Trash Fee Proposal Angers Residents

Residents angry about a proposed contract renewal that would make their garbage-collection fees the second highest in Orange County are expected to pack the council chambers tonight .

Last month, the council voted to award an exclusive contract to Waste Management Inc., which operates Dewey’s Rubbish Service and has served the area for 20 years.

Other trash-collection firms and some residents repeatedly have asked the council to open the franchise for competitive bids, claiming that it would lower fees.

Under the proposed, five-year contract, monthly residential trash fees would rise from $9.43 to $11.85 per home and would include the addition of a three-bin, curbside recycling program. According to a countywide trash-rate study, the fee would be the second highest in the county, behind Laguna Hills’ $12.33 monthly rate.

Joining the protest are officials from Irvine-based Western Waste Industries, which hired political consultants Ellis/Hart Associates to conduct at least two citywide mailings critical of recent council action.

The second of the two mailers, sent Thursday, reminds residents to attend tonight’s council meeting.

Dave Ellis, chief executive officer of the political consulting firm, sent a letter last week to City Manager Fred Sorsabal, apologizing for the “aggressive tactics . . . in our pursuit of competitive bidding.”

The mailers also appear to be aimed at Councilman Norman P. Murray, the only council member running for reelection in November.

The first mailer included a clip-out card which read, in part, “I will remember this trash tax increase on Election Day.” Murray said the statement refers to his vote last month to support the contract.

In his letter, Ellis said more than 1,500 response cards have been returned for delivery to the council.