ITEM 9-A

Council Meeting:  May 12, 1992         Santa Monica, California

TO:       Mayor and City Council

FROM:     City Staff

SUBJECT:  Resolution Increasing  the  Santa  Monica  Solid  Waste
          Transfer Station Dump Fees for Licensed Private Haulers

INTRODUCTION

This report recommends  that  City  Council  adopt  the  attached
resolution  increasing transfer station fees for licensed private
haulers from $38 per ton to $48  per  ton  to  reflect  increased
landfill disposal costs.

BACKGROUND

On October 15, 1990, the City imposed a dump fee rate increase on
the  licensed  private  refuse  haulers who use the City Transfer
Station.  Since that time, two primary L.A. Basin Landfills  have
ceased  their operations: Azusa Landfill closed in February 1991,
and Sunshine Canyon Landfill closed in October  1991.   Prior  to
their closures, these two landfills handled 12,000 tons of refuse
per day.  The net effect of these  closures  has  been  increased
pressure  on  the  six  remaining  landfills  in  the  area.  The
permitted daily capacity of these  remaining  landfills  has  not
been correspondingly increased.

The City of Santa Monica has therefore experienced an increase in
the  tipping fees at the three principal landfills which the City
uses (Puente Hills, Spadra, and BKK).  In addition,  due  to  the
increased concentration of haulers, frequent closures of the dump
can be expected once permitted capacity for the day  is  reached.
When  this  occurs,  City  trucks  must  be  re-directed to other
landfills or, occasionally, must return to the City  Yards  until
the following day.

Other cost factors have impacted the Solid Waste Fund during  the
past  18  months,  including  vehicle maintenance and fuel costs,
wage/benefit increases, and expanded costs  associated  with  the
City's  Hazardous  Waste  Management  Program  and administrative
implementation of State Legislation (AB 939).  AB 939 directs all
cities  to  develop  a  formal plan and operational strategies to
divert 25% of current Solid Waste volume by 1995, and 50% by  the
year 2000.

The City of Santa Monica has adopted an  aggressive  Solid  Waste
Management  Program in order to meet this environmental challenge
which includes its recent implementation of a volume-based refuse
rate structure to pass the "true cost" of refuse disposal through
to the refuse customers.  The proposed  change  in  the  Transfer
Station dump fee is consistent with the concept of more equitable
volume-based rates.

BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT

With approval of the proposed rates, increased  revenues  in  the
amount  of  $21,000  (1400 tons x $10.00 per month x 1.5 months =
$21,000) are expected to be  collected  in  Solid  Waste  revenue
account  no.  27-500-441-00000-0151-00000  during the FY 1991-92.
The full impact during the next fiscal year is  projected  to  be
$168,000.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended  that  the  City  Council  adopt  the  attached
resolution increasing the Santa Monica Transfer Station dump fees
from $38 per ton to $48 per ton effective May 18, 1992.

Prepared by:  Stan Scholl, Director of General Services
              James Buell, Maintenance Manager
              Tom Dever, Solid Waste Superintendent


                         RESOLUTION NO.
                      (CITY COUNCIL SERIES)

              A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL  OF
              THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA SETTING THE
              FEE  FOR  DEPOSIT   OF   REFUSE   BY
              LICENSED   PRIVATE  HAULERS  AT  THE
              CITY'S TRANSFER STATION

          WHEREAS, Municipal Code Section 5223(a) allows fees for
depositing  refuse  at the City refuse transfer station to be set
by Resolution; and

          WHEREAS, the Director of General Services may  deterine
whether  licensed  private refuse haulers primarily serving Santa
Monica businesses may use said transfer station; and

          WHEREAS,  the  Solid  Waste  Management  Superintendent
determines  daily  whether  said  transfer station may be used by
licensed private haulers and bases  this  decision  on  available
capacity and the order in which requests are received,

          NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY  OF  SANTA
MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

          SECTION  1.   The  fees  for  licensed  private  refuse
haulers  to  deposit  refuse  at the City refuse transfer station
shall be Forty Eight Dollars ($48.00) per ton.

          SECTION  2.   The  City  Clerk  shall  certify  to  the
adoption  of  this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the
same shall be in full force and effect.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

____________________
ROBERT M. MYERS
City Attorney