COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 900 SOUTH FREMONT AVENUE ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA 91803-1331 Telephone: (626) 458-5100 JAMES A. NOYES, Director www.ladpw.org ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: P.O. BOX 1460 ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA 91802-1460 IN REPLY PLEASE REFER TO FILE: EP-2 The Honorable Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles 383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration 500 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012-2756 Dear Supervisors: ANNUAL GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICE FEE BELVEDERE GARBAGE DISPOSAL DISTRICT SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT 1 4 VOTES AT HEARING IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD: 1. Receive and file the report entitled Annual Garbage Collection and Disposal Service Fee Report, Fiscal Year 2002-03, for the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District" (Enclosure A). 2. Set a date for a public hearing on the proposed increase in the Garbage Collection and Disposal Service Fee from $75 to $108 per refuse unit. 3. Instruct the Executive Officer-Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to advertise, in English and Spanish, the legal Notice of Hearing in a newspaper of general circulation on two successive weeks prior to the hearing (Enclosure B). 4. Instruct the Director of Public Works to notify the property owners of all identified parcels of real property within the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District by U.S. mail of the amount of the Service Fee to be imposed; the basis upon which the Service Fee was calculated; the reason for the Service Fee; as well as the date, time, and location of the public hearing, not less than 45 days prior to the set date of the public hearing.
The Honorable Board of Supervisors Page 2 AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD: 1. Find that the proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 20.90 of the Los Angeles County Code is for the purpose of meeting operating expenses and therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 21080(b)8 of the Public Resources Code. 2. At the conclusion of the public hearing, by two-thirds majority, introduce, waive reading, and adopt the proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 20.90 of the Los Angeles County Code (Enclosure C). PURPOSE/JUSTIFICATION OF RECOMMENDED ACTION In September 1980, your Board adopted several Ordinances establishing the Service Fee to supplement property taxes to provide for refuse collection and disposal services in various Garbage Disposal Districts in the County of Los Angeles, including the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District. Currently, each parcel of real property within the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District is assessed an annual Service Fee based on the number of refuse units. The number of refuse units assigned to each parcel of real property is based on the current property use classification derived from the assessor s tax roll. The number of units per parcel varies from one-half unit for a vacant parcel to 18 units for a community shopping center. A parcel containing a single-residential unit has been assigned one refuse unit. Based on this formula, each single-family residence is currently charged $75 per year or $6.25 per month. Multi-residential and certain commercial and industrial parcels are assessed higher amounts based on their current property use classification. The current annual Service Fee for the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District has been in effect since July 1995. The estimated revenues from Service Fees at the current rate, together with projected property tax revenues, will not be sufficient to finance the District s new five-year contract for refuse, recyclable materials, and green waste collection services due to the following: a) In an effort to improve the current services provided in the District and to further enhance waste reduction efforts as mandated by State law, commencing July 1, 2002, the District will employ a new collection mechanism where all garbage, recyclable materials, and green waste will be collected separately through
The Honorable Board of Supervisors Page 3 mechanical means known as automated collection as opposed to the current manual operation. The switch to automated collection is for the purposes of 1) providing more effective and quality services to the District s residents; 2) anticipated increase in the District s diversion rate as residents would be more conscientious about placing their refuse, recyclable materials, and green waste in the respective containers for collection; 3) reducing and/or eliminating littering on the streets and alleys and thus maintaining the cleanliness of the community and protecting the public health and safety; and 4) responding to the numerous requests from the residents of the District for automated collection service. However, since specially designed vehicles and containers must be used for automated collection services, the cost for such services is approximately 20 percent higher than the cost for manual collection. Additionally, the refuse collection industry has experienced an approximately 30 percent increase in its operating costs since commencement of the District s current contract on July 1, 1996, due to inflation, escalation in disposal fee at the landfill, increase in fuel cost, compliance with Rule 1193, Clean Onroad Residential and Commercial Refuse Collection Vehicles, promulgated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and labor negotiations. As a result, the lowest responsible proposal for automated collection for the District s upcoming five-year contract is more than 50 percent higher than the annual cost of the existing contract. b) The Belvedere Garbage Disposal District has used a combination of Service Fee revenues, property taxes, and reserves to fund its operations. The District s reserves have allowed the District to maintain its Service Fee at the current rate for the last seven years which is approximately 50 percent of the average residential cost throughout the County of Los Angeles. Now the depleting reserves necessitate an increase in the Service Fee to offset the District s rising operational costs. Based on the above, it is recommended that the current annual Service Fee of $75 per refuse unit be increased to $108 ($9 per refuse unit per month) beginning in Fiscal Year 2002-03. Despite the increase, this rate, which is approximately 15 percent lower than the average residential cost throughout the County of Los Angeles, remains the lowest among neighboring cities and communities providing similar services. It is essential that the operation of the refuse collection and disposal services within the Garbage Disposal Districts be continued
