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Clovis staff report installation of 85 windproof trash cans, outreach under state grant
Summary
City staff described use of a state-required grant to buy metal windproof trash cans, expand cleanup equipment, run a litter-awareness campaign and pilot school cleanups that reached nearly 1,000 students; the city plans to apply for a second round with a June 30 deadline.
Margaret Johnston, a presenter to the Parks and Recreation Committee, reported on work funded by a state grant that the city used to expand disposal infrastructure, run public outreach and stage school and community cleanups.
Johnston said the city used the funds “to focus heavily on increasing disposal infrastructure” and bought roughly 85 metal windproof trash cans for parks, added a dump trailer and a community cleanup trailer, and started a social marketing and 3-1-1 awareness campaign tied to print and radio advertising.
The grant money also supported events and school efforts. Johnston said the city ran three mini campus cleanups tied to Earth Day and Earth Week and that “we had almost a thousand students participate.” She said the program provided reusable grocery bags and elementary anti-litter curriculum and that the initiative included community cleanups and contracted cleanups when wind or other conditions overwhelmed city capacity.
Johnston also told the committee the city has laid the groundwork for a county partnership to use an inmate cleanup program for future trash collection and that the outreach campaign includes a short commercial running at Allen Theatres through next May.
Russell, a parks staff member who responded during questions, said some of the new cans already are in place at parks including Pat Sandoval and Ryerson and that more installations await the new fiscal year. He described the new cans as replacing 55-gallon drums that sometimes blew over and said the new park cans are “much more aesthetically pleasing.”
Johnston said the grant’s second-round application is due June 30 and that the city expects to be notified in August. She said the current work is “iteration 1” and, if funded again, the city would expand the school curriculum, add a program mascot and involve middle and high school students in creating social marketing materials.
Committee members asked about next steps such as adding more dumpsters and a business adoption program that would recognize local businesses for maintaining clean frontage.
The presentation generated positive feedback from committee members and public comment; Johnston emphasized the city will reapply for the grant to expand the program.
Votes at the meeting did not accompany this presentation; this item was reported and discussed, not voted into ordinance or contract form.
