COSTA MESA : No Decision Made on Trash Takeover

City Council members met with directors of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District on Tuesday to talk about a possible city takeover of residential trash collection and the sewer system.

No decision was reached.

Councilman Peter F. Buffa suggested the city might be able to save money for residents by running the 50-year-old independent district. With a $5.6-million budget, the district collects residential trash in Costa Mesa and some unincorporated areas of the county. It also maintains about 320 miles of sewer lines.

Buffa charged that the district does not invite competitive bidding on its trash-hauling contract, and suggested that the job could be done more cheaply.

But Jim Wahner, who heads the sanitary district board of directors, said the district has developed a good working relationship with its trash-hauler, Costa Mesa Disposal Inc. He said bidding would disrupt smooth operations and possibly cost residents more.

“We’re just as interested in saving the taxpayer every nickel as you are,” director Jim Ferryman told the council.

District Manager Robin B. Hamers said the district’s monthly charge of $12.03 for residential trash collection is average for the county. The $23.03 yearly charge to residents for sewer fees is very low, he said. Newport Beach charges $45, he said, and Santa Ana charges $75.

Buffa said it doesn’t matter that Costa Mesa trash collection is no more expensive than the county average, since only Santa Ana has competitive bidding for trash hauling.

Hamers said the district is studying its relationship with the city. District offices are at City Hall, and the district will pay more than $850,000 to the city this year for sewer maintenance workers, secretaries and capital development of the sewer system, he said. Perhaps the district could save money by severing all ties to the city and hiring other people, Hamers said.