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1. 1Call to Order – Roll Call▶ 0:00
2. 4.a

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   Public Hearing - Solid Waste Collection within City Limits

   approved

   Council held a public hearing on potentially converting the city's residential solid waste collection from the current subscription-based system with multiple haulers to a single-hauler (or reduced-hauler) franchise system. Staff recommended providing the statutorily required three-year notice to displaced haulers and having the city take over billing. Council approved authorizing staff to proceed with providing notice under Florida law, though several members expressed preference for multiple haulers/zones rather than a single hauler.

   • motion:Authorize staff to proceed to provide notice pursuant to Florida law to convert the city's waste hauling system to a single hauler system. (passed)

   📍6026 Tennessee Avenue🏢J.D. Parker🏢Peterson Service Corporation🏢Republic🏢River Mist Condo Association👤Councilman Altman👤David👤Debbie Manns👤Heather Fiorentino👤Jenny Miller👤Mike👤Mr. Chopper👤Mr. Hale👤Mr. Murphy👤Mr. Rivera👤Rachel Hagenbos👤Robert👤Tim#Billing via tax assessment vs. utility billing#Complaint ombudsman proposal#Franchise fee (10%)#RFP process for waste collection#Residential audit identifying ~1,900 unlisted residents#Single hauler trash system conversion#Three-year statutory notice requirement

