COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

July 16, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 5, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

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

RECOMMENDATION

Hold a public hearing, receive comments, close the hearing and then adopt a resolution adopting the 2003-04 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Service Charges Report for County Service Area No. 8, and directing its filing with the Clerk of the Board.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS

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Set August 5, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. in your Chambers as the time and place of a public hearing on the 2003-04 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Service Charges Report (Report) for County Service Area No. 8 (CSA8).

KEY FACTS

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The County Ordinance Code requires that garbage and recyclables collection charges for a minimum level of service be collected on the tax roll from each residential parcel in CSA8 receiving service.

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The Ordinance Code requires a public hearing before your Board prior to adopting the Garbage and Recyclables Collection Service 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 these services required by the County Ordinance Code for residential parcels by charging each residential parcel a user fee. The adoption of the 2003-04 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Service Charges Report and its filing with the Clerk of the Board will result in these service charges being placed on the tax roll, also as required by County Ordinance. The service charges will appear on the tax bill of each affected property and be collected in the same manner as the property tax.

Your Board, after the close of the public hearing, may adopt the individual charges as presented, or revise, change, reduce or modify any charge in the report, or overrule any or all objections. We believe that the individual garbage collection service charges are equitable since they were calculated in accordance with the rate structure and Garbage Collection Ordinance approved by your Board in July 2002. Therefore, we recommend that you adopt the report as presented.

Occasionally, data, data entry, computation, or other errors occur during the annual updating and preparation of this report. The proposed resolution authorizes the Director of Public Works to refund any overcharges resulting from any such errors in the 2003-04 report.

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 2003/04 Garbage and Recyclables Collection Service Charges Report is the result of a collaborative effort between County staff, North Fair Oaks Council and the franchised hauler.

FISCAL IMPACT

Your Board approved the current service charge base rate on August 6, 2002. The current user charge base rate is $16 per month, and the current service charge base rate remains unchanged for the 2003/2004 Fiscal Year. The individual charges in the service charge report are based on this base rate. There is no impact to the County's General Fund.

A form of resolution has been approved by County Counsel. A copy of this staff report has been sent to the North Fair Oaks Council.