City Council to Vote Tonight on Recology Rate Adjustment

Following months of discussion, research, negotiation and consideration, the Belmont City Council is expected tonight to approve a plan to address the 2012

The rate adjustment request came about due to an imbalance between the revenue Recology collects and the cost of services. 

Since January 1, 2011, Recology San Mateo County has been Belmont's provider of residential and commercial recycling, compost and garbage collection services.  

According to a city staff report, the council will be presented with three alternatives to the original request of a 22.6 percent increase at Monday's meeting. Recognizing the need to develop a better plan for addressing the 2012 rates, staff has secured a rate smoothing option from Recology, which increases all rates by a much smaller 11.6 percent.

At the November 22nd meeting, there was considerable discussion on how the 2012 rates could be reduced further from the rates originally published in the Proposition 218 notice. Significant focus was placed on the Migration Recovery Surcharge, and various options on dealing with this surcharge will also be discussed at Monday's meeting.

As directed by the city council at the November 22 meeting, City Manager Greg Scoles secured an extension to the December 15th contract deadline.

The city has until December 20th to adopt an amendment to the 2012 rates or direct service reductions. 

Also on Monday's agenda is an appeal of the Belmont Planning Commission's decision to approve single-family design review for construction of a new single-family home on two vacant lots on Alhambra Drive.

The special meeting of the Belmont City Council meeting will be held Monday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall, One Twin Pines Lane. 

For more information, or to read the complete staff reports on these agenda items, go to www.belmont.gov.