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   [00:00:15] I think we'll dispense with the Pledge of Allegiance in a moment of silence [00:00:18] until we hit the next meeting. [00:00:20] Business items, a public hearing on solid waste collection within the city limits. [00:00:28] Yes, sir. [00:00:29] Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council, Mr. Rivera, Mr. Hale, and I [00:00:36] have been working for some time with the haulers in respect [00:00:44] to the potentiality of converting to a single hauler trash system. [00:00:50] We have met with all of the haulers. [00:00:52] That occurred in December of 2020 to both elicit their input [00:00:59] and to provide them on notice. [00:01:03] Quite obviously, if you determine that it's appropriate to convert [00:01:08] to a single hauler trash system, we will be displacing several private companies [00:01:14] which are currently providing services in the city. [00:01:19] In order to comply with the public hearing and statutory requirements [00:01:24] of doing such, we need to seek public comment on the advisability [00:01:32] of providing the service through an exclusive franchise. [00:01:36] And we need to provide notice of the buyout. [00:01:44] And there are three mechanisms by which you can do that. [00:01:49] You can provide, and our recommendation to you is that we provide a three-year notice, [00:01:57] or we could pay each displaced company an amount equal to 15 months gross receipts [00:02:06] from or their displaced service, or we could negotiate a different notice period [00:02:13] or amount of compensation with each of the displaced haulers. [00:02:21] The next step in the process, if we are to go forward, is to prepare for the providing [00:02:30] of an exclusive service, which would mean that we would prepare bid specifications, [00:02:37] outlining the minimums for service that we expect. [00:02:43] We would let that for competitive bid, and we would update our city policies [00:02:51] to contemplate an exclusive franchise. [00:02:56] We would prepare for termination of existing franchises, and additionally, [00:03:02] attend to any necessary logistics that need to take place [00:03:06] between the city's finance department and public works department. [00:03:13] The last step of which is we would wait out the remainder period. [00:03:20] We conducted a work session with you last week in which we outlined the rationale for going [00:03:29] for recommending that we go to a single hauler trash system, [00:03:33] and Mr. Rivera is going to review that for you this evening. [00:03:40] Thank you, Ms. Manns. [00:03:42] So you saw this PowerPoint that we presented at that work session. [00:03:46] Based upon the input that we received from you, we've made some changes to it, [00:03:51] but real quickly we'll go over it. [00:03:53] The current system that we have in place is what we call a subscription-based system. [00:03:58] In other words, customers can elect right now between five different service providers. [00:04:04] This is for residential collection, and those providers travel the entire city as their route. [00:04:11] Now, all of them are charging basically the same amount. [00:04:15] It's the maximum that the county establishes the rate for that service, [00:04:20] which is $18.49 a month or $55.47 quarterly, plus the city's 10% franchise fee, [00:04:28] and just as a side note, that franchise fee is a pass-through to the customer. [00:04:35] So out of the six waste haulers, I wanted to point out Peterson Service Corporation [00:04:41] does construction and demolition. [00:04:43] That service is open, doesn't really affect any of the residential pickup, [00:04:49] and then we wanted to point out the county citation. [00:04:53] While they're residential, they only collect from the wilds subdivision, [00:04:57] and as we pointed out, they kind of like that [00:05:01] because instead of sending out several different bills to each one of the residents, [00:05:05] they just send one out to the HOA. [00:05:11] And so the current system you all are familiar with, [00:05:15] we have an annual application for a special permit to operate in the city. [00:05:21] That comes to you every December for your review and approval [00:05:24] for the waste haulers to operate in the city. [00:05:30] The quarterly customer list, which are basically for us to try to verify [00:05:37] if the franchise fees are being collected properly [00:05:40] and whether or not every resident is using the service. [00:05:46] It also calls out in our ordinance and the requirements [00:05:49] in their special permit that they have regular trash collection, [00:05:55] the days, the times, recyclable trash collection, yard debris, [00:06:00] and again, the franchise fees. [00:06:05] Now when we looked at the advantages of the system that is in place, [00:06:09] the main advantage to it is that there are no contracts. [00:06:12] The customers are allowed to have open competition. [00:06:17] If they choose to, they could change haulers on a monthly basis [00:06:21] and there would be no penalty or anything like that. [00:06:26] When we looked at some of the disadvantages that we currently experience now, [00:06:33] I won't call out all of these line items that we have here on these bullet points, [00:06:39] but if you look over at the two pictures, [00:06:41] you can see some of the standard type of damage that we have from the trucks. [00:06:47] And so going