Clearlake considers mandatory trash collection

CLEARLAKE – Faced with a state compliance order, the Clearlake City Council at its Thursday meeting will consider instituting mandatory garbage service throughout the city.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive. The meeting will be broadcast live on TV Channel 8.

Earlier this year, the State Waste Management Board adopted a compliance order against the city because a biannual audit found that the city isn't diverting 50 percent of its solid waste stream from landfills as required by state law, as Lake County News has reported.

City officials have said they're struggling to meet that requirement because the city actually produces a relatively small waste stream.

City Administrator Dale Neiman is taking a report to the council on the state's requirement that the city institute mandatory – or universal – trash collection for all city residents in order to meet the diversion rates.

Neiman's report explains that the two main requirements of the state's compliance order are that the city require every residence and business to have trash collection services, and that every demolition project be required to recycle its materials. The city was required to create a work plan to carry out the requirements.

There are two major concerns for Neiman – impacts on the city's general fund and problems associated with the occupancy rate.

In the 2007-08 fiscal year, the city collected $64,000 in franchise fees from Clearlake Waste Solutions, Neiman reported. Going to mandatory trash service would raise the city's franchise fees to $128,000.

“The major problem is we do not have an effective mechanism to require people to pay Waste Solutions for service,” Neiman wrote.

He said most cities own the water system and if the trash collection bill isn't paid the water is turned off until it is. “Waste Solutions' position is the City will cover the costs of the people who refuse to pay for service.”

The city currently has an estimated 6,000 residential units, Neiman explained. If 18 percent of those – or 1,080 residences – refused to pay for curbside trash collection, Neiman said the city would have to pay Waste Solutions $129,600 annually, assuming a monthly rate of $10 for a 20-gallon can.

“This means we would lose $65,000 in our current general fund revenues,” he said.

The city's low 62-percent occupancy rate is attributable to the large number of second homes, many of which are occupied in summer and vacant in winter, Neiman said.

“It will be a major challenge getting people with second homes to pay for service,” he wrote.

Along with his report, Neiman submitted to the council an eight-page work plan which lays out the  numerous steps necessary to setting up the universal garbage services.

The mandatory garbage issue, a second reading of the Provinsalia rezone ordinance and the presentation of a proclamation declaring National Public Safety Telecommunications Week April 12 through 18 are the only significant items on Thursday's agenda.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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