Item 33 Staff Report Report Regarding Charging of Residential Curbside Recycling FeesCOUNCIL AGENDA
DATE: 1/16/90
ITEM NO: -7,
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: January 11, 1990
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBORAH ACOSTA, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: REPORT REGARDING CHARGING OF RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE
RECYCLING FEES
RECOMMENDATION:
That the cost of providing curbside recycling services, $0.82 per
household, be charged uniformly to each customer.
BACKGROUND:
This report is presented in response to Council's request for
alternative fee structures for charging of the cost of the
residential curbside recycling program.
DISCUSSION:
There are a total of 7,614 residential customers that will receive
curbside recycling services through the program recently adopted
by Council. The cost of services to be provided by Green Valley
Disposal Company (GVDC) is $0.82 per household per month. Based
on these figures, the total cost of providing services will be
$6,244 per month.
(Continued on page 2)
PREPARED BY: Regina A. Falkner, Mana
Community Services Divi
RAF:dr
CSD05:A:\cnclrpts\curbrecy.fee
Reviewed by: Attorney
TOWN COUNCIL ACTION DIRECTED TO:
ACTION OF COUNCIL:
PAGE TWO
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
REPORT REGARDING CHARGING OF RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE RECYCLING FEES
JANUARY 16, 1990
DISCUSSION: (Continued)
The cost of the program can be uniformly charged to each customer
who will receive services under the program. The advantage to this
alternative is that there will be an allocation of cost that will
relate directly with the cost of the services received.
Furthermore, showing the cost on each customer's bill clearly
demonstrates that an additional service, separate and distinct from
the refuse collection services, is being provided to residents.
GVDC has raised some concerns regarding administration of a
variable rate for the recycling program. Their computer would have
to be programmed to bill residents at the different rates at a cost
of $5,500. It is staff's position that this cost would have to be
borne by GVDC. Additionally, because the rates would be tied to
refuse service, pro -rating of costs would be necessary to
accurately charge for the services. Although this can be done,
GVDC is concerned that this would cause confusion for customers and
would result in increased complaints.
Some customers could argue that those who pay for a larger number
of cans have more materials to recycle, bring in more revenues to
the program and should, therefore, be charged less for the
services. On the other hand, it could also be stated that
customers who pay for only one or two cans recycle more and should
not be "reprimanded" for their active participation in the program
by charging them a fee.
Staff has no information to determine whether or not there is a
correlation between the number of cans a customer sets out and
participation in the recycling program; this is especially true in
light of the conclusion that a large percentage of the refuse
generated by residents in the community consists of yard waste.
CONCLUSION:
It is recommended that each customer pay for the services offered
to them. Although there may be some variation in the number of
times that GVDC will be stopping at each residence and the amount
and value of materials collected, it is fair to assume that the
cost of providing services to the households will be relatively
equal. It is not recommended that subsidies occur within the
program. If Council wishes to charge customers for the volume of
refuse they "throw -away", then it is recommended that the variable
can refuse collection rate be continued. This will charge
customers who dispose of more material higher rates than those who
have fewer cans without making guesses about their participation
in the recycling program.
PAGE THREE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
REPORT REGARDING CHARGING OF RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE RECYCLING FEES
JANUARY 16, 1990
Alternatives I through III are provided in Exhibit 1 should Council
wish to select an alternative fee structure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of the recycling program will be borne by the households
served.
