This notice is to you that the Foster City, City
Council will be holding a public hearing to
consider approving updated rates for
garbage, recyclables and organics collection
services, and this notice is therefore given in
accordance with Proposition 218 and Article
XIID of the California Constitution.
NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING TO
CONSIDER PROPOSED
INCREASE IN GARBAGE,
RECYCLABLES AND
ORGANICS COLLECTION
SERVICE RATES
Effective January 1, 2024
City of Foster City
610 Foster City Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404-2222
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
HAYWARD, CA
PERMIT #3335
Rates for Unscheduled Services
The franchise agreement allows for adjustments to Unscheduled Service charges, which are generally those optional services that are specifically requested and paid for by the requestor. During the five-year term, Unscheduled Services charges will be adjusted in 2024 by 5.465% over 2023 rates and annually thereafter based on actual indexed factors up to a maximum not to exceed 6.0% per year. The City is including information about charges for unscheduled services in this notice for the purpose of transparency although Unscheduled Service charges are not subject to Proposition 218’s noticing and public hearing requirements. 41073 - Brochure mailer - 1 - Work-and-turn - 9/29/2023 - 2:47:13 PM - Proofer Profile: $[ICCProoferProfile] - ImposePDF - Readers Spreads 41073 AMS Printing Brochure mailer FB 001 Work-and-turn 9/29/2023 2:47:13 PM Black $[LayerName]
PUT TRASH IN ITS PLACE
Not everything belongs in the solid waste
stream. Keep rates low, help ensure the
continuing availability of landfill space, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the
toxicity of the environment by handling wastes
properly.
• Make an appointment to take Hazardous
Wastes, like paints and pesticides, to the
County’s Hazardous Waste program.
• Keep batteries out of all carts. Place
household batteries and cell phones in zipper
bags on top of your black cart (single family)
or ask your property manager to place a
battery bucket in a common area for all
residents. (multi-family).
• Place food waste in your green cart where it
can be composted into useful products.
• Place used automobile oil in sealed one-
gallon containers and oil filters in plastic
zipper bags at your curb.
• Drop off unwanted medications at Health
Department Safe Medication Disposal
locations.
• Make an appointment for Recology to pick up
bulky items.
• Take other items to the Shoreway Public
Recycling Center for proper disposal or
recycling.
• When in doubt, call Recology San Mateo
County to ask if an item belongs in the cart.
ABOUT SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
SERVICES IN FOSTER CITY
Garbage, recyclables and organics collection is
provided under a franchise agreement between
Recology San Mateo County and the City of
Foster City. Foster City is a member of the South
Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA),
also known as RethinkWaste, a collection of
agencies that coordinate waste management
services and manage the Shoreway
Environmental Center in San Carlos. Make an
appointment for a tour of the Shoreway facility at
rethinkwaste.org.
WHAT DO PROPOSED BASE RATES
PAY FOR?
Residential:
• Weekly curbside collection of garbage,
recyclables and organics
• Curbside collection of used motor oil, oil
filters, cell phone and household batteries
• Two annual “On Call” bulky item pick-ups (by
appointment)
• Holiday tree recycling
• No cost public recycling at Shoreway
Environmental Center, including mattresses,
electronics, batteries, and small appliances
• One annual confidential document shredding
event and one annual compost give-away
event (additional events in Foster City are
funded by other sources)
Commercial
• Subscribed level of collection for garbage,
recycling, and organics
• Customized waste management assistance by
Waste Zero Specialists
All Customers
• Energy-efficient, cleaner emissions collection
vehicles
• Operation of the Shoreway Environmental
Center for waste and recycling
• Education and information related to Federal,
State and Local solid waste requirements
RECOLOGY SAN MATEO COUNTY
Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection
www.Recology.com/Recology-san-mateo-county
(650) 595-3900
RETHINKWASTE
Governing Board, Shoreway Tours,
Waste Reduction Information
www.RethinkWaste.org
(650) 802-3500
SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.
Hazardous Waste Disposal
www.smchealth.org/safe-waste-disposal
Medical Waste Disposal
www.smchealth.org/rxdisposal
PROPOSED RATE INCREASE
Foster City’s Solid Waste rates are calculated to
collect the revenue required to run the Solid
Waste program. Approximately 94% of the
revenue requirement is based on the cost of
collection, processing, and disposal from Foster
City's residents and businesses.. The remainder is
composed of city-specific service levels. Revenue
from commodity sales of recovered recyclables is
used to offset revenue requirements. City fees
were reviewed in 2023 and were validated to be
less than the actual cost of service. A rate
analysis conducted in 2023 demonstrated that an
increase is needed in residential rates based on
the cost to provide the services while commercial
rates are currently sufficient to recover their cost
of service. Based on this analysis, residential base
rates for the five-year period from 2024 through
2028 are proposed to increase by $5.40 per
account in Rate Year 2024, $4.74 in Rate Year
2025, $4.98 in Rate Year 2026, $4.19 in Rate Year
2027 and $4.35 in Rate Year 2028. These rates
will provide for adequate revenue for the Solid
Waste program after taking into account
offsetting revenues and utilizing excess fund
balance that has been generated for this
purpose.
The rate analysis performed in 2023 sets forth
the basis upon which the rates were calculated.
Some significant reasons for the rate increase
include a fuel index increase of 14.9%, an
increase to processing and disposal costs of
25.1% and increases related to the
implementation of SB 1383 regulations.
PUBLIC HEARING
Monday, November 20, 2023, at 6:30 PM
The City Council has scheduled a Public Hearing
to consider adopting garbage, recyclables and
organics collection service rates for Foster City
for Calendar Year 2024.
Unless prohibited by public health orders, the
public hearing will be held in the Foster City
Council Chambers, 620 Foster City Boulevard,
Foster City, CA. The public may participate by
providing live verbal public comment in person,
by joining the meeting via video or
teleconference, or by submitting comments to
[email protected]. Instructions on
how to join the meeting will be included in the agenda
that will be posted at least 72 hours prior to the
meeting at www.fostercity.org/agendasandminutes.
The Public Hearing is open to the public, and
anyone may appear and be heard or submit a
written statement on this matter. At the
conclusion of the Public Hearing, the City Council
will consider taking official action to set garbage,
recyclables and organics collection rates for
Foster City for Rate Year 2024.
Any owner or customer associated with a
property receiving solid waste services in Foster
City may file a written protest against the
proposed rate increases. The City Council will
consider all input, but State law provides that
only written protests may be counted to
determine whether a majority protest to the
proposed increases exists. The City Clerk must
receive a written protest not later than the close
of the Public Hearing to be counted. If a majority
protest exists, then the City Council cannot
impose the increased rates. If, at the conclusion
of the Public Hearing, a majority protest does not
exist, the City Council will consider adoption of
the proposed rates.
Written protests must include the protestor’s
name, property service address or tax assessor’s
parcel number, and the protestor’s original
signature. Written protests may be hand
delivered or mailed to: City Clerk, 610 Foster
City Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404. No more
than one protest per parcel will be counted.
MULTI-YEAR RATE SETTING
Setting rates for multiple years allows for the
rates to recover costs of service while taking into
account the anticipated revenue requirements
for the five-year period including known future
increases associated with anticipated compliance
with new service and enforcement requirements
associated with stormwater regulations and
California State Senate Bill 1383 regulations.
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