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329 <br /> AGENDA (continued) ACTION TAKEN (continued) <br /> REPORTS OF CITY MANAGER REPORTS OF CITY MANAGER <br /> 2. Report re refuse collection rates Report re Request of Browning-Ferris Industries <br /> (continued from 8/4/80) (BFI) for Rate Increase - City Manager 7/31/80 <br /> and Director of Finance 7/25/80 <br /> Report re Redwood City Clean-Up Days - City <br /> Manager 8/14/80 and Director of Finance 8/13/80 <br /> It was noted that consideration of the subject <br /> report had been continued pending its also being <br /> considered by other cities served by the same <br /> scavenger company. Director of Finance Ference <br /> reported the failure of all but one of the <br /> other affected jurisdictions to act and the <br /> reasons given, advising that the City of Menlo <br /> Park has stated their support of his recommenda- <br /> tion. <br /> Assistant City Manager Smith pointed out that <br /> for ten years Redwood City has provided leader- <br /> ship more or less by default of the others <br /> involved. Mr. Ference confirmed that some <br /> 300-350 hours of staff time were required for <br /> the exhaustive study prepared as a result of the <br /> BFI request for garbage rate increase of 26.8%, <br /> observing that experience suggests that if the <br /> study were prepared by a private consultant, <br /> its cost would have been some $25,000. <br /> In response to questions, Mr. Ference stated <br /> that the study suggests that the recommended <br /> increase of 23.5% for Redwood City is justified; <br /> "Pm% that it is a consolidated rate and does not in- <br /> volve profit being paid on profit; that San <br /> Francisco has just settled for a 24.1% increase; <br /> that the indexes used for determining cost-of- <br /> living increase are Bay Area Urban Salaries for <br /> Clerical Workers - 90% and Cost Index for <br /> Gasoline - 10%; and that the City will receive <br /> a comparable increase from the recommended rates <br /> in the 13% retained by the City to provide <br /> billing and collection service. Mr. Ference <br /> noted that BFI's cost of operations was not <br /> correct as it related to Redwood City, since it <br /> included a few such items as the billing and <br /> collection service we provide and some services <br /> not appropriately charged to the City, thereby <br /> requiring adjustment to revenues and expense <br /> in calculating the recommended rate increase. <br /> Discussion followed and Mr. Ference commented <br /> and replied to question regarding whether any <br /> consideration had been given to curbside pickup; <br /> the Council's previous rejection of that type <br /> service; the desirability of annual cleanup days <br /> when residents may dispose of items usually re- <br /> quired to be taken to the dump; the cost of <br /> $21,100 for each such Citywide cleanup; the fact <br /> that the per household cost of only 29Q per <br /> month would be less than transporting the rub- <br /> bish to the dump; the City purpose involved in <br /> having a cleaner community and improved fire <br /> Reg.Mtg. <br /> 8/18/80 <br /> __ Page 2 <br /> L <br />