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City of City Council Report
Santa TVIunicai
City Council Meeting: December 13, 2011
Agenda Item:
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha. Director of Public Works
Subject: New Public Works Service Programs
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Introduce the attached ordinance for first reading establishing four new service
programs for the Department of Public Works.
2. Approve the attached resolution setting the new service program fees, to be
effective upon the effective date of the attached ordinance.
Executive Summary
This report provides information on the development and establishment of fees for new
optional programs that would be offered by the City's Resource Recovery & Recycling
Division: Enclosure and Sidewalk Washing for Businesses; Residential Clean -a -Can;
Green Food Collection Pail; and Event Rental.
Discussion
In response to EPA regulations, the Clean Water Act and other regulations regarding
waste disposal and stormwater runoff and pollution, the Resource Recovery &
Recycling Division (RRR) has been developing new programs to comply with these
mandates while encouraging community participation in activities that reduce waste and
pollution such as recycling, composting and reduced water reuse.
In the last year RRR has received several calls from both residents and business
owners requesting cleaning services for their trash carts, bins and enclosure areas due
to trash accumulation, odors and overall aesthetics. Since RRR does not currently offer
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these services, customers have been directed to private businesses outside the City.
In order to meet service demands in the future, RRR is proposing to offer residents and
businesses the optional services below. The proposed costs for these services are
based on both the 2009 cost allocation plan developed by R3 Consulting Group (R3)
and the 2010 review of the cost of providing services citywide to ensure appropriate
cost recovery by Revenue Cost Specialists (RCS).
Enclosure and Expanded Sidewalk Washing For Businesses
RRR proposes a cleaning service for any commercial bin enclosure, compactor area, or
dumpster area. This service would include a sweep -out of debris and pressure washing
of the enclosure floor making it free of odors, dirt, grime, sludge, and trash
accumulation.
RRR would also expand the sidewalk and parking lot pressure washing services it offers
to local businesses. This service gets at the joints of the sidewalks and the surrounding
curbs to give the area a complete cleaning. RRR scheduling flexibility also avoids
interfering with nearby foot traffic. Routine pressure washing service helps maintain a
clean appearance for shopping districts, hotel entryways, restaurants, office buildings or
downtown storefronts.
RRR's high power mobile water recovery system can recover up to 99% of the water
runoff associated with these services, eliminating the problems associated with standing
water or water entering the storm drains
The cost allocation plan developed by R3 in 2009 revealed that the annual cost for
pressure washing services was $367,377 or $88.31 per hour. Staff proposes to charge
$88.31 per hour for the above services with a pro -rata cost calculated at 15 minute
increments.
Staff estimates spending approximately five additional hours per week providing this
service. Doing so would increase miscellaneous revenue by $22,960 annually.
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Residential Clean -a -Can
RRR proposes pressure washing residential refuse containers at the curb or alley once
per month in order to eliminate odors, dirt, grime, and /or sludge at the bottom of the
containers. RRR has designated a pilot area of approximately 300 residents within the
southwest section of the City to garner interest in the program. Staff projects a 25%
response rate during the pilot program. RRR would notify the residents about the
program by placing tags on the containers.
The clean -a -can program would be completed by the pressure washing staff. It is
estimated that it will take approximately 8 - 15 minutes to get to the service location and
clean the cans. The time differential depends on how often a can is serviced. Based
on the $88.31 hourly rate, the cost for this program would range from $10 - $20 per
cleaning. As an example, if 75 residents participate at a cost of $10 each,
miscellaneous revenue of $750 would be generated. This rate is comparable to costs
offered by the private sector currently operating in the Los Angeles area. RRR would
assess fees based on the frequency of cleaning. The clean -a -can program would
generate approximately $1,000 annually.
Green Food Collection Pail
RRR has encouraged households to use backyard composting to reduce food waste in
the past. Recently, curbside collection of organics increased in popularity. Some
Northern California cities (San Francisco, Berkeley and Santa Cruz) allow food discards
to be collected with the yard trimmings at curbside in order to divert it from landfills.
In August 2010, RRR initiated a pilot program in the residential area north of Montana.
