Updated 10-26-2020
The Last Chance Mercantile (LCM) closed in March in response to COVID-19. Due to budgetary and safety constraints, LCM has remained closed and store employees were laid-off, while the District reassesses the best path forward. You can read the full press release explaining the economic necessity of the closure.
At the October 23rd meeting, Director of Communications Zoe Shoats provided the Board of Directors a verbal update on the LCM reopening plan. Members of the public were given an opportunity to provide comments, which they can do at every Board Meeting. Scheduled meetings, future agendas and past meetings can be found on the Governance page.
On October 8, the LCM task force met with former LCM employees for a second time. The LCM task force includes Tim Brownell, Director of Operations, Peter Skinner, Director of Finance and Administration, and Zoe Shoats, Director of Communications. At the meeting, the task force heard details from staff about their proposal to operate the store, including suggestions for increasing revenue and reducing operating costs.
The task force appreciated the research and thought that went into their proposal. Moving forward, the task force will be creating a District-operated store model based on many of their recommendations. The task force plans to share the draft model with the former staff for their input and recommendations.
Simultaneously, the task force has been working on securing interest from potential third-party operators. On Wednesday, October 21, the District released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the operation of the LCM store. The RFQ was sent directly to local organizations whom District staff identified could be a good fit.
The RFQ was also posted on the MRWMD homepage under the bulletin board section, as well as industry message boards on the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA) websites. Responses to the RFQ are due by November 30 at 1 p.m. Staff will evaluate all responses to the RFQ, finish analysis of a staff-run District-operated model, and bring all options to the Board for consideration at the January meeting.
District staff appreciates the public’s continued support of the Last Chance Mercantile. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to reopening as soon as it is possible.
To publicly comment, you can attend virtual Board Meetings. For questions related to the RFQ, please contact lcmrfq@mrwmd.org.