Council Considers Solid Waste Disposal Rate Increase

The City Council voted to hold a public workshop at a future date to be determined to discuss the possibility of a rate increase for solid waste services and form an ad hoc committee to review the process. During the regular meeting held Dec. 17 a presentation was made regarding optional services that could be provided if the city enters into an amended contract with its current waste hauler, Republic Services, Inc. In August, the City Council advised staff to enter into negotiations with Republic, which began in September. The city also faces an increase in fees due to the Dec. 30 closure of the Colton landfill. Current service rates could rise by 4.25 percent as solid waste is brought to the Mid-Valley landfill in Rialto. Staff reports show residential customers would see a change from $22.82 a month to $23.79 a month; commercial customers from $128 to $134 a month; and industrial customers from $463.44 to $483.14 a month. Staff reports show that currently the city receives trash hauling; sharps recovery for proper and safe disposal of syringes, needles, lancets and other medical waste; two community clean ups; community and industrial billing; bulky item pick up; Christmas tree collection; city facility waste hauling; recyclable waste diversion and green waste diversion services with Republic Services; as well as a $4.24 per ton rebate from the county. Negotiating the terms of a new 10 year contract with the waste hauler, the city is asking for additional services including a 5 percent road impact fee to improve road damage caused by waste hauling trucks; an administrative fee that totals at least 3 percent or $120,000 for billing and recovery fees; a county landfill rebate of $4.24 per ton; a community garden; a part time recycling coordinator; bill inserts four times per year; expanded community clean up days from two to four a year; portable toilets provided at the city's Earth Day and birthday celebrations; e-waste services provided at community events; monthly document shredding at city facilities; and an expanded sharps recovery program. These services would be covered in the costs paid to Republic Services if a new agreement is signed; in this case, rates would increase beginning July 2016 from $22.82 to approximately $25.36 for residential customers, or a 6.6 percent increase; from $128.54 to $146.87 for commercial customers, or a 9.6 percent increase; and from $463.44 to $529.52 for industrial customers, or a 9.6 percent increase. Other optional services the city may request include tree trimming services, a roving cleanup crew and street sweeping services. If the city were to enter into a contract where each of these three additional services are included, on top of the new base rate for services, customers would see a total 5.33 percent increase in rates: residential customers would then pay $26.71 per month, commercial customers would pay $154.70 per month, and industrial customers would pay 557.74 per month. The city must notify affected residents at least 45 days in advance before a public hearing is held on the increase of fees.