Another garbage rate hike in works

Burlingame residents have until the end of a public hearing Tuesday night to protest a 17 percent rate hike for all garbage and recycling that, unless successfully protested by enough customers, will take effect Feb. 1.

The Burlingame City Council will consider the increase at its Jan. 18 meeting. Letters of protest must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday or delivered during the public hearing to be counted. As of Jan. 13, 11 protests were attached to the staff report released last week. If less than a majority of rate payers protest, the council can then vote on the increase which would go into effect Feb. 1.

Although it was unclear how many protests would be needed to block the increase, there are thousands of accounts. Finance Director Jesus Nava, however, said it was clear the letters gathered thus far didn’t come close.

Burlingame’s rate increase is based on several factors including an 11 percent cost of solid waste collection and disposal; 1.4 percent increase due to customers using smaller containers with less revenue potential; and 4.6 percent increase to pay Allied’s final bill under the expiring franchise, according to a staff report written by Nava.

In the protest letters, customers disapprove of the increase for a variety of reasons like recycling generates revenue that should go toward lowering rates, they see few advantages to the new services and additional strain to an already stretched income.

Burlingame’s proposed rate increase is among several considered by Peninsula cities in part because of new provider Recology that began its contract Jan. 1 with the South Bayside Waste Management Authority.

SBWMA, also known as RethinkWaste, broke with former provider Allied Waste to contract with Recology for the next decade. The change has brought new bins and new service but also new pricing for member agencies like Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, Atherton, Hillsborough, San Mateo County and the West Bay Sanitary District.

Atherton residents are on the highest end of the spectrum with a 38.9 percent proposal and Menlo Park has the lowest at 9.4 percent. In between, the proposals include 32.6 percent in Hillsborough, 23.3 percent in San Mateo, and 29.5 percent in Foster City. Earlier this week, Redwood City approved an 18 percent increase. The Foster City Council will hold its second public hearing Jan. 18 on its proposal. San Mateo is in the middle of the 45-day protest period.

Recology has faced a difficult transition period with many reports of missed pickups since it rolled out service this month. In response, the company has committed more personnel for customer service calls and increased pickups until its personnel is used to the changes.

At the same meeting, the council will consider a request to de-annex 1125 Jackling Drive to the town of Hillsborough. The property has a Hillsborough street address and access but the land is actually in Burlingame, which the owner, Maurissa Hefferan, has noted causes problems when there are calls for emergency services. Hefferan is requesting the land become part of Hillsborough to avoid future confusion. Such a change will result in a decrease of property tax and storm drainage revenue to Burlingame of about $3,000 annually. Both cities must sign off on such a change. A June 2 letter from City Attorney Gus Guinan to Hefferan’s lawyer expresses that staff does not recommend the change due to the financial loss.

The council meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18 at City Hall, 501 Primrose Road.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.