to a single hauler system, [00:06:51] actually we would expect that this type of damage would be less. [00:06:56] Staff would be able to follow through and find out [00:06:59] if we ended up getting these complaints of a trash hauler, [00:07:02] we basically would know that the hauler on a single hauler system [00:07:06] is the one that's operating in the city. [00:07:12] Now the special pickups that we have in place now [00:07:15] are not all the same for each hauler, for each person, [00:07:18] not on the same days, different materials allowed, those types of things. [00:07:25] We did perform an audit over the summer [00:07:29] and the audit did identify that there were approximately 1,900 residents [00:07:33] that were not listed on the trash hauler's quarterly list. [00:07:38] Now this could be for two reasons. [00:07:41] It could be that our franchise fees in place are on a collection basis. [00:07:48] In other words, if the hauler doesn't collect from the customer, [00:07:54] the city doesn't get that franchise fee amount. [00:07:57] Or it could be because a lot of their systems [00:08:00] might not be able to tell who is actually in the city and who's not. [00:08:04] We all know our boundaries. [00:08:06] So that makes it difficult. [00:08:08] So when we looked at this report, [00:08:15] one of the recommendations that it had in its summary [00:08:19] was that it did suggest that we do go to a single hauler system [00:08:23] and it did recommend that we take over the billing and collections of the systems, [00:08:29] whether it be through the tax assessment [00:08:32] or whether it be through the utility billing. [00:08:35] It had recommended that we take over the system. [00:08:39] When we did meet with all of the utility haulers, [00:08:42] they all were in agreement that they liked that idea [00:08:46] and probably because that would shift some of the collection end of things over to us [00:08:53] and we would take that risk. [00:09:03] So when we look at the recommendation and like Ms. Manson stated, [00:09:09] we have to follow the Florida statute guidelines with this process. [00:09:12] And so what that process means is we have to give the haulers a three-year notice [00:09:19] before we can go and proceed with that single system. [00:09:27] Now this time limit would provide us time to go over the RFP process. [00:09:32] We would be able to take and review the different ones that are out there, [00:09:37] kind of apply the different elements to the RFP [00:09:41] that would provide our residents with the best possible service that they could get. [00:09:50] Now we did talk with the haulers and we did say, [00:09:53] what are the possibilities of doing some districts in between that type of thing right now [00:09:59] instead of traveling from one end of town to the other. [00:10:03] They all were receptive to that and said that they would entertain it. [00:10:07] They also mentioned, a lot of them did, [00:10:10] that it might be something they'd entertain on a temporary basis, [00:10:13] but they really weren't interested in a permanent type of districting type of format [00:10:19] simply because return on investments. [00:10:22] But they did say that they would take a look at what we had and we could all go from there. [00:10:27] Should be noted that if we did go to something like that before the three years was up, [00:10:33] all of the haulers would have to agree on it. [00:10:38] And they all did, like I said, agree that they would love for the city to take over the billing services. [00:10:48] And so when I summarize everything here, [00:10:51] what we would expect from a single trash hauler system [00:10:56] would be that the lower cost for pickup would be expected. [00:11:00] We'd be going out to bid, basically, and so there would be competition there. [00:11:06] We would expect that there would be less damage to the city's roadway network. [00:11:11] As far as those pictures that I showed you, there would be more accountability. [00:11:15] Quality of life for the residents, we believe, would increase. [00:11:18] An example would be we could go to the system where there's one uniform container. [00:11:23] We wouldn't have some residents that have trash cans with no lids, [00:11:29] plastic bags where you can get raccoons and cats and things like that. [00:11:34] Rip the bags open and we've got trash everywhere. [00:11:37] And so that quality of service is increased for our residents. [00:11:42] By us taking over the billing, we believe that there would be 100% participation in the trash collection. [00:11:50] We believe that the franchise fees, obviously, with 100%, [00:11:55] that those additional revenues would go to the general fund and we would expect them to increase. [00:12:01] One of the things that we could also put in our RFP is that a complaint ombudsman [00:12:08] could be assigned local office to where they could be an advocate for the resident or customer. [00:12:15] If they had any type of complaints or anything that they needed to address, [00:12:18] this ombudsman would be able to work with them. [00:12:23] It would reduce the time that staff has to deal with a lot of complaints. [00:12:28] Now, as a third person, we're kind of taking their complaints, [00:12:32] putting them in contact with the trash hauler and going back and forth. [00:12:38] We could still be able to monitor the service by requiring that the complaints [00:12:46] be sent to the Public Works Department