From:
To: Neysa Hinton; Phill Carter; Sandra Maurer; City Council; Jill McLewis; Mary Gourley; Stephen Zollman Subject: Please Do not sign the SCRR Contract
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 1:40:44 PM
This is something that is going to affect our city and small businesses for decades to come.
Please postpone signing. The people from this new company came in to talk to us and literally told us they don’t even have rates in place and kept saying how they will find us the right sized bin. I assure you our bins are correct. They fill up after a week of being open.
We do not have any control over how food products are packaged when they are delivered to us. The only way we could create less waste is to be open less or sell less food which would lead to us having to close our business.
How are you backing them and saying they’re cheaper when no rates are locked in? Our community showed up and begged you to postpone this vote and the majority of you seemed annoyed to even have to listen and wanted to just push the vote through. Thank you to Phil and Neysa for taking the public’s pleas into consideration and attempting to postpone this vote. We very much appreciate it that you listened to everyone who spoke and voted accordingly.
I am writing to request that the council postpone signing the proposed contract with SCRR until all questions and concerns raised by the community have been thoroughly reviewed and addressed.
At the last council meeting, many residents and business owners expressed significant concerns about the impacts of the SCRR contract, including higher rates for recycling and composting, lack of transparency, and the detrimental effects on small businesses and sustainability efforts. Unfortunately, public comment was cut short, and not a single concern was addressed during the discussion. This has left many in the community feeling dismissed and unheard.
Democracy relies on open dialogue, transparency, and leaders who are willing to listen and engage with their constituents. It is vital that elected officials uphold these principles by creating space for meaningful conversations and ensuring that all voices are heard. The decision to sign this contract will have lasting implications for Sebastopol, and it is imperative that the council approaches this process with care, integrity, and respect for the democratic values that guide our city.
Postponing the decision provides the council an opportunity to repair trust, foster transparency, and show that community input truly matters. It allows for a thorough analysis of all rates and services, a fair comparison of the proposals, and genuine engagement with the concerns of residents and business owners.
The council has a responsibility to lead in a way that reflects the values of our community— openness, fairness, and sustainability. I urge you to take this critical step toward rebuilding trust and ensuring that the best decision is made for Sebastopol’s future.
Thank you for your consideration.
Derek and Megan
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Warmly,
Derek and Megan