Meeting of the Corte Madera Town Council on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

I'm going to bring to order the town of quarter Medera regular town council meeting for Tuesday, June 6 2023 at 630pm.

I have no allegiance to the flag, but I need to say something.

Okay, item number 2, this is open time for public comment, any member of the public may address the town council concerning any item not on the council's agenda.

Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes, unless otherwise specified by the mayor or the presiding officer.

Is there anybody in the public that would like to speak?

Please make sure the mic is turned on also.

Yeah, just there's a switch that'll turn green.

To public works for responding in a timely manner to community input.

To throw down some gravel and what I call the gravel pathway between echo Avenue called the sack to the path to Senate.

The path as well used by children going to safe routes.

And during the winter, it really experienced some.

Huddling And so the gravel was well appreciated by the town.

Oh, and we're looking forward to working with BPAC and improving that pathway for bicycle and pedestrian use.

Again, Thanks and look forward to future collaboration with the beautification committee on that area.

Seeing none in public, is there any online?

We do have a hand raised from Clark Miller.

And Clark, you should be able to speak now.

My name is Clark Miller and I'm a board member of the Corridor Madera Football Club on behalf of the over

local kids and families in our club, I wanted to share with you an update on field conditions at Town Park and ask for your expedited review of the issue.

We've been working diligently with Cordomadera Parks and Recreation staff and public works staff for the last year to strategize on a maintenance plan for the fields to get them into good playing condition for the 2023 season.

The agreed upon maintenance plan called for rolling the fields, performing aeration, applying seed and fertilizer, and adding topsoil where necessary.

However, due to a variety of factors, including an abnormally rainy winter, it's clear that while the fields have shown some improvement due to Public Works' concerted efforts, there is still significant work required to get them to a condition comparable with the other natural grass fields in our league.

Fortunately, with soccer tryouts now over, there's an opportunity to perform a more rigorous maintenance program during the summer months before the club season begins on August 14th.

In recent conversation with Public Works, they've recommended performing an enhanced maintenance plan that involves a more frequent series of aerating, seeding, and fertilizing, all while allowing the east and west fields to rest for the summer.

While we're optimistic these efforts will yield better results for the fall season, there is, however, a significant impediment to these efforts achieving their full potential, and that's the current abundance of weeds on the field, and I can share photos in a follow-up email.

These weeds are highly invasive, are currently spreading across large swaths of the fields, and are out-competing the grass to become the more dominant ground covering.

Furthermore, the weeds grow at different heights and densities from the existing dry grass, which exacerbates the unevenness of the existing field surface and creates depressions on the fields which are challenging and potentially dangerous for players to navigate.

In order for the summer maintenance plans to be truly effective, these weeds must be eradicated first.

And there are 2 possible approaches to do so successfully.

1, apply herbicide to kill the weed and then reseed the areas where the grass has been unable to grow.

This would be a one-time request for a temporary period only during the summer break on targeted areas only of the soccer fields that are fenced off, or to dig down the required depth to remove the roots of the invasive weeds and replace the areas with new sod.

This latter approach is typically more costly.

Given the urgency of improving the fields before mid August, We request this topic be placed on the June 20th Town Council agenda.

In a perfect world I suspect Town Council would like the Parks and Rec Commission to review it first.

However, they did not meet until June 26, and the following Town Council meeting after that is not until July 20th due to the July 4th holiday, past the point at which the necessary field improvements can be made before the start of the soccer season.

It's also worth pointing out that while the town has an integrated pest management plan, the plan is not specific on whether the Parks and Rec Committee needs to hear this item before town council can act.

If Parks and Rec Commission must weigh in, then we request a special meeting or to direct town staff to work directly on this issue to find resolution.

There are additional emails submitted on this issue that you'll see in your packets and thank you for your consideration.

We don't have any other hands raised and as noted, there were 3 other comments received earlier today, which were forwarded to counsel.

They are available on the website and printed copies are available on the table over the agenda packet is.

Based on the feedback, Is there any, is there any follow-up to the comments now, or do we want to.

Yeah, We're not going to get into a discussion.

I'm working, RJ and I just discussed this today actually.

So I think due to the time considerations and really needing to get this, the maintenance program sort of underway as quickly as possible, We do want to try to get something back to

the council, perhaps at the next meeting, if we're able to.

So that you can consider sort of the options available.

