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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD MINUTES 08-08-95 141 MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE DISTRICT BOARD OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT HELD ON AUGUST 8, 1995 The District Board of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District convened in an adjourned regular session at the Assistance League of Diablo Valley, 1850 Second Avenue, Walnut Creek, County of Contra Costa, State of California, at 2:08 p.m. on August 8, 1995. President Hockett called the meeting to order and requested that the Secretary call roll. 1. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Members: Menesini, Hockett ABSENT: Members: Dalton, Rainey, Boneysteele Member Rainey entered the meeting at the hour of 2: 15 p.m. Members Boneysteele and Dalton had indicated they would be unable to attend this meeting and had requested that they be excused. Others present included: Central Contra Costa Sanitary District: Kenton L. Aim, Roger J. Dolan, Elaine Jacobs, Paul Morsen, Joyce E. Murphy, Debbie Ratcliff Contra Costa County: Mary Fleming, Avon Wilson Town of Danville: Mike Shimansky, Dick Waldo, Dave Anderson, Joe Calabrigo City of Lafayette: Judy Garvens, Bob Adams, Steve Falk Town of Moraga: James Sweeny, Cherie Grant, Ross Hubbard, Karen Stein City of Orinda: Laura Abrams, Gregg Wheatland, Bill Lindsay, Kelly Sills City of Walnut Creek: Gene Wolfe Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority: Fred Davis Contra Costa Times: Andy Jokelson Hilton Farnkopf & Hobson: Robert Hilton, Troy Garner Browning-Ferris Industries: Mark Hughes, Patty Mehaouchi, Randy Smith Valley Waste Management: Dan Borges, Deb Laubach Members of the Public: Don Anderson, Hank Gates, Doug Lomow, Rick Norris 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 08 08 95 142 3. SOLID WASTE SOLID WASTE RATE-SETTING WORKSHOP a. Mr. Roger J. Dolan, General Manager-Chief Engineer, briefly summarized the July 27, 1995 workshop, stating that the current process began about four years ago under the auspices of the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (CCCSW A). At that time, the Cities of Lafayette and Orinda and the Towns of Danville and Moraga (Cities and Towns) requested that the District continue its role and supported a more proactive position relative to cutting costs. In 1994, when CCCSWA plans had been clarified to solicit competitive proposals and implement cost saving automated technology, the Cities and Towns once again expressed support. Mr. Dolan stated that CCCSWA has decided that the member agencies will have a great deal of autonomy in developing the rate structure to be adopted by CCCSWA. The District is now conducting these solid waste rate-setting workshops to fully involve all four of the Cities and Towns in the rate making process. At the end of this workshop process it is hoped that CCCSD and the four Cities and Towns will reach a consensus on an acceptable set of rates. The CCCSD Board of Directors will act on those rates and CCCSD Board representatives to CCCSWA, Susan McNulty Rainey and Barbara D. Hockett, will take that decision to CCCSWA. CCCSWA will then set the rates. On parallel paths, work is proceeding with regard to the contract issues relating to the terms of agreement between CCCSWA and BFI and between CCCSWA and VWM, and with regard to the institutional issues relating to transfer of franchising authority and membership on CCCSWA. Member Rainey entered the meeting at the hour of 2: 15 p.m. Mr. Dolan recapped the consensus reached at the July 27, 1995 solid waste rate-setting workshop with regard to Rate Issue 1 - Area-Wide or Jurisdictional Rates, Rate Issue 2 - Sector Rate Setting: 8 Residential 8 Commercial, Rate Issue 3 - Area-Wide and Jurisdictional Rates for Drop Box, and Rate Issué 6 - Municipal Services. Mr. Robert Hilton, of Hilton Farnkopf & Hobson (HFH), continued with the discussion of solid waste rate setting key issues, reviewing the key issues, staff recommendations, and the initial consensus reached to date. Councilmember Gregg Wheatland, of the City of Orinda, raised the issue of the number of hard-to-service customers in the City of Orinda. Discussion followed with regard to those estimates and their reliability, the average amount of time required to service each, the size of vehicles that will be used, and equity for customers who become hard-to- service because of the changed technology. The following comments were made or subjects were discussed with regard to Rate Issue 4, Hard-to-Service Areas: 8 Maintain current hard-to-service customers, freeze rates for new hard-to- service customers? 8 Average standard rates and new hard-to-service rates? 8 Considerations: Equity for new hard-to-service customers . Hard-to-service rates for recycling and green waste? Following discussion, the initial rate calculation consensus with regard to Rate Issue 4, Hard-to-Service Areas, was as follows: 8 Price for hard-to-service customers should be based on average of current hard-to-service rates 8 In Orinda, standard customers and new hard-to-service customers will be billed atthe same rate; existing hard-to-service customers will be billed hard- to-service rates (Mr. Dolan expressed the hope that the Orinda officials would consider the possible long-term adverse effects of this approach.) 