- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Clearlake City Council approves garbage rate increase
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday night, following a protest hearing, the Clearlake City Council approved an increase in garbage rates for the city’s residents.
City manager Greg Folsom said that on June 8 the council approved the rate increase, which went into effect on July 1.
In a sample of the new rates, 20-gallon carts rise from $13.03 to $16.85 per month; 32-gallon carts, $15.46 to $19.99; and commercial two-yard bins, $185.56 to $239.96.
The council also has since approved the second and final reading of an ordinance to implement universal garbage service in the city, which Folsom said is expected to go into effect April 1.
The city has previously implemented rate increases for its franchise hauler, Clearlake Waste Solutions, Folsom said.
However, because of the approval now of universal garbage service, Proposition 218 is triggered, he said.
Folsom explained the Proposition 218 only applies to fees that are imposed, not those where people can choose to have a service or not.
Proposition 218 requires a 45-day mailed notice to all property owners and existing customers and a majority protest hearing in which silence equals consent, he explained.
Folsom’s report compared Clearlake’s 32-gallon rate to other areas, such as Mendocino County, where he said garbage service cost about $31 a month. “So it’s a very competitive rate,” he said.
The franchise agreement also allows for an annual rate adjustment based on the consumer price index for things like pass-through costs – such as gas price increases – and extraordinary items, such as changes in the law, Folsom said.
At the close of business on Thursday, the city had received 25 written protests, Folsom said.
With Clearlake containing 14,611 parcels, in order for a majority protest to stop the rate increase the city needed to receive at least 7,306 protests, Folsom said.
Approximately 17 people testified to the council, with all but two opposing the rate increase.
Concerns expressed by those opposing the increase ranged from Marie Weathers, manager of Lakeside Mobile Home Park, saying that the park does its own service at $15 a month, to others saying that they couldn’t afford it or they didn’t feel that they should have the service if they didn’t want it.
One person who spoke in favor of the increase was Chuck Leonard, a former city councilman, who said his garbage rate is the lowest he’s ever had.
Following a brief break so staff could tabulate the protests, the council reconvened, with City Clerk Melissa Swanson reporting that a total of 43 protests had been submitted against the rate increase.
Vice Mayor Bruno Sabatier said the city doesn’t want to see people collecting garbage for weeks at a time on their properties. “It needs to be picked up weekly.”
He suggested that by having the service, people could actually save money on self-hauling.
“We have to do what we need to do to clean up our city,” he said.
The council then followed up with a unanimous vote in favor of a resolution setting the maximum rates for solid waste collection services in the city.
The council on Thursday also authorized Folsom to approve additional change orders totaling up to $50,000 for the paving project on Phillips and 18th Avenue, which is being completed by Team Ghilotti.
Folsom said he so far had approved $33,000 in change orders for the project and was seeking the additional funds from Measure V proceeds for any other possible changes.
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