HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-10-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - YARD TRIMMING RATE STUDY (2)AGENDA REPORT /
City Manager Approva
Item to be presented
Jeff Kolin
CONSENT
DATE: October 2 5 1994
SUBJECT: Residential Franchise - Yard Trimmings Rate Study
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
Pursuant to the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (All 939) the City of
Santa Clarita is required by law to divert its municipal solid waste (MSW) from landfills
25 % by the year 1995 and 50 % by the year 2000. The law also authorizes the City to make
adequate provisions for the handling of MSW in order to achieve the state mandate.
According to the City's Source Reduction and Recycling Element, in 1990 the city disposed
of approximately 96,500 tons of MSW into landfills. Of that, seventeen percent (17%) or
16,000 tons was attributed to yard "wastes This type of waste or yard trimmings can be
mulched or composted and ultimately diverted from landfills
On September 28th, 1993, City Council passed Resolution 93-127 establishing the "Forever
Green" "Pilot Curbside Yard Trimmings Recycling Program. The pilot, program was
established in order to determine the costs associated with the implementation of a city-wide
yard trimming collection and recycling program. Since the inception of the pilot program, the
City's residential haulers were requested to document all associated collection costs for the
pilot program. This informationwill be used to determine the total costs to haulers and
residents for the city-wide yard trimming recycling program. The pilot program was initiated
in October of 1993 and is currently in effect until such time as the city-wide program is
implemented.
During the month of August, 1994 staff met with the residential haulers in order to determine
whether the pilot's manual collection method or a semi -automated collection method would
be the most cost effective method utilized for the city-wide program. The manual collection
method would utilize three personal containers provided by the residents. The semi -
automated collection method would utilize a 90 -gallon semi -automated container provided by
the hauler. The semi -automated container would be similar to the existing 90 -gallon trash
container currently used throughout the City. An evaluation of the pilot program data will
enable the City to determine the rate for this service on a per household basis, and will offer
a recommendation regarding the most cost effective collection method for the City.
APPROVED Agenda Item:__
Residential Franchise - Yard Trimmings Rate Study
page 2
The residential haulers and the City agreed to conduct an independent rate review based on
the pilot programs associated costs. Accordingly, staff published a Request for Qualifications
on August 31th, 1994. Four consulting firms submitted their qualifications and were
evaluated. Based upon an objective rating system, the firm of Hilton, Farnkopf &Hobson
received the highest rating.
Hilton, Farnkopf & Hobson provides their services exclusively to government agencies and
specializes in solid waste rate setting, cost of service studies, budgeting, and financial
planning. Their expertise is this arena will result in a rate study that will provide the City
with a solid economic analysis for residential yard trimming collection fees, and for a
comparative study of the strengths and weaknesses of the manual and semi -automated
collection methods.
RECON04EENDATION
Direct staff to enter into an agreement with Hilton, Farnkopf & Hobson in the amount of
$39,000 to conduct a comprehensive yard trimmings rate study. Direct staff to return to
council in February with the results of the yard trimming collection and recycling program
rate study.
Attachments
f:lhome\solwaste\councillytrates3. agn