08 08 95 143 . In Danville and unincorporated areas, standard customers and existing hard- to-service customers will all receive full rate cut; new hard-to-service customers will pay the same rates as other hard-to-service customers, however, it is not expected that there will be many new hard-to-service customers . In Lafayette and Moraga, standard customers and existing hard-to-service customers will receive full rate cut; the rate for new hard-to-service customers will be frozen if new cost is greater than or equal to the current rate . A phase out plan should be conceptualized by which rates which are not consistent with the consensus cost of service approach can be normalized; then rates include frozen rates and the Orinda "new hard-to-service" customers At 3:35 p.m., President Hockett declared a recess, reconvening at the hour of 3:50 p.m. with all parties present as previously designated. Mr. Dolan reviewed the background information relating to backyard service and changes that occurred when automated collection was implemented in the Town of Danville and certain unincorporated areas. This issue was revisited in 1994 when the Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed and the Cities and Towns agreed that curbside, automated collection would be implemented; but that because backyard service appeared to be a passionate issue in some areas, an option for backyard or valet service should be considered as a solution if the problem is sufficient to warrant it. Mr. Hilton reviewed results of a survey of community opinion commissioned by the City of Lafayette. Results of the survey show that approximately 60 percent of the customers in Lafayette who now have backyard service available at no extra cost say they take their cans to the curb now. Fewer than 25 percent said they were willing to pay anything for backyard service. When asked if they would pay something and if the payment would be $7.50 per month (an arbitrary number), less than half of the 25 percent or about 12 percent said they would pay $7.50 for the service. Discussion followed with regard to the estimated cost of backyard service, and the number of residents over the age of 60 years and the possibility that some residents may be physically challenged by taking wheeled carts up and down long, steep driveways. At 4: 13 p.m., President Hockett turned the meeting over to President Pro Tem Menesini and left the meeting. Following discussion, the initial rate calculation consensus with regard to Rate Issue 5, Backyard Service, was as follows: . Backyard service, if provided, should include refuse, green waste, and recyclables . Staff should work further with BFI/VWM to attempt to get better prices . Consider competitive bidding of the service . In Lafayette and Orinda, backyard service will be offered at cost . In Danville and Moraga, backyard service will not be offered Mr. Hilton discussed Rate Issue 9 - No Green-Waste-Service Discount, Rate Issue 10 - No Recycling-Service Discount, and Rate Issue 11 - Mini-Can Rate, but no consensus was reached. These rate issues will be discussed further at the August 15, 1995 solid waste rate-setting workshop. Mr. Dolan reviewed the draft public agency expenses for the first two years of the new franchise agreement (March 1996 through February 1998). Mr. Dolan reported that the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Board of Directors discussed this subject at the August 3, 1995 District Board Meeting. It was the consensus of the District Board of 08 08 95 144 Directors that the Board endorses the proposed transition of solid waste management as follows: None . It is the intent of the District to remain in CCCSWA no later than February 1998; by which time, it is the intent of the District to leave or to have left CCCSWA and to have turned the full responsibility for of the franchises over to the Cities of Lafayette and Orinda and the Towns of Danville and Moraga; . The Board would encourage and vote for the Cities and Towns to join CCCSWA any time between March 1996 and February 1998 provided the Cities and Towns are then willing to assume liability and management of the lawsuits that exist or may exist, all of the franchise fees would be made available to them for that purpose with any amounts left over to be retained by the Cities and Towns; . The District could remain in CCCSWA until February 1998 to help resolve the liability issues and manage the Acme lawsuit (by February 1998, it is expected that the lawsuit may be resolved); . The franchise fee allocation for Cities and Towns that join CCCSWA prior to that time would go from three percent to five percent plus an allowance for active litigation, depending on the degree to which the Cities and Towns accept liability for the litigation expenses; and . The Cities and Towns would hold the District harmless or agree to pass through any reasonable and necessary expenses of the District attendant to the District's past experience in managing solid waste at the time they joined the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority Board. 4. ANNOUNCEMENTS 5. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, President Pro Tem Menesini adjourned the meeting at the hour of 5:07 p.m. to reconvene at 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, August 15, 1995, at the Assistance League of Diablo Valley, 1850 Second Avenue, Walnut Creek, California, for the third in the series of workshops at which the Board of Directors will consider various rate-setting issues, decide on preferred rate-setting methodologies, and set rates as appropriate. 4 JJ~l# President of the Board of Directors, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, County of Contra Costa, State of California COUNTERSIGNED: S c t y of the Centra Co ra C a Sanitary District, County of Contra Costa, State of California 08 08 95