SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Amend Appendix A, Clearwater Code of Ordinances, Schedule of Fees, Rates and Charges, Section XXIV, Public Works Fees, Rates and Charges (3)(c ) Solid Waste collection rates; (3)(d) Recycling rates; and (5)(b) Solid Waste Roll-Off Container and Receptacle service; to increase specific collection fees for Solid Waste and Recycling for the fiscal years 2020 through 2024, and pass Ordinance 9307-19 on first reading.
Body
SUMMARY:
Earlier this year Stantec Consulting Services Inc. of Tampa, FL performed a rate sufficiency analysis on the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Utility Enterprise Fund. Stantec conducted similar studies during 2014 and 2017.
The objectives for this study included evaluation of the utility’s current rates and identifying a new multi-year plan of increases that provides sufficient revenues to fund operations and maintenance costs, capital improvement costs, adjustments to scenarios evaluated in prior studies related to timing and costs, and to ensure adequate operating reserves over the entire five year planning period (Fiscal Year 2020 - Fiscal Year 2024) and ten year projection period (Fiscal Year 2025 - Fiscal Year 2029). Staff provided historical and budgeted financial information for the utility, assumptions regarding growth, interest earning rates, and policies affecting the utility to Stantec for the study.
Based on Stantec’s study and analysis of rate increase scenarios discussed with staff, it is recommended that fees for Solid Waste and Recycling be increased by 3.75% for the fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
Residential solid waste and recycling rates will increase as follows:
|
Current Rate |
10/1/2019 |
10/1/2020 |
10/1/2021 |
10/1/2022 |
10/1/2023 |
Solid Waste |
$28.80 |
$29.88 |
$31.00 |
$32.16 |
$33.37 |
$34.62 |
Recycling |
$ 2.92 |
$ 3.03 |
$ 3.14 |
$ 3.26 |
$ 3.38 |
$ 3.51 |
Total |
$31.72 |
$32.91 |
$34.14 |
$35.42 |
$36.75 |
$38.13 |
Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances currently contains a listing of various residential, commercial and roll-off collection fees for Solid Waste and Recycling. Therefore, staff is recommending that the Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances be amended to increase rates in accordance with the attached rate study prepared by Stantec.