City Council Minutes 2013 09 03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2013 Page 14 of 22 Mayor Muckle stated he was less concerned about spreading the cost of zero waste initiative to all customer classes. He noted many residents are participating in the single hauler program. He asked if the solid waste costs should be billed through utility billing. Finance Director Watson confirmed the solid waste costs could be billed through the utility billing system. Mayor Muckle asked for clarification that the recycling revenue would be credited to the administrative fees for customers. City Manager Fleming confirmed it would be credited to customer's accounts and estimated it would be about $0.27 per account. Council member Loo stated she would like to see all the cost of the hazardous materials and the zero waste paid for by all the residents. She asked if payment for all three items could be billed through the utility billing system. Finance Director Watson stated another alternative would be to take it all out of the general fund instead of the enterprise fund. He asked Council if they were comfortable having those charges on the water bill. Mayor Pro Tem Dalton stated the trash fund is collected with the water bill for convenience. He felt it was alright for the trash hauling, but did not want to lump it all together. He felt the hazardous waste and zero waste initiatives should be paid by all tax payers and therefore come out of the general fund. Council member Loo stated if it is taken out of the general fund there would not be any new revenue generated. She felt revenue should be generated to pay for the service. Council member Keany voiced his concern over charging a fee on the water bill for a service without allowing the residents to comment. City Manager Fleming explained staff is requesting Council direction so the matter can be set for a public meeting. Council member Yarnell concurred with Council member Loo in terms of paying for the services. She agreed it should be a household fee and supported giving the residents an opportunity to comment on the fees. Mayor Pro Dalton agreed the Administration fees to pay for the staff time is appropriate. He felt recycling should be part of the trash bill, but zero waste initiatives should come out of the general fund. Mayor Muckle noted the water bill is actually a utility bill and pays for a variety of services. He supported the hazardous waste fee on the utility bill, with a public input process, opposed to having it paid by the general fund. He felt there was logic in having recycling revenue to pay for zero waste events. He asked if last year's recycling revenue would offset administration fees for the following year. Public Works Director Kowar confirmed recycling revenue would offset the following years' administration fees.