EXHIBIT:
1. Alternative Rate Structures
DISTRIBUTION:
1. Sue Marki, Div. of Recycling, 1025 "P" St., Sacramento 95814
2. David Wolf, First United Methodist Church of Los Gatos,
19 High School Court, Los Gatos 95032
3. Nancy Cardinet, 221 Jones Road, Los Gatos 95032
4. Claudette Lynch, 108 Cherrystone Court, Los Gatos 95032
5. Mrs. Campbell, 17020 Los Cerritos Drive, Los Gatos 95032
6. Mrs. Williams, First United Methodist Church of Los Gatos,
19 High School Court, Los Gatos 95032
7. Dr. Irving Olender, 178 Long Meadow Drive, Los Gatos 95030
8. Ms. Linger, 312 Harding, Los Gatos 95032
9. Ms. Delores Simone, 248 Old Adobe Road, Los Gatos 95030
10. Mr. John Snelham, 247 Old Adobe Road, Los Gatos 95030
11. Mr. Gerard Wen, GVDC, P.O. Box 1227, Los Gatos 95031
12. Barbara Lee, City of Campbell
13. Todd Argow, City of Saratoga
14. Rosemary Pierce, City of Monte Sereno
15. Marilyn Basham, 108 Teresita Way, Los Gatos 95032
16. Ms. Sara Stephenson, League of Women Voters, Los Gatos,
Saratoga Monte Sereno, 12491 Jolene Court, Saratoga 95070
17. Ms. Cynthia Dettner, LGS, 770 "L" Street, Suite 960,
Sacramento 95814
18. Dick Gaines, 340 Johnson Avenue, Los Gatos 95032
19. Mrs. Albert Blake, 17511 Pine Street, Los Gatos 95032
20. Janet Foreman, City of Palo Alto, Public Works Dept., P.O. Box
10250, Palo Alto, CA 94303
21. Mark Bowers, City of Mountain View, Solid Waste Program
Manager, P.O. Box 7540, Mountain View, CA 94039
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ALTERNATIVE RATE STRUCTURES
I. Variable Cost
EXHIBIT 1
Number of Cans Number of Cost Total Cost
Households
1 2,225 0.70 1,558
2 3,789 0.75 2,842
3 1,362 1.10 1,498
4 207 1.40 290
5 31 1.80 56
TOTAL 7,614 $6,244 $6,244
II. No Cost to Single -Can Customers
Number of Cans Number of Cost Total Cost
Households
1 2,225 0 0
2 3,789 1.10 4,168
3 1,362 1.25 1,703
4 207 1.50 310
5 31 2.03 63
TOTAL 7,614 $6,244 $6,244
III. No Cost to One and Two -Can Customers
Number of Cans Number of Cost Total Cost
Households
1 2,225 0 0
2 3,789 0 0
3 1,362 3.75 5,108
4 207 4.75 983
5 31 4.94 153
TOTAL 7,614 $6,244 $6,244
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January 16, 1990
Los Gatos, California
Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Ventura, that Council: establish March 1, 1991 as the
last day to submit complete plans and calculation for seismic upgrades; establish May 1, 1993
as the last day to complete all work related to seismic upgrades or make findings and establish
SEISMIC SAFETY CONTINUED
time frames as appropriate; authorize that at the discretion of the Director of Building Services,
occupancy may be revoked for failure to comply; determines there is no need for a public
hearing prior to introducing the ordinance. Carried unanimously.
Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Ventura, to waive the reading of the draft ordinance.
Carried unanimously. Town Clerk read the Title.
Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Ventura, that Council introduce Ordinance entitled,
ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ADDING ARTICLE IX OF CHAPTER 7 OF
THE TOWN CODE ESTABLISHING AN IDENTIFICATION AND MITIGATION PROGRAM
FOR POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS BY ADOPTING THE 1985 EDITION OF
THE UNIFORM CODE FOR BUILDING CONSERVATION AS PUBLISHED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BUILDING OFFICIALS AND MAKING CERTAIN
AMENDMENTS THERETO. Carried unanimously.
Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Ventura, that Council adopt Resolution 1990-21
entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES
FOR INVESTIGATION OF UNREINFORCED MASONRY BEARING WALL BUILDINGS.
Carried unanimously.
33 SOLID WASTE COLLECTION/CURBSIDE RECYCLING/RESIDENTIAL
Motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Ventura, that the cost of providing curbside recycling
services be $0.82 per household for the first year (12 months) of recycling and review at the end
of that time the Proposal for Organic Collection.
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION/CURBSIDE RECYCLING/MULTI-FAMILY
Motion by Mr. Ventura, seconded by Mr. Carlson, that Staff continue to work with the West
Valley Rate Review Committee and Green Valley Disposal Company, Inc. (GVDC) to refine
and implement the following plans for expansion of the Curbside Recycling Program to serve
multi -family residential units and businesses:
Phase I To market and implement the residential curbside recycling program.
Phase II To implement a multi -family curbside recycling program within six
months of the implementation of phase I.
Phase III To implement a yard waste collection program.
Phase IV To address the recycling needs of the commercial sector.
Carried unanimously.
RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE/RESOLUTION 1990-22
Motion by MR Carlson, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that the Los Gatos Town Council adopt
Resolution 1990-22 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ADOPTING A
TOWN -WIDE RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE AND A POLICY FOR ONGOING
RECORDS MANAGEMENT, Carried unanimously.
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