YORBA LINDA : Council Delays Vote on Hiking Trash Fee

The City Council this week considered and then postponed a request from Yorba Linda Disposal for a rate increase, saying it would make a decision at the next council meeting, on May 17.

The delay will give Taormina Industries, which operates in the city as Yorba Linda Disposal, time to prepare a report on possible cost savings if the city were to extend its 10-year contract with the refuse hauler to 20 or more years.

Taormina Industries has requested a 21-cent increase in the monthly rate it charges residents. City officials are proposing an additional 21-cent increase to cover billing costs, which the city currently pays. The total proposed increase, if approved, would bring residential rates to $13.94 a month.

Under the proposal, the amount that commercial customers subsidize residential rates would increase from 81 cents a month to $1.01 a month. The council could separately consider a hike in commercial rates as well.

The council could increase the residential rate further if it adds additional services to the contract. The city is considering expanding the city’s pilot composting program or implementing it citywide.

Currently, about 700 households have each been given an additional trash barrel to collect yard clippings, which are sold to companies for composting. If the city were to expand the program to include another 675 households, the cost to all residents would be 7 cents a month.

If the program is expanded to include the entire city, the cost rises to 98 cents per month. City officials have said citywide composting is an essential element in reaching a state-mandated 50% reduction in waste by 2000.

The city’s franchise agreement with Yorba Linda Disposal allows for annual cost-of-living adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index.

The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed rate increase at 7 p.m. May 17.