for our review on a yearly basis. [00:12:51] And they would be required to hold those records. [00:12:55] Special pickups would all be uniform for all customers and what they pay. [00:13:01] We would expect that our illegal dumping would be reduced. [00:13:06] And so, with that, the recommendations that staff has for council is that you allow us to proceed [00:13:15] with the conversion and give notice to begin the process of a single hauler system [00:13:21] and then the conversion of the city taking over the billing service for the residential pickup. [00:13:28] And with that, we'll take any questions. [00:13:30] Before we go into question mode, this is a public hearing. [00:13:33] If anybody in the public would like to address council on this, please come on down. [00:13:42] Seeing no one coming forward, I'll take that. [00:13:46] Let's get this on record. [00:13:48] Yeah, we will. [00:13:51] I've got one also. [00:13:57] Hi, Rachel Hagenbos, 6026 Tennessee Avenue. [00:14:02] First, I don't like the idea of just the one hauler trash system. [00:14:06] We have a business just locally that I think it would hinder their business doing here. [00:14:14] I like the idea of the free market. [00:14:17] And I don't like the idea of kind of singling out the people that can't afford the trash. [00:14:26] Thank you very much. [00:14:28] Anyone else? [00:14:30] I'll bring it back to council. [00:14:31] We have a couple of comments. [00:14:36] I had a voter here, been to my ear for about 30 minutes this afternoon. [00:14:45] Basically, if it's not broke, don't fix it, in summary. [00:14:53] And she is, interestingly enough, very happy with J.D. Parker. [00:15:00] that we had brought to us from Heather Fiorentino with the Somebody's Condo Association, also [00:15:12] said... [00:15:13] River Mist. [00:15:14] River Mist. [00:15:15] Number three. [00:15:17] And they're doing a single purchase for the entire condo, and they seem to like that. [00:15:29] So we'll put those in the record. [00:15:34] Is that the person's name who got on it? [00:15:37] Jenny Miller was the first one. [00:15:41] So with that opened up, comments, questions, anybody? [00:15:46] Mike? [00:15:47] I'll move approval to the proposal. [00:15:55] For the record, can I clarify that the motion would be to authorize staff to proceed to [00:16:00] provide notice pursuant to Florida law to convert the city's waste hauling system to [00:16:07] a single hauler system? [00:16:08] That would be my motion. [00:16:10] Do we have a second? [00:16:13] Second. [00:16:14] To the maker? [00:16:15] Yeah. [00:16:16] I think that this is a three-year period. [00:16:17] I know we've said many times that this goes to a single hauler, but in the description [00:16:25] that we saw, the statutes had indicated that any reduction from six to five to four to [00:16:31] three would require this three-year notice. [00:16:34] So as I've stated before, with three years to go and the ability for us to see how well [00:16:40] we can work with the haulers, I think the immediate benefit to folks is going to be [00:16:46] that we will have the chance to work with everyone to increase their collections and [00:16:57] to increase the pickup. [00:16:59] So as to the aspect of folks who can't afford it or wouldn't – would be imposed by that [00:17:07] cost, it's a – water, trash, it's a utility, and those are the basic expenses [00:17:17] of life. [00:17:18] So I do think that as we go to the billing, we're going to have to understand which [00:17:24] lots are vacant, and I'm – we have a maximum as set by the county that they would allow, [00:17:34] and it would be my hope that we could work towards saving money, putting more money in [00:17:38] the pockets of all of our folks who are collecting, and potentially lowering the price for everybody. [00:17:46] So I think that there's a good opportunity for us to lower the cost of the collection [00:17:51] as we spread it out to everyone who's getting it. [00:17:56] And I know that there are folks who have a favorite vendor. [00:18:01] I think that all of the vendors that are currently working would be – it could be [00:18:08] much easier. [00:18:09] I've also noticed in Safety Harbor, I've noticed on the rural Route 50 today on the [00:18:16] way to Groveland, that trucks traveling the road are using these arms to pick up and dump, [00:18:25] which requires everyone to have a single – a similar garbage. [00:18:30] So I would be – I'd be interested to find out from the folks that are here, and [00:18:37] maybe I'll have to find out independently. [00:18:39] But as we move forward, if that is something that everyone is migrating towards, you have [00:18:47] to put your can out to a certain place in a certain – so that the truck can use the [00:18:52] arm to pick it up and dump it. [00:18:56] But I do like the idea of standardizing our containers and trying to have – clean up [00:19:04] the look of the town that way. [00:19:07] Mr. Murphy? [00:19:08] I echo a lot of what Councilman Altman was saying. [00:19:12] This is – I mean, from my understanding, it's just to get the clock rolling on the [00:19:15] three years, and we can – if we decide to change things along the way, we can to work [00:19:21] on things that might work better, too. [00:19:23] So if there's no harm in it, let's – you know, it gives us – it gives us a time period [00:19:29] to make some changes if we need to or try to find some better solutions. [00:19:33] And so we get – it gives us a – put a time crunch on it to get things worked out. [00:19:37] So – [00:19:38] Mr. Chopper? [00:19:39] Yeah, Tim, if we pass this, are we locked into one hauler? [00:19:45] No. [00:19:46] This just gives you the right to do so. [00:19:47] So you're giving notice that this could happen. [00:19:50] I would like you to amend that so that we can look more deeply into one or two or three. [00:19:57] Because I – [00:19:58] I think that's part of it. [00:19:59] No, you – [00:20:00] It's not. [00:20:01] No, it says one. [00:20:02] Well, what's inherent – what's inherent in the statute is that you have to give the [00:20:07] notice to be able to displace current contractors. [00:20:12] So you – by giving the notice that you are converting to – potentially converting to [00:20:17] a single hauler, you open the door to anything up to and including a single hauler system. [00:20:21] So you can still negotiate to possibly have multiple haulers. [00:20:27] But it would be through the process of a negotiation. [00:20:31] Negotiation with us or negotiation with the city staff? [00:20:34] Negotiation with – negotiation with the vendors. [00:20:36] So you could – during this three-year period, you can negotiate with the vendors and convert [00:20:41] to any system that is approved by the vendors up to and including that single hauler system [00:20:47] that you would be allowed to implement within the three-year – after the three-year period. [00:20:50] Yeah, this is – this is – you know, not to pick on you, David, but this is one of [00:20:53] your about five-year projects, you know, to try to go to a single hauler. [00:20:56] And I believe in, you know, competition breeds equality of a product. [00:21:02] So I don't have any problem with two, but I do have a problem with one. [00:21:06] Not only this letter that came from Heather, but I know people who live in Arapaica that [00:21:10] have had problems with Republic because they just didn't make it out to their roads because [00:21:15] it's a one-hauler system in Hernando County. [00:21:18] Sure, in the neighborhoods, like where Robert lives, they don't miss there. [00:21:22] But when you get out to these isolated streets and dead-end streets, those people have problems. [00:21:28] And the county commissioner that I talked to said it's his number one complaint, and [00:21:34] I just don't want to, down the road, give my brothers and sisters, like, what did you [00:21:39] do with that? [00:21:40] Why don't you leave some competition? [00:21:41] You know, and so you may, Robert, or you may, Debbie, get the call, but we're going to hear [00:21:47] it on the street every day, and I just don't want one hauler. [00:21:51] I'm going to come down somewhere between the two extremes, I think. [00:21:56] First of all, the idea that their ROI isn't going to be adequate if we go to a zone system, [00:22:03] I think it's malarkey. [00:22:06] They're running all over the city right now, and their expenses have got to be higher doing [00:22:12] that than it would be even if they were in a zone, even if there were five separate zones. [00:22:19] My inclination, and obviously this is a three-year process, so there's a lot of time for discussion, [00:22:28] but my inclination would be to have multiple zones with multiple haulers, if it's two or [00:22:36] three or whatever, because if one hauler falls down on the job, and we've already got one [00:22:47] or two other haulers that are doing separate sections of the city, it's going to be a lot [00:22:52] easier for us to terminate the one hauler and get the others to step in and cover the [00:22:59] gap, as opposed to if we have a single hauler for the entire city and they don't do the [00:23:04] job, then we're in a bit of a fix. [00:23:06] It's going to take a while to go out and bid the other stuff. [00:23:11] I'm going to support the motion, but I think there's a lot of work to be done on this before [00:23:15] it's going to be ready for primetime. [00:23:19] This will simply put the haulers on notice that we're taking a look at it and moving [00:23:27] towards a solution that works better. [00:23:32] I'm not a big fan of the property tax bills. [00:23:36] I think that's a mistake. [00:23:38] I'd far rather see it on the utility bills. [00:23:40] If there is a problem in collecting the water and sewer on the rentals, then maybe we need [00:23:48] to address that and put those bills as the responsibility of the property owner and not [00:23:57] the tenants. [00:23:58] The trash is a fixed price, water is not a fixed price. [00:24:06] If you're a renter and you're getting ready to leave in three months, you're not paying [00:24:09] your water bill and you're not paying your trash bill. [00:24:12] And then the city's stuck. [00:24:13] And then we're stuck. [00:24:14] So that's why I think it belongs in the hands of the landlord. [00:24:17] Okay. [00:24:18] We're in agreement on that then. [00:24:20] Any other discussion? [00:24:23] Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. [00:24:26] Aye. [00:24:27] Aye. [00:24:28] Opposed, like sign. [00:24:29] Aye. [00:24:30] And again, we'll hold communications for the next meeting. [00:24:34] So this meeting is adjourned. [00:24:36] We will meet for the regular meeting at 7 o'clock.

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3. 2

   Pledge of Allegiance

   Pledge of Allegiance.
4. 3

   Moment of Silence

   Moment of Silence.
5. 5Communications
6. 6Adjournment