2001-89 AMENDING CITY CODE AND AUTHORIZING MODIFICATION OF RATES - CHAPTER 56 - REFUSE REMOVAL

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Economic & Urban Development Depa.rtment Memorandum # O1-128 December 12, 2001 TO: Honorable Mayor Terry M. Howley and City Council Members FROM: Steve Garrnan, City Manager A.J. Krieger, Assistant City Manage SUBJECT: Residential Refuse Collection Service, Rate Schedule, and Chapter 56 Amendments RECOMMENDATION: At Council's request City staff has negotiated a series of refuse collection service improvements and corresponding rate adjustments. As City staff believes the service improvements and rate , adjustments to be in accordance with the Council's direction, approval of the Chapter 56 amendments and adoption of the proposed rate schedule is recommended. BACKGROUND: As Council members are aware, City staff has been meeting and negotiating with the Decatur residential refuse haulers for the purpose of amending the residential refuse collection service and rate schedule. As of today, City staff and the haulers have negotiated a series of improvements to the refuse �'I collection service as well as an adjusted rate schedule. As indicated in City sta�s report (filed 'I November 26, 2001, with the City Clerk's office), the question of a rate adjustment was divided in two parts; 1) Whether or not an increase can be justified.; and 2) If in fact an increase can be justified, determining the appropriate amount. City staff has determined that, if to account for inflation only, an increase in the rate can be justified. With respect to the appropria#e amount, City staff has attempted to tie any increase to the offering of new services andlor to an expansion of the current level of service city-wide. Attached is a rate schedule which depicts the product of City sta�s and the ha.ulers' negotiations. The attached rate schedule also includes the following changes to the refuse collection system: 1 Unlimited vardwaste collection. The proposed rate schedule provides for year-round, unlimited collection of residential yardllandscape waste. 2 One-time lar�e-itempick-up. The proposed rate schedule provides for an annual collection of � large-item waste. This would provide for an annual collection of up to one white good (appliance) and up to five miscellaneous large household items. 3 Once a week collection. The proposed rate schedule includes an option for single family households to opt for a once weekly collection. Single family households would have the option of purchasing hauler-approved, 90 gallon toters or leaving up to three 35 gallon containers for a once-weekly collection. 4 Automatic rate adiustment. The ordinance would provide for an automatic rate adjustment in January of 2003 and 2004, based upon changes in the Consumer Price Index-U; for urban consumers in the United States as determined by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.