Okay, so seeing no other public comment online, I'll close public comment and move on to presentations.

Seeing none, Moving on to the consent calendar.

The purpose of the consent calendar is to group items together which are routine and that have been discussed previously and do not require further discussion.

They will be approved by a single motion any member of the town council town staff or public may request to remove an item for discussion.

Does anyone in the council want to pull an item?

Okay make motion approved consent items for a through 4 of

Okay, I'll call the names of the members present Councilmember Casillas

Councilmember of Ozzie Oh, yes, Councilmember Thomas Yes, and merely.

Okay, so that closes the consent calendar moving on to public hearings public hearing 5 a is the consideration and possible adoption of resolution number 30 2023 approving the base rate change application of Mill Valley Refuse Service.

you, Mayor Lee and members of the council.

I'm just going to provide a brief introduction and some background for you.

very meaty staff report, there's a lot in it.

I know, at least for 2 of our council members this is their first garbage rate hearing from a valley refuse services and so I wanted to provide as much detail as possible.

We also have with us tonight Jean De La Zopa and Jennifer Dommy from Mill Valley Refuse Services and Jim Howison from R3 Consulting, you'll see on the screen is joining us online.

They're here as our subject matter experts to provide some additional information for you, answer any outstanding questions and introduce themselves.

So the discussion and resolution before you is for a 5.11% maximum rate increase for delivery of solid waste collection and dual stream recycling services.

As some background, the town has had a franchise with the agreement with Mill Valley refuse services since 1999.

Our current 20 year 6 month agreement runs through December

And that is where we are currently in our franchise agreement.

On April 1st, 2023, Mill Valley Refuse submitted a rate application requesting a 4.31 percent rate increase that would take effect July 21st,

Mill Valley Refuse Services is required to present a rate application to the town by April 1 annually.

So they were timely with their application.

Every 2 to 3 years, the city of Mill Valley takes the lead on contracting with our 3 consulting to evaluate the rate application and perform a rate review for the 9 contracting jurisdictions.

They analyze the rate application and make sure that it adheres to everything set out in each of the rate agreements with each of the 9 jurisdictions and those are Belvedere, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Marin County, Almonte Sanitary District, Alto Sanitary District, Homestead Valley Sanitary District, and the Strawberry Recreation District.

R3 completed that rate review in May and provided their report to the contracting jurisdictions.

And in their findings, they actually identified recommended adjustments that would result in an increase to the requested rate up to

Mill Valley Refuse Services and R3 can answer any questions specific to the 2 items that they identified and what constitutes a fair rate of return.

But in summary, those 2 items were the primary adjustment was due to new updated information about the projected cost of processing recyclables in the coming 2023 and 2024 rate year.

Mill Valley Refuse Services contracts with Marin Sanitary Service for recyclables processing and due to declining revenues received by Marin Sanitary Service for the sale of recyclable commodities as happens periodically, especially during market downturns.

Mill versus notified Mill Valley refuse service in May of projected large increases in the cost of processing recyclables in 2024.

However, though the projected increase is approximately a doubling of the projected cost of processing recyclables, the resulting increase to customer rates is still small, averaging 0.698% for the contracting agencies.

And The second item identified was an adjustment for reimbursable costs to the city of Mill Valley as the jurisdiction that coordinated the rate review for this rate review engagement was also made amounting to a .076 average increase in the rates.

Corda Madera's portion this year and that rate adjustment was projected out over 3 years.

So Corte Madera's portion this year is just

R3 recommended the increases and Mill Valley Refuse Services agreed to the recommendations and on May 23rd, Mill Valley Refuse Service submitted a revised rate application and cover letter and that is included as attachment 3 to your staff report.

Oh, and as a reference in your packet, along with the resolution that is proposed, The rate sheets and draft terms and conditions are included with that if you want to review that.

Again, the increase would total a 5.11% increase results in a

per month increase for residential curbside customers that have 32 gallons can services and $1.95 per month increase for those who have 20 gallon can service.

We also wanted to note as on page 2 of the staff report, Mill Valley Refuse did not request a rate increase last year.

And since 2019, the combined total of rate increases have totaled 13.1%, which is an average of 2.62% over the past, each year for the past 5 years.

So just to summarize the proposed rate sheet and terms and conditions are also included as attachments to the draft resolution and the changes to the proposed terms and conditions are summarized on page 4 of the staff report.