The pilot program allowed food scraps only (no food- soiled paper) to be placed in the
green waste containers. Staff sent out letters inviting 600 homes to participate in the
new program. A month after initiating the pilot program, tags were left on the
customer's container advising them they were doing a good job or how they could
improve. Staff also contacted each household to determine if they were participating.
Many of those contacted indicated that they would participate if there was a better, less
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"messy" way to get the food scraps to the green containers. After conducting research
and contacting other cities, RRR staff determined that a kitchen food scraps pail was
the most successful way to increase participation. Staff proposes that the fee for
purchase of the kitchen food scrap pail be established at cost, currently $6.00 each,
plus an administrative fee of $1.50 for a total one -time cost of $7.50.
In the RCS 2010 review, it was determined that it takes 10 minutes of RRR
administrative staff time to sell a compost bin. The administrative fee was set at $10.00.
Staff estimates that it would only take a minute and a half to sell a kitchen food scrap
pail, which equates to a $1.50 administrative fee.
Staff estimates that 250 pails would be sold per year, increasing miscellaneous revenue
by $1,625. The initial purchase of the kitchen pails would be reflected within the
division's operating budget.
Event Rental
RRR received several inquiries concerning the rental of a trash truck as a fixed
attraction for events and kids parties. RRR participates annually at the Santa Monica
Festival and the operation of the remote collection arm of the trash vehicle is a huge
draw with children lined up waiting for their turn.
Staff proposes to offer the rental of the refuse truck for $50 per hour, with a two hour
minimum and four hour maximum. The rental rate is based on two cost factors: staff
time and vehicle costs. The staff time portion ($34.30) is based on the overtime rate of
a RRR Equipment Operator at step 2. An RRR employee would stay with the vehicle
and demonstrate its operation. The truck rental portion ($15.70) is based on the prior
year vehicle maintenance and insurance costs divided by the in- service hours,
Staff estimates 10 rental requests per year at two hour minimum, which would increase
miscellaneous revenue by $1,000.
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CEQA Compliance
Approval of the Public Works service programs is categorically exempt under CEQA
Guidelines section 15308, which exempts programs that maintain and protect the
environment.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The proposed new enclosure and expanded sidewalk washing for businesses,
residential clean -a -can, green food collection pail, and event rental program and service
fees are anticipated to provide $26,335 in additional annual revenues at account
27441.404170. The initial program expenditures of $1,500 for the purchase of the
kitchen food pails and supplies for the clean -a- can program are included in the
division's operating budget.
Prepared by: Kim Braun, Resource Recovery & Recycling Manager
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould °
City Manager
Attachments: 1 — Ordinance establishing Public Works service programs
2 — Resolution setting Public Works service program fees
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City Council Meeting: December 13, 2011 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NO. (CCS)
(CITY COUNCIL SERIES)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
ESTABLISHING NEW SERVICE PROGRAMS OFFERED
BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 2.72 authorizes the
establishment of fees for municipal services that are provided to or benefit individual
users rather than the general public; and
WHEREAS, the Public Works Department's Resource Recovery and Recycling
Division desires to establish four new service programs that will be available to
individual users; and
WHEREAS, the new service programs will encourage community participation in
activities that reduce waste and pollution and promote community health and aesthetics;
and
WHEREAS, the new service programs are voluntary programs that individual
users may select, and the City will not require anyone to participate in these new
service programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 5.08.560 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code is hereby
added to read as follows:
5.08.560 Public works service programs.
(a) The Public Works Department is authorized to establish the
following service programs:
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(1) Residential Clean —A —Can;
(2) Kitchen Food Scrap Pail;
(3) Enclosure and Pressure Washing;
(4) Event Rental.
(b) User fees shall be charged for these services in amounts to be
set by resolution of the City Council not to exceed the City's cost of
providing the services.
(c) Any person using these services must pay the applicable user
fee.
SECTION 2. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to the extent necessary
to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would
have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause,
or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage
of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the
official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become
effective 30 days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARSHA J WS MOU RIE
City Attorn
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Reference Resolution No.
10645 (CCS).