Agenda - 02-18-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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20 1 Robert Nutter, Maple View Farm 2 Paul Rockwell, Orange Grove Community 3 Lori Schweickert, Teer Road Community 4 Llane Salgado, Transition Carrboro- Chapel Hill 5 Lorretta Smith, Efland Community 6 Maria Tadd, Ferguson Community 7 Susan Walser, Western Park Community 8 Chris Weaver, Caldwell Community 9 Dick and Norma White, Schley Community 10 Randall Williams, Mount Mitchell /Apple Mill Community 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Chair Jacobs said he feels that the County's municipal partners have the expectation that Orange County will not undermine the viability of the recycling program. Commissioner McKee thanked the manager for including the option for residents to continue use of the current recycling bins. He also thanked him for the inclusion of the evaluation at the beginning of 2015, in the event that the Board goes with the manager's recommendation. He feels this evaluation would give the Board the option to re- direct and go with the tax district. He said the opt -out was a critical issue for him; and he is convinced that some people will opt out, but he does not believe it will be 20 percent. He feels that when new customers are figured in, the loss will be less than 20 percent. He said he has spoken with people who have curbside recycling in his area and these residents like it and don't want to lose it. He does not believe these people will opt out. He is aware of several communities that also want to opt in as a viable route. Commissioner McKee said he likes this option and the above mentioned provisions. He does not know how to address the possible disparity questions from the town. He said the only argument he could make against the tax district is that some properties will be paying for a service they cannot get. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the 20 percent estimate is based only on the parcels already in the service area. Michael Talbert said that is correct. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a sense of how many of these residents were already not participating in the service. Michael Talbert said this information can be gotten from the RFID chips on the newer containers. He said, from the visual perspective of the drivers, about 60 -65 percent set out recycling containers on any given 2 week schedule. He said this may mean that people only use the service once a month or it may mean that only 65 percent are using it, though he does not think this is the case. Commissioner Dorosin said the premise of the "opt out" option is that people, who may recycle when it is part of their taxes, won't participate if it is a separate bill. He is trying to understand this. He said this seems odd, since he feels people recycle because they are philosophically committed to it, or they are not. He does not feel that he has enough information about the impacts of any of these options. Commissioner Rich said she feels the same way about not having enough information to make a decision. She said the raising of the fee may cause people to opt out, and the idea of the subscription service does not sit well with her. She feels the County should have a program that everyone could use, and she is not in favor of this. Commissioner Gordon said she is concerned about the subscription service. She said one concern is that the best case scenario would be that 20% would opt out. She said this