles County to recommendations 1.1, 1.3, 1.8, and 1.14 of the report.
Within 90 days after a Grand Jury's issuance of the Report, the City Council must comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report. The attached response letter addresses the Grand Jury's recommendations.
The City's response to the Grand Jury report references t...
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