PUBLIC EDUCATION & INDUSTRIAL OUTREACH
PUBLIC EDUCATION & INDUSTRIAL OUTREACH
QUALITATIVE RESULTS
Municipality: City of El Cerrito Permit Year: (2008/2009)
Introduction:
The goal of El Cerrito’s Public Education and Industrial Outreach program is to educate residents and businesses about the causes and effects of stormwater pollution, the difference between the sanitary sewer and the storm drain system, and our local watersheds. The City also aims to encourage residents and businesses to participate in ongoing creek protection and restoration efforts and to adopt less-polluting practices.
The El Cerrito community has traditionally been very supportive of the City’s environmental programs. A high number of community members participate in the curbside recycling program, the City’s long-standing Earth Day tradition, and the City’s electronic waste recycling events, which started in 2006.
Implementation & Evaluation:
Participation in PEIO Subcommittee:
In fiscal year 2008-09 staff did not participate in the PEIO Subcommittee because it had participated in the Subcommittee the previous year and was required to be on the Administration and Management Subcommittees in the current fiscal year.
Internal Agency Communication and Training for Agency Staff & Officials:
City staff provides the El Cerrito City Council with updates on NPDES activities during the annual budget review, as well as throughout the year in weekly reports that accompany the City Council’s meeting packets.
New City staff that are involved with Clean Water program activities, such as staff in Planning, Building, or Maintenance, are trained to carry out their NPDES-related duties when they receive their standard orientation/training.
Procedures and Training for Handling Telephone Calls
No new procedures beyond those established in fiscal year 2005-06 have been implemented during fiscal year 2008-09 (please refer to the Annual Report from fiscal year 2005-06).
Distribution of Program Information Pieces
The City distributed Clean-Water-Program-developed PEIO materials at two annual citywide events. These materials are also available year-round at the City Hall literature stands. The City is able to distribute 90-100% of all Program-developed PEIO materials through these avenues.
Clean Water staff visually tracks the number of material distributed through City events and notes if any materials were left over. Staff also visually tracks materials distributed at City Hall and replenishes the supply as necessary.
Refer to Volume IV, “Public Education & Industrial Outreach,” of the Annual Report for a copy of each Program-Developed PEIO material.
Storm Drain Inlet Stencils/Markings and Signs
All of our storm drain inlets have been stenciled. In the near future, we would like to review the condition of the stencils and devise a plan for updating needed markings.
Agencies’ Community Outreach Program
El Cerrito has a population of approximately 24,000 residents.
Staff from various divisions carried out various community outreach activities in fiscal year 2008-09:
o The Public Works Department published Clean Water articles bi-annually in the City’s Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter Citywide Brochure. This resource booklet is mailed to all residential households and distributed at the Community Center, Library, Senior Center, City Hall, and Recycling Center. The articles featured such topics as creek work days, how to wash your car and clean your trash cans without creating pollution, medication disposal, the importance of street sweeping in maintaining clean water, and how to report illegal dumping into the storm drain.
o The Environmental Services Division published articles about its electronic waste recycling events and the curbside collection program for used motor oil – both programs that prevent stormwater pollution (PE-1, PE-2, & PE-3).
o The Public Works Department provided financial support to the Bringing Back the Natives tour, which featured three El Cerrito native gardens that hosted 14,000 visits. Fifty-eight hundred (5,800) people signed up for the tour – a record number of participants (PE-4).
o The Public Works Department provided staff support and assistance to two volunteer creek groups – Friends of Baxter Creek and Friends of Five Creeks. Both groups plan and organize regular creek clean-up and restoration efforts along Baxter Creek on the north end of the City and Cerrito Creek at the southern boundary.
o The Public Works Department maintained the educational and interpretive exhibits installed at the City’s creeks during the previous fiscal year. Signage is in both English and Spanish to remind landscape and creek maintenance contractors that chemical applications are prohibited near creeks to protect our children and our creeks. Examples of signage were provided in previous reports.
o The Environmental Services Division coordinated three electronic waste collection events at the El Cerrito Department of Motor Vehicles parking lot (September 2008, January 2009, and June 2009).
o The City’s Public Information Officer maintained information about creeks and stormwater pollution prevention on the City’s main website and made updates about special environmental events such as Earth Day or electronic waste recycling events (www.el-cerrito.org). The Environmental Services Division made updates about environmental events and programs on the City’s recycling and environmental webpages (http://www.ecrecycling.org and www.ecenvironment.org).
o The Environmental Services Division coordinated the City’s April Earth Day event, which included clean-up and restoration projects at local creeks.
o The Environmental Services Division and Public Works Department staffed booths at the annual Fourth of July festival and distributed Clean Water Program materials, as well as other environmental brochures and flyers.
Coordination with Public Schools (K-12)
In fiscal year 2008-09, the City continued to provide financial support to “Kids for the Bay” Watershed Action Program (WAP) with a third grade class at Harding Elementary School and a fourth grade class at Castro Elementary School the two fourth grade classes at Fairmount Elementary School (PE-5).
Please refer to Volume 1, Section 4 of the Annual Report for a description of the Contra Costa Clean Water Program’s distribution of educational materials to public schools. Please refer to Volume III of the Annual Report for copies of these educational materials.
Household Hazardous Waste Program
El Cerrito residents and small businesses are served by the West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Richmond. The Environmental Services Division promotes this program to the community through its website (www.ecrecycling.org) and Recycling Hotline (510-215-4350) and brochures distributed through new resident welcome packets, City events, and the Recycling Center counter. The Environmental Services Division also regularly includes information about the HHW facility in its garbage-bill-insert newsletter and the biannual Citywide Brochure.
