SR-100-000-14
Council Meeting: June 28, 2005 Santa Monica, CA
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Staff
Subject: Recommendation to Form an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council to
Address Options for Solid Waste Management, Including Rate Structures
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council appoint two Council Members to
participate in and provide input on an anticipated eight month process to explore options
for handling solid waste operations in Santa Monica and alternative rate structures.
Background
Issues relating to renovation and remediation of the City Yards, including the transfer
station, and optimization of collections, recycling and disposal operations have been a
recurring topic for study and policy debate for several years. Staff has budgeted funds
and initiated an RFP process to engage a team of experts to identify and analyze a
range of solid waste management options for Council’s consideration in the spring of
2006. Evaluation of programmatic costs and revenues and development of alternative
rate structures would dovetail with and be informed by the broader project.
Discussion
It is likely that identifying the appropriate balance of efficiency, economy, sustainability
and customer service considerations at various junctures in the study will require policy
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direction from the full Council. Because the subject matter is complex and time is
limited if new approaches are to be included in the 2006/07 budget process, it would be
helpful to have two Council members participating in and providing input on the process
to assist the public and Council colleagues in understanding issues at critical intervals.
At the outset, committee members might need to be available for weekly workday
meetings and would likely need to commit to biweekly meetings for the duration.
Budget/Financial Impact
No costs are associated with formation of a committee of the Council.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council appoint two members to an ad hoc committee
to participate in and provide input on the development of solid waste management and
rate options.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management
Celeste Peele, Solid Waste Manager
Steve Stark, Director of Finance
Susan McCarthy, City Manager
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