And I included that under the fiscal impact section if you'd like to review that.

The final page of the PDF of attachment to in this document, the rate application, you'll see highlighted in yellow, shows the impact of the R3 review on the requested rate increase and how the 5.11% increase was derived.

And now we can introduce Jean Della Zopa and Jennifer Dommy from Mill Valley Refuge Service and Jim Howison from R3 Consulting so that they can introduce themselves, speak to a few details in the report and help answer any questions that council may have.

And I'm also happy to answer any questions council may have for staff.

I'm managing partner of Millville Refuse.

Hello Council, I'm Jennifer Domi and I am CFO and new managing owner of no Bali refuses my husband retired after 43 years in June of last year.

I'm with R3 Consulting and I'm the individual that actually conducted the review of the application.

The purpose of This hearing for here today is that we are requesting a 5.11% rate increase as as related to the franchise agreement that we have with the city of quarter Madera.

I can attest that in regards to the change, that was due to updated information that we received through Marin Sanitary Service during our engagement with R3.

And we were able to update that and include it into the rates.

In regards to where the rate increase is going to be heading towards we've seen a rise in operating costs that most importantly diesel we saw a We also saw

We also faced inflationary pressures due to

covid that impacted our ability to purchase trucks and

In regards to our labor union contracts we did

have we did negotiate a 4 year labor union contract with our union drivers.

Garbage and recycling it's a 4 year so we are happy to give them a livable wage increase so that they're they're they're able to feel very well compensated for the work that they do.

And we're in terms of internally for with our structure we do have a safety lead that is going to help assist us in

keeping our drivers safe and help us mitigate through

Making sure that all of our jurisdictions are in compliance with SB 1383.

And we're happy that Dave Bigeaux has taken the lead in that role.

And we've been working closely with businesses and multifamily units in order for them to be in compliance with SB

In terms of future legislation that is impacting our industry is SB

That's going to be a huge bill that will help reduce plastic pollution and allow plastic and compulsible product packaging to be 100% by 2032.

I will lead it to my fellow partner, Jennifer Domi, to have any other additional comments.

I really don't have any additional comments I just want you all to know that Mill Valley refuse prides ourself in running as lean as possible as we can, especially with the rising costs in California.

And I know for myself, my job has probably quadrupled in the past 10 years I've been here for 18 because of all the mandates that the state has given to us.

And in taking care of our employees to make sure that they are safe and well taken care of.

I was raised in Cordomadera and they live on Arrowhead Lane and they've been there for 59 years, as of next month.

So I take a lot of pride in Corte Madera and I always have.

We do have an additional partner with us, Alex Iveroni.

and Alex is, we're very happy to have him with us.

Jim, if you have any comments, the floor is for your, is off to you.

Okay, I'm just going to make this brief and just kind of give a description or an illustration of what are 3 contributes to this process.

So, once we receive the application, probably 95% of everything we receive is an Excel form.

Part of our duties and responsibilities is to check the mathematics to make sure that the right application ties to any supporting documentation.

We also make sure that the application as it has adhered to previous practices.

So if there's a change in accounting, anything of that nature, We make a note of that.

That did not happen this year, but we do look for those items.

We make sure that the application conforms with the franchise agreement.

We also look at the projections, projections for fuel, labor, GNAs such as office salaries, etc.

We and the purpose of that is to make sure that those projections are reasonable.

And we also do the same practice for revenue.

And that basically sums up the task that we perform, but it is an extensive review.

And as Gene mentioned, before we make any final reports, We do discuss it with the parties involved and make sure that we are in agreement.

Fairly I was just going to say that that concludes our presentation to counsel, and we're happy to take questions.

Okay, so I'll open it up to the council is there anyone that wants to start us off.

just have 1 quick question, not so much on the rate but I know you have a low low program for low income families if the residential is very program, if an apartment building or multifamily is, in a sense, designated for low income.

Or you have a given and consideration of that, or.

I know we have permanent supportive housing.

Which is over in Casa Blanda next to Marin Joes.

I don't know if you have any programs geared towards, again, either 1, just to get it out there.

We do offer a program through PG&E cares where we do offer discounts for elderly citizens that qualify.

I think that's a great suggestion and we'll definitely look into it and get back to you.

I just have 1 question, probably revealing that I'm kind of new here.

Sorry to make you have to bounce back up there again.

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Corte Madera Town Council June 6, 2023