 |
|
|
|
|
MS ends a two-year free ride for Green Valley franchise fee
By Jeff Kearns
After two years of handing $30,000 from Green Valley Disposal's franchise fee back to residents, Monte Sereno City Council members decided April 6 that it's time to start collecting.
Green Valley started paying the fee to the city in 1997, to cover additional costs of the recycling program, but for the last two years, the council decided the city didn't need the cash, and gave residents a break on their trash bills.
The fee will be included in the monthly bills sent to customers, which will jump $1.20 per month for single can service.
To suspend collection for a third year, the council would have needed to pass a resolution, but the resolution only had two supporters: Gordon Knight and Joel Gambord.
"If there's a real need for the money, that's fine, but I don't think the city has a real need at this time," Gambord said. "Our finances are in great shape. It's something we could let go for another year."
Suzanne Jackson said that, even though she had supported letting the fees slide in the past, she would not support it this year. "We've lost $60,000 because we're allowing this agency to collect in the city," she said. "We are going to lose revenue and we need to identify additional sources of funding."
More than half of the uncollected fees didn't benefit residents, according to Mayor Jack Lucas. Developers building or remodeling homes are required to have a dumpster on-site, but Green Valley didn't charge the franchise fee to developers because it wasn't required to by the city.
Monte Sereno contracted with Green Valley for recycling pick-up as part of an effort to cut down on waste sent to landfills. Because it's entirely residential, the city is the leading recycler in the county, and has already met state requirements for waste reduction in 2000.
Monte Sereno was the only member of the joint powers agreement that didn't collect the fee. Green Valley also serves Los Gatos, Campbell, Saratoga and unincorporated parts of Santa Clara County.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
West Valley College celebrates 35th anniversary
|
 |
|
News Briefs
Unresolved Old Town issues include access from parking lot
Community Development Block Grant funds allocated to local nonprofits
Final decision on parking garages set for next week
Monte Sereno begins collecting trash service fees
New cars, dispatch system approved for police department
|
 |
|
Letters: Rinconada Pharmacy, speeding
Editorial: Parking garages
Bigger--whether homes or serving sizes--not always better
Columnist Carl Heintze dreams of the perfect newspaper
New business columnist Don Callahan
|
 |
|
On Campus
Photo: St. Mary's School science lab
|
 |
|
The Prowler
'All My Sons' production features Los Gatos father and son
New ruler installed at Elks Club
Engagement: Sherri Vitale, Thomas W. Krug
Obituaries: Joseph Brendal, Brother Lee Williams, Robert McAdams
|
 |
|
Local businesses news
|
 |
|
Main Street: SF Giant a hero to Los Gatos family
Picture From the Past: Villa Montalvo's Cyrene Venus
|
 |
|
Cafe Trio offers a menu which changes with the seasons
|
 |
|
Sports Briefs
Los Gatos Metro wins spot in soccer world championships
Los Gatos Pony League scores
Los Gatos golfers lose two to Saratoga
|
 |
|
Lectures, readings, auditions, sports & recreation,announcements, theater & arts, kids' stuff, clubs, public meetings...
|
 |
|
Something to say?
|
|
|
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
