Lodi City Council will weigh higher fees for trash pickup

Fees for trash, recyclables and yard waste might increase by almost 3 percent unless enough ratepayers protest the increase.

The Lodi City Council will meet to consider the increase at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Carnegie Forum, 305 W. Pine St.

By state law, the city is required to send notices to ratepayers explaining how to protest the increase.

If 50 percent of the ratepayers protest the increases by writing to the city clerk's office, the increases will not go into effect. Ratepayers can still send in written protests, and all of them must be received by Wednesday.

As of Oct. 1, the city had only received about 275 written protests.

Lodi contracts with the Texas-based Waste Management, and then the company proposes the rates, but the council still has to approve them.

Besides raising the rates this year, Waste Management, Lodi's trash provider, would also have the ability to continue raising the rates during the next five years without having to go through the same public process.

Waste Management sent notices this summer informing ratepayers about the increase and how ratepayers can protest. The total amount residents' bills would increase depends on how many bins a person has and if they have any additional services or discounts, such as being disabled or low-income.

The increases are partly linked to the North County Sanitary Landfill and other disposal sites increasing fees.

Also, under the franchise agreement, Waste Management is allowed to increase the rates by 80 percent of the change in the previous year's Consumer Price Index for San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.

Beside the state CPI, there are three regional ones in the state of California, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations CPI table. The other two regional CPIs are the San Diego area and the Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange County area.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blogs/citybuzz.

Waste increases at a glance

The increase: Residents' bills for trash, recycables and yard waste might increase by 3 percent starting Wednesday unless 50 percent of all ratepayers send protest letters. The Lodi City Council will meet to consider the increase at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Carnegie Forum, 305 W. Pine St.

The total amount varies depending on each residential and commercial ratepayer. Residents received a notice outlining the increase. There is also a copy at www.lodinews.com/blog/citybuzz.

How to protest: Any residential or commercial ratepayer can still protest the increase by sending a letter to: City of Lodi, Attn: City Clerk, 221 W. Pine St., Lodi, CA 95240. Protests must be submitted in writing, even if attending the public hearing. The deadline is Wednesday.

News-Sentinel staff

Reader Feedback

LodiJoe wrote on Oct 7, 2009 12:06 PM:

" Ever take stuff to WM collection site on E. Turner road? The prices are outrageous. They wanted $20 from me just to dump one old toilet I replaced. I simply brought it home and smashed it up and put it in the recycle bin. If I have to trailer some trash to the dump I always go to E. Harney Lane, they are a WHOLE bunch cheaper. "

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been there wrote on Oct 6, 2009 11:40 PM:

" Over the years, the city has been a rubber stamp for the garbage company rate hikes. Remember when Dave used to be here? How about we get something extra for that rate increase? Everybody else gets to put out 1 gallon of used motor oil twice a month. WM does it for their other customers. Why not Lodi? "

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lodidian wrote on Oct 6, 2009 8:59 PM:

" I believe the city of Lodi could split the garbage pick up business between two competitive companys.
Lodi eliminates competition by awarding an "EXCLUSIVE" contract to one company to provide this service. SWEET!
What businessman would not like to have his competition eliminated and be able to increase prices over a five year period. Way to go Lodi negotiator---whoever you are.
I believe Lodidians generate enough garbage, garden waste and recyclables to keep two companies in business.
Just a thought. "

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T & C wrote on Oct 6, 2009 4:05 PM:

" You are billed to recycle even if you don't so the garbage company makes money! Then they get to keep all your recycled Plastic, bottles and so on which they in turn "Sell" to increase their profits! Now with this new rate increase they can give their employees another Pay raise! "

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T & C wrote on Oct 6, 2009 4:03 PM:

" The city of Lodi sets a figure that is "So High" that they know the 50% level will not be reached!"

This is called "Stacking the deck"! you might as well ask for 90%! "

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1stocktonian wrote on Oct 6, 2009 3:42 PM:

" Lodi City Council will weigh higher fees for trash pickup

"what a bunch of garbage,,,,,,," "

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T & C wrote on Oct 6, 2009 1:52 PM:

" Just like the City Bus service going Wayyyyyyyyy down hill folks, Of Course we "Will be getting Garbage Rate hikes"... this is Lodi! "

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collegegirl wrote on Oct 6, 2009 1:29 PM:

" Its not just the percentage. Every time I open my mail, rates are going up. Dish, PG&E (what's with the PPP charge on THAT bill?)Its us paying for customers who can't afford to pay their PG&E bill!SO we get slapped with it. My car tags doubled this year. You have to take these rate increases and look at it for the year. Even though this is one bill, look at all your bills for the year and total the increases. I don't know about you but, I didn't receive a cost of living increase lately "

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pooreastside wrote on Oct 6, 2009 8:49 AM:

" I thought the whole idea of seperating the trash, recycle, trash and yard and garden was supposed to keep our rates lower. We are doing their work for them by not throwing everything into one can anymore, so what gives? Sixty cents doesn't seem like much, but everything else has gone up, too, so that sixty cents does make a difference. "

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Lodian wrote on Oct 6, 2009 8:43 AM:

" This is ridiculous. Everyone else has to tighten their belts. Why do these people think it's okay to start raising the rates for anything? "

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MEP wrote on Oct 6, 2009 7:23 AM:

" Trash bill too high?

Blame Jesus. "

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frustrated wrote on Oct 6, 2009 6:19 AM:

" If it were only .60 cents and I wasn't already paying $96.90 per month for Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste! But if agreed to they have the ability to raise rates over next 5 years without city's approval, it's no longer just .60 cents "

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smoot wrote on Oct 6, 2009 3:16 AM:

" OH MY GOD!!!3 whole percent!!!What's that amount to??? Sixty cents???Poor Barfy will miss half a can of cat food next month. Poor Barfy. "

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