1995 JT MIN MAR 13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Director Hutton stated the refuse division contributes in excess of $600,000 per year and the franchise fees of all the private haulers combined is $250,000 per year. Councilmember Beltran addressed the City Manager and asked since the City ended up the last fiscal year with a $6.7 million deficit and this year the City has been playing catchup with the hopes of having a balanced budget by June 30, 1995, did he feel the City can provide all refuse service. City Manager Martinez responded that the $6.7 deficit is still there and it needs to be addressed. Council and staff are looking at the 1994-95 Budget trying to balance it. City Manager Martinez said he will be returning on March 21, 1995 with additional options for Council consideration. For fiscal year 1995-96, the City is in a good condition; however, it needs to be in a better position. The Refuse Division has a big heart. The staff will collect the trash with a flat bed truck if necessary. City Manager Martinez said a capital outlay would be needed; there are currently nine trucks. The proposals that will be forthcoming will impact this division and not in a positive way. City Manager Martinez said he did not have confidence in the equipment or in continuing with a heavy manual operation. The City needs to move toward an automated operation, such as, a one-person truck with an automated arm. City Manager Martinez said with enough time, he felt that he and Director Hutton could come back with a plan that would address all those issues. City Manager Martinez said with time he would like to see once a week pickup for refuse, recycling and greenwaste, and automated trucks for residential pickup. Councilmember Bennett asked the City Manager how much time he would need to come back with such a plan. City Manager Martinez said he would have to confer with Director Hutton because at the present time staff is working on the budget plan for March 21, 1995. Councilmember Sanders stated it is true that this might not be the best time to go forward; however, this is a win/win situation for the City of Colton and the Council needs to make the hard decision. City Manager Martinez said staff can go out and provide the service; however, it needs to get a plan of action put in place and all the contingencies have not been worked out. He said he wanted to avoid an uproar with the constituents because they will be the ones impacted. Discussion continued on the revenue to be realized; that refuse vehicles could be leased rather than purchased with the additional revenue to be realized and that a maintenance and equipment fund should be established and funded. City Manager Martinez said he found that the City had paid for refuse vehicle repairs that could have been sent back to the manufacturer for repair. Mayor Fulp said he saw a classic business decision. The first part being "what" does the Council want to do and he said this was P