Memo
To: City of Santa Monica City Council and City Manager’s Office From: Dean Kubani, Chair, Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice and the Environment
Signature:
Date: April 18, 2023
Re: City of Santa Monica Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment Motion Regarding the Solid Waste Rate Study
At the April 17, 2023 regular meeting, the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment discussed and took action on the following agenda item:
Waste Rate Study
i) Yvonne Yeung (Resource Recovery and Recycling Manager) presented on the Five-Year Solid Waste Rate Study with rate adjustments for enhanced “Clean and Safe” services. Rates have not been adjusted since 2019.
ii) The rate adjustments will help the City hire more sanitation workers, right-size sweeping services, further SB 1383 mandatory organics recycling implementation, restore bulky item pick-up staff, and develop a volunteer community cleanup program. iii) The proposed rate adjustments would be a 11 percent rate increase for all customers (single, multi-family, commercial).
Additional discounts are being developed for low-income households similar to water rates.
iv) The rate study will be presented to Council in June. If adopted, the new rates will go in effect in August 2023.
After discussion, the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment made the following motion:
The Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice and the Environment recommends Council support the findings in the proposed Solid Waste Rate Study. Understanding the environmental, economic, social and regulatory importance of achieving zero waste, the Commission supports the proposed rate increase of 11 percent associated with the Enhanced Clean and Safe Services option.
The motion was made by Chair Kubani, and seconded by Member Sokol.
The motion was approved by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Chair Kubani
Vice Chair Mearns
Member Lempert
Member Sokol
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Member Pettit and Member Tower