The Environmental Services Division also operates collection programs for several hazardous and universal waste materials. The El Cerrito Recycling Center accepts household and car batteries, used motor oil and oil filters, and cell phones. The Recycling Center has been identified by the California Environmental Management Board as one of the top collectors of oil and filters in the State. Environmental Services also established residential curbside collection service for used motor oil and oil filters in fall 2007 and conducted an outreach campaign with newspaper ads and postcards direct-mailed to all El Cerrito residents. Environmental Services also coordinates three electronic waste collection events annually at the El Cerrito Department of Motor Vehicles.
Transportation Standards
The City’s Public Works Department and Environmental Services Division support and promote the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee programs including Carpool, Guaranteed Ride Home, and www.511contracosta.org.
The Public Works Department created a Circulation Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians, which was adopted by Council in June 2007, and is in the process of implementing these infrastructure improvements. PW promoted its bike lockers at BART stations via the Citywide Brochure, city websites, and flyers. The Environmental Services Division participated in Bike to Work Day by hosting an energizer station for people biking, walking, or using public transportation.
The City encourages its employees to use public transportation by offering pre-tax transit tickets.
The City tries to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles for its own fleet whenever possible and evaluates this option on a case-by-case basis as vehicles need replacement. The City currently has one hybrid, one natural-gas pick-up truck, and one electric cart. The Environmental Services Division plans to convert the City’s fleet of 4 recycling trucks to biodiesel in the next few years.
Modifications:
In fiscal year 2008-09, the City’s newly-formed Environmental Services Division coordinated overall PEIO activities.
Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Goals:
o Partner with The Watershed Project to hold several low-water gardening workshops in fall 2009.
o Continue to coordinate and support programs and activities referenced in this narrative.
o Pursue outreach opportunities in partnership with the citizens Environmental Quality Committee and staff Green Team.
Public Education & Industrial Outreach – quantitative results
Waste Disposal:
“Clean It” Safer Housecleaning Methods that Really Work Guides
“Get Rid Of It” A Painter’s Guide to Storage, Disposal and Clean-Up of Paint Waste Brochures
Used Oil Recycling Program:
Mr. Funnelhead Coloring Books (English Version)
“Used Oil” Funnels
Certified Oil Collection Centers Information Sheets
Mr. Funnelhead School Education Brochures
Mr. Funnelhead Public Education Brochures
“Recycle Oil, It’s Right” Brochures (English Version)
“Recycle Oil, It’s Right” Brochures (Spanish Version)
Mr. Funnelhead Magnet
Mr. Funnelhead Erasers
Mr. Funnelhead Pencils
Mr. Funnelhead Tattoos
Mr. Funnelhead Carrying Bags
Promotional Items:
Flashlights / 223
Seed Packets / 66
Magnetic Refrigerator Clips / 30
Reusable Tote Bag / 107
Other: Mood Pencils / 91
Other:
General Information:
“TIPS to Protect Our Restaurant & Keep Our Water Clean” Poster
“TIPS to Protect Our Restaurant & Keep Our Water Clean” Brochures
Don’t Set a Table for Pests! Restaurant Brochures (English/Spanish Version)
Pest Management/Pesticide Use:
Controlling Ants in Your House – English and Spanish versions
Controlling Aphids
Controlling Snails and Slugs in Your Garden – English and Spanish versions
Controlling Yellowjackets Around Your Home – English and Spanish versions
Finding a Pest Control Company
How to Control Weeds
Keeping Cockroaches Out of Your House – English and Spanish versions
Keeping Fleas off Your Pets – English and Spanish versions
Keeping Mosquitoes Away
Growing a Healthy Garden
Pesticides and Water Quality
Tips for a Healthy Beautiful Lawn – English and Spanish versions
Safe Use and Disposal of Pesticides – English and Spanish versions
Living with Spiders The Helpful Hunters – English and Spanish versions
Wonderful Roses
Media Outreach:
Outdoor Billboards
BART Rail Boards
Bus Shelter Posters
Bus Boards
Theater Advertisements
Public Service Announcements (Radio):
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Public Service Announcements (Television/Cable):
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Public Service Announcements (Newspapers/Periodicals):
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Newspaper Advertisements:
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Community Newsletters:
Specify Publications: A Greener El Cerrito / 8500
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Radio Advertisements:
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Television/Cable Advertisements
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Measurement/Research Activities:
Public Opinion Surveys
Focus Groups
Workshops:
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Public Outreach:
1-800-No Dumping Telephone Calls
Public Speaking Engagements
Other:
Other:
Other:
Number of Storm Drain Inlets Stenciled or Stamped By:
Volunteers
Municipal Staff
Fish Door Hangers Distributed
Amount of Household Hazardous Wastes Collected:
Motor Oil (gallons) / 3639
Household Paint (gallons) / 5019
Pesticides (gallons) / 523
Miscellaneous (gallons) (e.g., acids, antifreeze, batteries, etc.) / 8249
Transportation Management
Number of Public Agency Vehicles Using Non-Polluting Fuels / 3
Number of Public Employees Using Public Transportation / 2
Number of Education Materials Encouraging Public Transportation Use / 100
Other
Electronic waste collection events / 3
Bike to Work Day energizer station / 1
Pre-winter Clean-up Event / 1
Earth Day Event / 1
West County HHW Brochures / 500
PEIO - 5