Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council
Regular Meeting of May 25, 2021
Title
CONSIDERATION OF ARAKELIAN ENTERPRISES, INC
(DBA ATHENS SERVICES) REQUEST FOR AN ANNUAL
RATE ADJUSTMENT TO THE MAXIMUM RATES
FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES
(Environmental Program Manager Douglas Krauss)
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends City Council endorse the proposed service rate adjustments from Arakelian Enterprises, Inc. (DBA Athens Services) at amounts not to exceed the attached rate schedule effective July 1, 2021.
Body
Executive Summary:
The City entered into a contract on July 1, 2013 with Athens Services to provide residential and commercial waste disposal services for Hermosa Beach. Per the Integrated Solid Waste Management Services Agreement, Athens Services may request an annual adjustment to the maximum rates by March 1 of each year. Rate adjustments are calculated in accordance with Section 6.4 of the agreement and subject to City approval. If approved, the current request for annual rate adjustment would become effective July 1, 2021 and result in a 0.88 percent increase in residential cart and commercial bin rates.
Background:
Since entering into the Integrated Solid Waste Management Services Agreement with Athens Services effective July 1, 2013, seven solid waste rate adjustments were implemented in accordance with the rate adjustment methodology contained in Section 6.4. The most recent annual rate increase was approved by City Council at its May 26, 2020, meeting. The rate adjustment calculation takes into account changes in indices for labor, fuel, equipment, disposal, transformation, and all urban consumers.
Analysis:
The Integrated Solid Waste Management Services Agreement prescribes the format by which Athens Services can request an annual rate adjustment. Rate years run from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. In order to consider an annual rate adjustment for an upcoming rate year, Athens Services must submit a written request to the City by March 1 of each year. Staff reviewed the annual rate adjustment request dated February 26, 2021 (Attachment 1) according to the rate adjustment methodology outlined in Section 6.4 of the Agreement. The rate adjustment calculations are performed separately for the three service categories consisting of carts (single-family service), bins (multi-family and commercial service), and roll-off bins.
Solid waste rates are determined using the cost categories shown in the table below and each cost category is adjusted by the change in its corresponding index as listed:
|
Cost Category |
Rate Adjustment Factor |
|
Labor |
Employment Cost Index CIU20100005200000I, Total compensation, Private industry, Index number, Transportation and material moving |
|
Fuel |
Producer Price Index WPU 0531, Not seasonally adjusted, Fuels and related products and power, natural gas |
|
Equipment |
Producer Price Index, PCU336120336120, Heavy duty truck manufacturing |
|
Processing/Disposal |
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CUUR0000SA0L1E), all items less food and energy index -U.S. city average or 5 percent, whichever is lower |
|
All Other |
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CUUR0000SA0L1E), all items less food and energy index -U.S. city average |
Staff reviewed the rate schedules and calculations and confirmed that the rate adjustments were made in accordance with the terms of the contract. Staff confirmed the accuracy of the indices and that the rate adjustment formulas are applied to the rates accurately.
Based on the rate adjustment methods and prescribed formulas, the City’s residential and commercial businesses would have a rate increase on July 1, 2021 of 0.88 percent, while compactor roll-off and disposal rates would decrease by 2.34 percent.
Past Council Actions
|
Meeting Date |
Description |
|
March 26, 2013 |
Approved Integrated Solid Waste Management Services Agreement with Arakelian Enterprises, Inc. (DBA Athens Services) |
|
September 10, 2019 |
Approved special rate increase for Organics Recycling Service |
|
May 26, 2020 |
Approved Sixth Annual Rate Adjustment |
General Plan Consistency:
This report and associated recommendations have been evaluated for their consistency with the City’s General Plan. Relevant policies are listed below:
Sustainability and Conservation:
Goal 6. Hermosa Beach is a low or zero-waste community with convenient and effective options for recycling, composting, and diverting waste from landfills.
Policies:
• 6.1 Franchise Agreements. Ensure waste franchise agreements and program offerings provide progressively higher rates of waste diversion.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact to the City associated with the recommended action. On July 1, 2021, residential and commercial cart and bin rates would increase by 0.88 percent, and compactor roll-off and disposal rates would decrease by 2.34 percent. The fiscal impact of the rate increase on the most common service levels is shown here:
|
|
3-Yard Bin Trash serviced once per week |
Residential 64-Gallon Trash |
Residential 35- Gallon Trash |
|
Current Rate |
$160.29 |
$12.63 |
$8.00 |
|
Proposed Rate |
$161.67 |
$12.74 |
$8.07 |
Attachments:
1. Rate adjustment request from Athens Services and proposed rates schedule effective July 1, 2021
Respectfully Submitted by: Douglas Krauss, Environmental Programs Manager
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager