Minutes 06-03-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Center Operations. (See fee table in abstract) Michael Talbert said there are $18 million in funds available in solid waste. He said much of this money is reserved for specific purposes, but there is $3,082,630 of unrestricted reserve fund balance. He said option 2 would fund both rural and urban programs and would take 2/3 of the unrestricted reserves. He said this was in response to an equity issue with the towns, so there would be no fee for either one. Michael Talbert referred to the table of convenience center fees. He said the current fees are: $40 for rural; $20 for urban; $4 for multi-family. He said there are four scenarios that raise this from 33 percent of the $1.8 million to 50 percent, to 2/3, and up to 100 percent of the $1.8 million. He said if all of the fees were done in one year to raise the full amount of$1.8 million the rural fee would go from $40 to $102; the urban would go from $20 to $51; and the multi-family would go from $4 to $10. Michael Talbert said the manager's recommendation is option 1 as a way to move forward with minimal damage to the unrestricted reserves, while giving the proposed workgroup one year to work on this. Commissioner Gordon said the $728,260 amount for recycling used to be $630,000. She asked what caused it to go up. Gayle Wilson said about a year ago the budget number was estimated. He said the costs were then gathered for the roll carts and recycling trucks prior to the budget being prepared after the first of the year. He said these firm cost figures caused the number to evolve from $630,000 to the current number. He said the debt service annual payment also increased when the term was reduced from 10 to 5 years. He said the County started running a small deficit in the rural program about 3 years ago that was not resolved prior to the 3-R program ending. He said the new budget number came to light during the public hearing and discussion process, and staff did not want to switch the number in the midst of that discussion. He said the $728,000 is a firm budget number. Commissioner Gordon asked how many customers and roll carts are included in this budget number. Gayle Wilson said this number includes the 7000 roll carts and the ability to service the expanded service area. He said the cost to serve the 13,700 is the same as the expanded service because it uses the same staffing and equipment. Commissioner Gordon said she thought there was going to be a survey prior to the purchase of the roll carts. Gayle Wilson said once the urban program is implemented and if the Board approves the roll carts, staff will do outreach in the service area to determine who wants to use bins and who wants to use roll carts. Commissioner Gordon clarified that roll carts will not be purchased until this number is determined. Gayle Wilson said roll carts will not be purchased until there is a good idea of how many are needed. Commissioner Gordon asked if the $728,000 is an upper number. Gayle Wilson said this number includes the 7000 roll carts and the ability to service the expanded 1,500 households. Commissioner Gordon asked if staff will bring back an item for the Board to approve the number of roll carts that are really needed. Gayle Wilson said yes.