COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

June 25, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 15, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

2003/04 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report for County Service Area No. 8 (North Fair Oaks Area)

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution setting 9:00 a.m. on August 5, 2003, as the time and date for a public hearing to consider on the adoption of the 2003/04 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report for County Service Area No. 8 (North Fair Oaks area).

Previous Board Actions

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Entered into a franchise agreement with Browning Ferris Industries (BFI) for garbage and recyclables collection services in County Service Area No. 8 (CSA8).

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

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Adopted the current garbage and recyclables collection user charge base rate for CSA8 on August 6, 2002. The current user charge base rate is $16 per month. The base rate is unchanged for the 2003/04 Fiscal Year.

Key Facts

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The County Ordinance Code requires a public hearing before your Board prior to adopting the annual Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report.

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The adopted 2003/2004 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Charges Report must be filed with the County Controller by August 15.

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 levying a user fee on each affected parcel.

The adoption of the 2003/04 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 2003/04 tax bill of each affected property and be collected in the same manner as the property tax. The recommended action, the setting of a public hearing on the user charge report for August 5, is a procedural first step in this process.

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment to 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 2003/04 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.

However, the charges for providing garbage and recyclables collection will be levied on each property if your Board adopts the charge report after holding a public hearing.