March 1, 1996, 11:10 a.m.
Present:
Mayor Lou Colosimo
Councilmembers:
Roy A. Nikas, Betty P. Wheeler, Steve Bringhurst, Stephen L. Denison,
Joe L. Piccolo
Vernon W. Jones (Adminis. Assistant), Joanne Lessar (City
Recorder), Pat Larsen (Finance Director), Nick Sampinos (City Attorney),
Others Present: Pat Colosimo, Jaselene Williams, Tom Anderson
1. CITY SANITATION - Garbage Can Problems/Rental Units
Mayor Colosimo reported that this meeting was called to discuss a problem
concerning City Sanitation. Jaselene Williams, co-owner of City Sanitation, expressed her
concerns involving garbage cans. Garbage cans are removed when a renter moves out, and
within a few days, they are brought back for a new renter. It has also been discovered
that there are quite a few people using garbage service, but not being billed. She
discussed the procedure of allowing a disconnection for those residents who are gone for
the winter or at least 3 months. However, she knows of two instances where the home owner
was not at home, and the garbage can was still being used. In some of those instances, it
was found that the neighbors were using the absent home owner's garbage can. To help
eliminate the loss of garbage cans in Wellington, the City has had the Boy Scouts paint
addresses on the tops of their cans. She would like to do this same thing in Price, and
once a garbage can is placed at a residence, it remains there. The Council felt it would
not be a problem to allow City Sanitation to do this.
After further discussion, it was felt that the major problem involves
rental units. The Council discussed the current ordinance requiring rentals with more than
4 units to maintain a dumpster. Rentals with less than 4 units have separate garbage cans.
It was recommended that with apartments/rental units, that a disconnect/reconnect fee be
charged. If the can is removed, the owner will be charged for the discontinuance fee.
The Council discussed other procedures in effect, such as the prorating of
garbage. It was felt that if a resident was in the home even for a short time, that they
should be charged for a full months service. Pat Colosimo explained the procedure she uses
for billing and to keep track of residents who are on vacation. Billing registers are
printed twice a month indicating what the residents are being billed for. If it is
discovered that the resident is back from vacation and not paying for garbage pickup, it
is immediately corrected. Ms. Williams stated that she receives this information once
every 3 months and it would be helpful if she could receive it monthly. It was recommended
that a landlord with 2 or 3 units be offered the option of having a dumpster instead of
the garbage cans.
Nick Sampinos stated that the landlord/tenant problem needs to be
addressed and asked Mrs. Williams if she had any suggestions. Mrs. Williams felt that
there are two kinds of landlords, the landlord and a slum landlord. A landlord in the
County pays for garbage service for the whole year, whether the house is vacant or not. A
slumlord has a lot of people moving in and out. Conditions are so poor, they move out as
soon as possible. She feels the landlord should pay for the garbage service. Councilmember
Piccolo felt that this is not fair to the landlords, and recommended the
disconnect/reconnect procedure. Such as, if a tenant leaves the area and discontinues
service, the City automatically signs the service over to the landlord. If a tenant moves
out and the landlord decides not to rent the apartment for 6 months and wishes to
disconnect the service, the landlord must pay a disconnect and reconnect fee to reinstate
the service. A new tenant coming in should not have to pay for this connect fee. The
landlord could build it into the rental fees. With this procedure, only the landlord could
discontinue service. A resolution will need to be adopted to change the structure
regarding the landlord/tenant relationship and provide for a discontinue/recontinuance
fee. The Council directed that a resolution be prepared per the above and that the
disconnect/reconnect fee be set at $30.00 and collected up front. The Council discussed
what should be done for those people that leave for the winter (snowbirds). As this only
effects a small percent of residents, it was felt that nothing be done at this time. It
would seem to even out as far as garbage collection is concerned, as there are residents
that don't put their garbage out every week. Mrs. Williams indicated that those people
that leave for the winter are not a concern at this time.
Meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.