AgdaPkt 2012-01-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7.A. - Page 4 uncertainty regarding whether these charges are truly property-related charges subject to the requirements of proposition. Pursuant to the procedural requirements of Proposition 218, the City mailed notices of the proposed 2012 rate increase and public hearing to property owners and ratepayers, and published in the local newspaper. As directed by the Council Utilities Committee, A community meeting was held at 7:00 pm on December 15, 2011 in the Community Room of the Main Library with representatives of City Staff, SBWMA and Recology attending. The meeting was noticed in the local paper three times, but turnout was very light with only ten people attending. The agenda covered issues such as the relationship between Recology, South Bay Recycling, SBWMA and the City, as well as existing trash and recycling collection programs, the proposed household hazardous waste collection program and trash and recycling rates. Staff answered questions and explained the process for rate protests. One minor typographic error appears on the Prop 218 Notice. The Notice identifies the largest trash cart size as 95 gallon rather than the actual size of 96 gallon. The dollar amount is correct; it is only the size of the largest standard trash cart that was described in error. Additionally, the Pullout Charges for Commercial, Refuse and Recycling Containers published in the Notice represent a higher rate that was established several years ago when the Allied Waste provided solid waste collection serve to the City. The City Council could consider reducing the proposed commercial pullout charges published in the Notice to a lower rate, which would correspond with the charges recommended by Recology in the Franchise Agreement. The Recology franchise agreement states that commercial accounts where containers are placed 50-100 feet from the curbside will be charged an additional 10% of the base monthly rate, and accounts where containers are placed 101 feet or more from the curbside will be charged 25% of the base monthly rate. Accounts where containers are placed within 50 of the curb are not charged any additional distance fees. Council could consider this reduction this year, or in the future years. ALTERNATIVES 1. Council may elect not to approve this proposed increase, but in doing so may create the need for the City to subsidize payments for garbage in order to comply with the terms of the Franchise Agreement; and, the City will incur interest charges as the proposed rate increase is based on a methodology contained in the Franchise Agreement. 2. Council may elect to delay this proposed increase and direct staff to develop an alternative schedule for implementing the solid waste rate increase. However, a delay to establishing the new rates would likely result in an increase greater than