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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-08-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - REFUSE DISCOUNT SENIOR INCOME (2)fI _ u�= � - • �� CONSENT CALENDER DATE: August 13, 1991 SUBJECT: REFUSE INCOME DEPARTMENT: Public City Manage Item to be John E. Medina FOR SENIORS, DISABLED AND LOW The City Council at its meeting of March 13, 1991 directed staff to report on the feasibility of implementing a program which offers senior citizens, disabled and low income persons a reduced refuse/recycling monthly rate. Since the local senior citizen population was easily identifiable and readily accessible, staff and the UCLA Solid Waste Management Program were able to conduct a senior citizen waste generation study. Currently, UCLA is in the process of finalizing the results of the study in a report which will be available in October of this year. Preliminary results of the senior waste generation study indicate that seniors on average generate approximately 3.5 pounds per person. The average resident in Santa Clarita, produces 4.0 pounds per day - see Attachment C - Senior Citizen Waste Generation Data. A waste generation study for the disabled persons and low-income households will require a complex study since these populations are not easily identified or located and would require agreement on many parameters. Moreover, combinations such as a disabled person in high-income households with more than the average 2.99 people per household may exist. In such cases a waste generation analysis for that household would be invalid. For Council's consideration, staff has identified two (2) options the City can pursue to realize the implementation of refuse discount rates. These are a City-wide Variable Can Rate and Senior Citizen/Low-Income Rate Assistance Program, see attachments A and B. Either program will present administrative challenges for the City. Regardless of the program implemented, any type of discounted monthly rate will result in a increased service rate for all other residential units. In addition, landfill and hauling costs will increase as identified in the Rail Haul vs. Landfill Study. app�O�1�D Agenda -Item: Refuse Discount for Seniors, Disables and Low Income Persons Page 2 There are numerous complex issues associated with any type of discount rate program. Staff feels the issues and possible alternatives surrounding this matter warrants discussion in a Council Study Session where Council could have.an opportunity to receive a more comprehensive report. City Council receive report and continue this matter to the October 1991 Council study session for further discussion. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A - Option I: City -Wide Variable Can Rate Attachment B - Option II: Low -Income Ratepayer Assistance Program Attachment C - Senior Citizen Waste Generation Data JEM:kmt:DISCOUNT ATTACHMENT A OPTION I: City -Wide Variable Can Rate Implementing a program which would -utilize a City-wide variable can rate is the most equitable system available for all sectors of the City. Consistent with the goals of AB 939, this proposed program would provide residents with a monetary incentive to make a significant reduction in the amount of their waste generation. A variable can rate program would offer residents a choice of container sizes, for waste collection services. A smaller barrel will offer seniors or any resident who generate less waste, a discounted rate to reward their refuse flow reduction efforts. For residents who still require a large barrel, service will be available at a higher monthly rate. The natural evolution of our AB 939 program called for the eventual elimination of supplemental bags and/or containers to the primary waste bin. In light of this, residents producing excessive waste will be required to set up service for an additional container provided by the haulers. The implementation of such a program requires thorough planning. A cost analysis of a variable rate program needs to be conducted. Currently, residents who produce less waste and pay the base rate, subsidize refuse costs for residents who generate high volumes of waste. A discounted monthly rate for certain sectors of the City will increase variable operational costs. These costs will need to be subsidized by the remainder of single-family households in the City. ATTACHMENT B In November 1989, the City of Orange voted to exempt the charges for the recycling programs to citizens qualifying.under the guidelines established by the Low -Income Ratepayer Assistance (LIRA) program. While the proposed program which staff is currently exploring is based upon an a 15k discount across the board discount.for all qualifying residents, the City of Orange has shown that such a program is feasible. The implementation of a program similar to LIRA, would provide rate discounts specifically for senior, disabled and low-income residents. Originally conceived by the Public Utilities Commission, the City of Orange has used LIRA to structure a.. program which provides free recycling service for all residents who meet the established qualifications. The City of Orange subsidizes such discounts through the establishment of higher rates for all other regular customers. The administrative elements associated with this proposed program would be less encompassing then that of a variable can rate. Residents would be required to produce documentation depicting that they are a recipient of: 1) Supplement Security Income; 2). Medi -Cal Benefits; or 3). Permanent Disability Benefits. Because individual applications to responsible State/Federal agencies for each of the above categories are checked and confirmed by those same agencies, the Haulers could accept applications from citizens able to demonstrate proof of inclusion in any of these programs. CITY OF SANTA LARITA: Should the City of Santa Clarita adopt a program simular to LIRA, the additional operational costs incured would be subsidized by non -eligible households.