Council Sends Trash Pact Back to Negotiators : Refuse: Angry residents tell officials that Western Waste Industries’ proposed rate cut is not enough.

The South Gate City Council has ordered another month of negotiations with its trash hauler in an effort to lower collection rates.

Meetings between the city staff and representatives of Western Waste Industries have succeeded in knocking 75 cents off the basic monthly rate, but that failed to satisfy hundreds of angry residents who packed City Hall for last week’s council meeting.

“For you to accept the Western Waste contract would be a slap in the face to the community,” said resident David Rico, who urged the council to postpone a vote on an agreement amended earlier in the day by the city, the hauler and a committee of residents.

The council decided to postpone action until June 23, while efforts are made to obtain a still lower rate.

Mark D. Bozajian, Western Waste executive vice president, urged the council to accept the new pact. “What was laid on the table was very fair. It was very positive,” he said.

Trash collection rates went up 34% on May 4 when Western Waste, which has been South Gate’s exclusive residential hauler for 26 years, started a new automated trash collection and recycling program.

A week later, the new system was denounced at an emotional public hearing attended by hundred of residents, prompting the council to ask Western Waste to reopen negotiations to lower the charges.

Complaints focused not only on the rate hike, but on the size of the 100-gallon containers supplied by Western Waste. The city also was criticized for negotiating the trash contract without calling for bids, although this is a longstanding practice, and for failing to ask residents what kind of trash collection system they want.

Collection rates increased to $11.68 for 100-gallon containers and $9.78 for 64-gallon containers. Under the amended agreement, charges would be lowered 75 cents for the 100-gallon bin and 50 cents for the 64-gallon container.

Reduced rates for senior citizens--$7.70 for 100-gallon containers and $5.80 for 64-gallon containers--would be reduced by 77 cents and 52 cents, respectively. Charges for extra containers also would be lowered, and Western Waste agreed not to charge for first-time replacement of lost or stolen containers.

But the changes did not satisfy some residents.

“We’re tired of having constant raises on utilities,” Jose Rodriguez said. “We cannot take the brunt of these continued raises.”

The amended agreement would extend Western Waste’s franchise from the seven to 10 years in exchange for the concessions, but this came under fire from the audience.

“Why does Western Waste have the right to have a stranglehold on the city for 10 years?” resident Raul Moriel asked. “Even seven years was excessive.”

However, not all residents were against the contract. “Our streets are better. Everything is nice and clean,” Mildred Ward said. “We’re better off than most of the cities across the country.”

Until the rate issue is resolved, the higher charges will remain in effect.