Agenda - 06-23-2005-6b - Laserfiche WebLink

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6_C,� Additional Item for Discussion Under Section 6 — Resolutions or Proclamations Senate Bill 951— Public- Private Solid Waste Collection Summary Senate Bill 951 was written by and for the private solid waste collection industry and could have significant potential negative consequences for local governments who wish to initiate new collection programs or make changes or enhancements to existing services. The bill would require local governments to maneuver through an unnecessary assortment of notification and advertising obligations for local governments that would seem to constrain even casual and/or spontaneous discussion of local waste collection issues by governing boards. The bill would also require payment by local governments who "displace" private hauling companies, for an amount totaling up to 12 months of gross receipts for each company operating in the service area of any government program expansion, even if citizens wished to be serviced by their government program. The beneficiary of these "payoffs" would primarily be large national hauling companies. Senate Bill 951 could be particularly detrimental to local recycling and waste reduction efforts by increasing the costs of these programs with no discernable benefit for citizens, In fact, governing board discussions of waste and recycling collection issues would become burdensome and discourage all but the most resolute local governments. The apparent intent of the bill is to impede /constrain local governments from getting into or remaining in the waste /recyclables collection business, even if local government services can be provided more efficiently. Displacement infers a private company "property right' to customers that acts as a "frrewall" between local governments and their own citizens. This bill does nothing to advance the cause of waste reduction, cost - efficiency, accountability or quality of service.