Rainbow official’s inclusion in H.B. chamber’s business awards raises eyebrows in Oak View

A Rainbow Environmental Services official’s selection by the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce as Business Person of the Year has drawn criticism from some community members who are upset over odors and dust from the company’s trash facility in a residential neighborhood.

However, the chamber says Jeff Snow deserves the award based on his contributions to the community as an individual.

A chamber committee this month picked Snow, Rainbow’s senior municipal services manager, for the award to honor his involvement in nonprofits and other community organizations such as the Rotary Club, Huntington Beach Educational Foundation and Bolsa Chica Conservancy, according to chamber President and Chief Executive Jerry Wheeler.

Snow was in charge of fundraising for the Special Olympics Host Town Committee for Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach, which organized activities for Special Olympians visiting this summer for the World Games in Los Angeles.

“Jeff is passionate about community service and sustainability,” Rainbow spokeswoman Sue Gordon wrote in an email. “He works tirelessly for his community and Rainbow Environmental Services.”

Snow could not be reached for comment.

Members of the Facebook group Oak View Comunidad said they were disappointed that the chamber chose Snow amid the controversy around Rainbow, which operates a waste and recycling collection and sorting facility on Nichols Lane near Warner Avenue in the Oak View neighborhood. The operation is across the street from Oak View Elementary School.

On Thursday, a South Coast Air Quality Management District panel approved an extensive list of changes to the facility’s operations in an effort to reduce or eliminate odors and dust that residents and school employees have complained about for years.

“It’s a slap in the face,” Victor Valladares, an Oak View resident and co-founder of the Comunidad group, said of Snow’s selection. “Have they not taken into consideration what has been going on for the past three decades here in the community? I know Rainbow has contributed a lot, but does that justify the fact that they have neglected the community that’s right across the street?”

Several parts of the facility are to be enclosed by Dec. 1, 2017, in a project estimated to cost $10 million, and the amount of trash received each day will be reduced until the enclosures are completed.

Valladares, 29, said he would like the chamber to reconsider its choice for Business Person of the Year.

But Wheeler said Snow’s selection has nothing to do with politics.

“A member of the chamber nominated him for the award,” Wheeler said. “He represents his company well and he’s involved on different boards.”

Chamber awards

The Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce will present its annual Business & Leadership Awards at a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at SeaCliff Country Club, 6501 Palm Ave., Huntington Beach. The awards honor outstanding leadership, business practices and/or volunteerism, according to the chamber.

The winners are:

• International Athena Award: Terry Rose, Soroptomist

• Outstanding Citizen of the Year: Bob Hoxsie, Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley

• Business Person of the Year: Jeff Snow, Rainbow Environmental Services

• Excellence in Business: HB Digital (small), Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center (large)

• Sustainable Business Award: Duke’s Huntington Beach restaurant

• Robert Mayer Educational Partnership Award: Assistance League of Huntington Beach

• Entrepreneurship Award: Alicia Whitney, SeaLegs Wine Bar

• Innovation Award: Night Optics USA Inc.

• Chairman’s Member of the Year: Matt Liffreing, Marketworks Video

• Ambassador of the Year: Victoria Alberty, TheLocal HB information publication and website

For more information, visit www.hbchamber.com.