COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

 

DATE:

June 21, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 9, 2002

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

2002/03 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report for County Service Area No. 8 (North Fair Oaks Area)

   
 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution setting August 6, 2002, at 9:00 a.m. before your Board as the time and place for a public hearing on the adoption of the 2002/03 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report (Report) for County Service Area No. 8 (CSA8).

 

Previous Board Actions

·

Entered into a franchise agreement with Browning Ferris Industries (BFI) for garbage and recyclables collection services in CSA8.

 

·

Adopted an Ordinance which requires that for defined user categories in CSA8 charges be collected together with property taxes for a portion of the cost of garbage and recyclables collection.

 

·

Adopted the current garbage and recyclables collection user charge base rate for CSA8 on July 23, 1996.

 

Key Facts

·

The County Ordinance Code requires a public hearing before your Board prior to adopting the annual Report.

 

·

The adopted 2002/2003 Report must be filed with the County Controller by August 15, 2002.

   

·

Adopting a resolution setting a public hearing on the user charge is the procedural first step in this process.

 

Discussion

CSA8 provides garbage and recyclables collection service in the North Fair Oaks area through a franchise agreement with BFI. The County generates the revenue to pay BFI for the minimum level of service required by the County Ordinance Code by charging each affected parcel a user fee. We have been meeting with the North Fair Oaks Council over the past several months to discuss changes to the current rate structure, billing system and categories of customers for which the County collects a user fee. The intent of these changes is to increase recycling in the North Fair Oaks area and to simplify and improve service delivery. Staff and the North Fair Oaks Council were completing discussions at the time this report was being prepared, and we expect to present the results of these discussions along with our recommended changes to your Board prior to the public hearing we are asking your Board to set for August 6.

 

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment to be a "responsive, effective and collaborative government, and Goal Number 21, "County employees understand, support and integrate the County vision and goals into their delivery of services" as the 2002/03 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report is the result of a collaborative effort between county staff and the North Fair Oaks Council.

 

Fiscal Impact

There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action of setting a public hearing. The adoption of the 2002/03 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report and its filing with the Clerk of the Board will result in the user charges contained therein being placed on the tax roll. The charges will appear on the 2002/03 tax bill of each affected property and be collected in the same manner as the property tax.

 

There is no impact to the General Fund.

 

A form of resolution has been approved by County Counsel.