AGENDA TITLE:
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Receive Information Regarding Multi-Family Billing Options for Solid Waste Collection Services for Multi-Family Properties and Provide Direction to Proceed (PW)
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MEETING DATE:
May 15, 2024
PREPARED BY:
Public Works Director
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive information regarding multi-family billing options for solid waste collection services for multi-family properties and provide direction.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of Lodi’s franchise solid waste hauler, WM, currently provides solid waste collection services to multi-family properties within the City of Lodi. The City, as a convenience to our residents and customers, provides the billing for these services as part of our combined City of Lodi monthly billings for water, wastewater and electric utilities.
Multi-family residents that receive bin service are currently charged a “flat-rate” charge of -$1.00 of the base rate, 35-gallon residential cart rate. The current rate for that service is $38.47, making the multi-family rate $37.47.
Current billing practices generally do not collect enough revenue to meet the rate for actually service being provided to multi-family properties. The majority of multi-family properties in the City do not generate monthly billings equivalent to the rate for the bin service provided to the property, resulting in lost revenue to WM and franchise fees for the City.
Additionally, current billing practices do not allow for tenant direct billing for organics recycling services for multi-family properties. Per Senate Bill 1383 (“SB 1383”), organics service is required to be provided to all commercial properties, including multi-family properties.
Staff held a townhall meeting on March 15, 2024, inviting 189 multi-family property owners to discuss multi-family billing options for both solid waste and water. Approximately 10 percent of all multi-family property owners attended, representing more than 20 percent of all multi-family units in the City. Staff presented one billing option each for solid waste and water followed by a lengthy question and answer period, including open discussion. Based on the feedback received during the townhall, Staff has expanded the options available for Council’s consideration for solid waste.
On May 1, 2024, staff presented three options related to solid waste billing for multi-family properties to allow for billing to reflect actual service provided, as well as, allow for implementation of organics recycling at multi-family properties. All options included a general implementation timeline that allows the City to become compliant with SB 1383, within the requested extension timeline of the City’s Corrective Action Plan, administered by CalRecycle. Per Council’s request, staff will return to Council to further discuss these options previously presented.
STRATEGIC VISION:
Not Applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not Applicable.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not Applicable.
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Charles E. Swimley
Public Works Director
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Andrew C. Keys
Interim City Manager