The Honorable Board of Supervisors Page 4 without interruption and at a reasonable cost to protect the environment and health and safety of the Garbage Disposal District s residents and business establishments. The collection of the Service Fees through the tax roll remains the most cost-effective mechanism in the billing and accounting of these Fees. Implementation of County Strategic Plan Goals This action is consistent with the County Strategic Plan Goal of Fiscal Responsibility as the Service Fee provides sufficient funds to continue the refuse collection and disposal services within the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District without interruption to protect the environment and health and safety of the District s residents and business establishments. It also satisfies the goal of Service Excellence since providing continuous refuse collection and disposal services to residents and business establishments within the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District improves the quality of life and protects the public health and safety in the District. FISCAL IMPACT/FINANCING There will be no impact to the County General Fund. FACTS AND PROVISIONS/LEGAL REQUIREMENTS California Constitution, Article XIIID, Section 6, requires that a written notice be provided to all identified parcels of property within the District by U.S. mail of the amount of the District s Service Fee imposed upon each parcel; the basis for calculating the Service Fee; the reason for the Service Fee; and the date, time, and location of a public hearing. The public hearing is to be conducted not less than 45 days from the date of the notification. The imposition of Service Fee for refuse collection services is exempt from voter approval. Section 5473.1 of the Health and Safety Code requires that the notice of the filing of the Garbage Collection and Disposal Service Fees Report and a time and place of hearing thereon to be published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. California Health and Safety Code Section 5473 provides that any adopted ordinance or resolution authorizing the collection of Service Fees on the tax roll shall remain in effect until repealed or until changes have been made in rates.
The Honorable Board of Supervisors Page 5 The proposed Ordinance (Enclosure C) and Notice of Hearing (Enclosure B) have been reviewed and approved as to form by County Counsel. On April 24, 2002, the Local Agency Formation Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed detachment of the entire City of Bell Gardens from the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District. Subject to the Local Agency Formation Commission s approval, said detachment is expected to take effect on July 1, 2002. As a result, commencing Fiscal Year 2002-03, the restructured Belvedere Garbage Disposal District would encompass only the unincorporated County areas of East Los Angeles and City Terrace. Since the City of Bell Gardens will no longer be part of the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District effective July 1, 2002, starting Fiscal Year 2002-03 and all fiscal years thereafter, all the parcels of real property within the City of Bell Gardens will be removed from the assessment of a Garbage Collection and Disposal Service Fee on the tax roll by the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District. ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION The collection of the Garbage Collection and Service Fee for the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District on the tax roll is for the purpose of meeting operating expenses and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 21080(b)8 of the Public Resources Code. IMPACT ON CURRENT SERVICES The collection of the Service Fee on the tax roll will allow the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District to provide enhanced refuse collection and disposal and materials and green waste recycling services to all residential, commercial, and business customers.
The Honorable Board of Supervisors Page 6 CONCLUSION Upon Board approval, please return two approved copies of this letter and Report to this Department. In addition, please file a copy of the Report with the Auditor-Controller on or before August 10, 2002. Respectfully submitted, JAMES A. NOYES Director of Public Works MCC:my P:\sec\bgdd-fee03 Enc. cc: Chief Administrative Office County Counsel Auditor-Controller
INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR PUBLISHING LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS TO: FROM: Executive Officer-Clerk of the Board Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Environmental Programs Division NOTICE OF HEARING ANNUAL GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICE FEE REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2002-03 BELVEDERE GARBAGE DISPOSAL DISTRICT Publishing In accordance with Section 5473.1 of the California Health and Safety Code and Section 6066 of the California Government Code, the Executive Officer-Clerk of the Board shall publish notice of the filing of a report on the Collection of the Annual Garbage Collection and Disposal Service Fee, Fiscal Year 2002-03, for the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District and of a hearing on the report. Publication of the notice shall be once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published once a week, or more often, with at least five days intervening between the respective publication dates not counting such publication dates. The period of notice commences upon the first day of publication and terminates at the end of the 14th day, including therein the first day. Forward ten reprints of the attached advertisement to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Environmental Programs Division, P.O. Box 1460, Alhambra, California 91802-1460. Should there be any questions regarding this matter, please contact Mr. Mike Mohajer, of this office, at (626) 458-3500, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Attach. Enclosure B Page 1 of 5
NOTICE OF HEARING ANNUAL GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICE FEE REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2002-03 BELVEDERE GARBAGE DISPOSAL DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that a report by the Director of Public Works has been filed with the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles as the governing body of the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District recommending increases in the annual Garbage Collection and Disposal Service Fee for refuse collection and disposal services and recycling and yard/green waste programs to properties within the District. Currently, each parcel of real property within the District is assessed an annual Service Fee based on the number of refuse units assigned to that parcel. The number of refuse units is a function of the property use classification and varies from one-half of one unit for a vacant lot and one unit for a single-family residence to 18 units for a community shopping center. Based on this formula, the annual Service Fee for a single-family residence is $75. Multiresidential and certain commercial and business parcels are assessed higher amounts based on their current property use classification. The proposal will increase the annual Service Fee to $108 per refuse unit beginning Fiscal Year 2002-03. Tuesday,, 2002, at 9:30 a.m., in Room 381 of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, is the time and place which has been fixed by the Board of Supervisors to consider this matter. Any person wishing to be heard on this matter may appear before the Board of Supervisors and show cause why the proposal should not be adopted. For further information regarding this matter, please telephone the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Environmental Programs Division, at (800) 404-4487, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Enclosure B Page 2 of 5
Upon 72 hours notice, the County can provide program information and publications in alternate formats or make other accommodations for people with disabilities. In addition, documents are available at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in Los Angeles (500 West Temple Street), which is accessible to individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations ONLY, or for more ADA information, please contact our ADA Coordinator at (626) 458-4081 or TDD (626) 282-7829, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. APPROVED AS TO FORM: LLOYD W. PELLMAN County Counsel ATTEST: VIOLET VARONA-LUKENS Executive Officer-Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By Principal Deputy By Enclosure B Page 3 of 5
AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA REFERENTE AL REPORTE ANUAL SOBRE LAS CUOTAS DE SERVICIO DE RECOLECCIÓN DE BASURA PARA EL AÑO FISCAL 2002-03 DISTRITO DE RECOLECIÓN DE BASURA DE BELVEDERE Por medio de este aviso se anuncia que un reporte por el Director de Obras Públicas se ha registrado con la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Los Angeles como el cuerpo governante del Distrito (Distrito) de Basura de Belvedere, recomendando aumentos en el pago anual de Servicio (Cuota de Servicio) de Recolección de Basura y programas de reciclaje y desechos verdes a propiedades dentro del Distrito. Actualmente, cada lote de bienes raíces dentro del Distrito de Recolección de Basura es sujeto a una cuota anual de servicio la cual está establecida sobre el número de unidades de desechos asignadas a ese lote. El número de unidades de desechos es una función del uso de la clasificación de la propiedad y varía de la mitad (½) de una unidad para un lote vacante y una (1) unidad para una residencia de una familia, hasta 18 unidades para un centro comercial de la comunidad. La cuota anual de servicio por unidad de desechos es actualmente $75, para residencias de una familia. Residencias de multi unidades y ciertos centros comerciales y negocios son sujetos a cuotas más altos basado sobre su Código de Uso de Asesor de Propiedad. La proposición aumentará la cuota de servicio anual a $108 por unidad empezando el Año Fiscal 2002-03. El Martes,, 2002, a las 9:30 a.m., en el Cuarto 381 del Salón de Administratión Kenneth Hahn, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, es la hora y lugar fijado donde se considerará este asunto. Cualquier persona que desea tener audiencia tocante a este asunto puede estar presente ante la Junta de Supervisores y demonstar la razón porqué la propuesta no debe ser adoptada. Enclosure B Page 4 of 5
AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA REFERENTE AL REPORTE ANUAL SOBRE LAS CUOTAS DE SERVICIO DE RECOLECCIÓN DE BASURA PARA EL AÑO FISCAL 2002-03 DISTRITOS DE RECOLECCIÓN DE BASURA DE BELVEDERE Para más información sobre este asunto, favor de llamar al Departamento de Obras Públicas del Condado de Los Angeles, División de Programas del Medio Ambiente, al (800) 404-4487, lunes a jueves, 7:00 a.m. a 5:30 p.m. Con aviso de 72 horas de anticipación, el Condado puede proveer información y publicaciones del programa en formas alternativas o puede proveer servicios especiales para personas con incapacidades. Copias de los documentos también estan disponibles en la Administración de Kenneth Hahn en Los Angles (500 West Temple Avenue) que es accesible para personas con incapacidades. Para solicitar arreglos especiales SOLAMENTE o para más información con respecto al Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), favor de comunicarse con nuestro coordinador departamental de ADA, al (626) 458-4031 o TDD (626) 282-7829, lunes a jueves, 7:00 a.m. a las 5:30 p.m. APROBADO COMO FORMA: LLOYD W. PELLMAN Abogado del Condado CONFIRMA: VIOLET VARONA-LUKENS Oficial-Dependiente Ejecutivo del Consejo de Supervisores Por Delegado Principal Por Enclosure B Page 5 of 5