HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - September 16, 1992 (55)CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 16, 1992
CITIZEN ADDRESSES CI`:'X COUNCIL REGARDING
RECYCLING AND REFUSE COLLECTION IN THE
CITY OF LODI
CC -54 Mrs. Janet Pruss, 2421 Diablo Drive, Lodi addressed the
City Council and asked that her comments be made a part of
the record. They are as follows:
Gentlemen=
I speak tonight, not as a member of the Solid Waste Task
Force, but as an individual • even though my feelings may
be somewhat weighted by the one year, nine months that the
Task Force has been studying the matter of Land Fill
Reduction.
To me, the reduction of t
of the need for one i
requires that all of u
rather ignore and hope
won't! Like Topsy, it
days the Indians moved
"soiled". We do not have
he Land Fill and final elimination
s at the heart of AB939, which
s THINK of a subject we would all
it would just go away. But it
just grows and grows. In the old
on when their villages became
the same option.
As sophisticated as we think we have become, it seems we
still soil our own nest" to the degree that we soil not
only our own area, but call on other areas to take our
garbage (or land fill) to accommodate Our desires for
living in the manner to which we have become accustomed.
A* reason fur brining this to you tonight is because I feel
each of you need to have the benefit of all the input you
can get to make the decision you must soon make on the
future of Lodi 's compliance with AB939. I want the public
to know that even with no change in our present method of
garbage collection, the rate will still go up to near the
same figure as the semi -automated system that the Task
Force recommended. AND with no change in service, we will
be impacting the Land Fill with yard and garden waste shown
to be over 130 of the total land fill. This is material
which should be composted.
Some of you may feel you have time to delay a change in our
method of collection. However, with LodiIsgrowth expected
to reach 75,963 by the year 2010, time is running out. We
should be advising all new residents who wish to become a
part of our city that we expect them to do their part as we
gave done ours, to keep Lodi from "soiling her nest",
If there had never been an AB939, the fact remains that
somehow, sometime, we must bite the bullet and meet our
obligations to our Mother Earth. And this comes from one
who has never belonged to an Environmental Group, but who
certainly supports many of their ideas to "wake up to the
future".
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 16, 1992
I refute the contention of some that the rate proposed for
the three -cart system is not fair to those who do not need
the three carts. In the first place, the small 38 gallon
cart is :ceptable to most. The use of the 2nd and 3xd
carts is optional, with no additional cost. This is what
keeps the rate down for everyone, since the money for the
recycling id composting is credited back to the city by
California ste Removal System. This methodology has
already beep. approved by you, the Council. Therefore, I
see it as a blessing to those who need but one trash cart
(38 gal.) that others are helping pay their share of the
cost for the trash which must go to the land fill.
Don't forget, the dumping fee will increase and if we keep
on as we are, with no change in the system, the rate will
go up even more.
Finally, I see no reason to hide the fact that the Lodi
garbage rate has not been increased to cover their costs.
Lastly, I wish to state that the city of Lodi is and has
been lucky to have had a refuse company that was so far
ahead of the state mandate that we have the luxury of
asking and looking at options before we are fined for
non;Mcompliance.
rod CitY Countil Met ng, September lo, ly>2 px'-' �ntatlon ty Janet Pruss
:
�ertlemen :
I speak tonight, not as a member of the Solid 'Waste Task Force, but
as an individual - even though my feelings may be somewhat weighted by the
one year, nine months that the Task Force has been stding the matter of
Land F i 11 Reduction.
To me, the reduction of the Land Fill and final elimination of the
need for one is at the heart of AB939, which requires that all of us ThINK
of a subject we would all rather ignore and hope it would just go away.
But it won't: Llke Topsy, it just grows and grows. In the old days the
Indians moved on, when their villages became "soiled". We do not have the
same option.
As sophisticated as we think we have become, it seems we still "soil
our own nest" to the degree that we Soil not only our own area, but call on
ether areas to take our garbage (or land fill) to aoeot�ndate our desires
for living in the manner to which we have become accustomed.
My reason for bringing this to you tonight is because I feel each of
you need to have the benefit of all the imput you can get to make the
decision you must soon make on the future of Lodi's compliance with AB939-
I want the public to know that even with no change in our present method
of garbage collection,
the rate will still
go up
to near the
same figure
as the semi -automated
system that the Task
Force
recommended.
AND with no
change in service, we will be impacting the Land Fill with yard and garden
waste shown to be over 17% of the total land fill. This is material which
should be composted.
Some of you may feel you have time to delay a change in our method of
collection. However, with Lodi t s growth expected to reach 75,963 by the
year 2,010, time is running out. W should be advising all new residents
who wish to become a part our our city that we expect them to do their part
i
Page... Presentation t Janet Pruss, Lodi City Coi it Meeting, Sept. 15, 19Q,
as we have done ours, tc keep Lodi from "soiling her nest".
If there had never been an A3939, the fact remains that some how,
sometime, we must bite the bullet and meet our obligations to our
Mother Earth. And this comes from one who has never belonged to an
�nvlronmental Group, but who certainly supports many of their ideas to
"wake up to the future"!
I refute th- contention of some that the rate proposed for the
three cart system is not faXok to those who do not need the three carts.
In the first place, the small 38 gallon cart is acceptable to most. The
use of the 2nd and 3rd carts is optional, with no additional cost, this
is what keep the rate down for everyone, since the money for the recycling
and composting is credited back to the city by Calif, Waste Removal System.
This methodology has already been approved by you, the council. Therefore,
I see it as a blessing to those who need bpt one trash cart (38 gal.) that
others are helping pay their share of t;,e cost for the trash which must
go to the land fill.
Don't forget, the dumping fee w i 1 1 increase and if Ae keep¢on as vie
are, with no change in the system, the rate w i 11 go up even more.
Finally, I see no reason to hide th+i fact that the Lodi garbage rate
has not been increased for four years. V% cannot expect any business to
survive without increases to cover their costs.
Lastly, I wish to state that the city of Lodi is and has been lucky to
have had a refuse company that was so far ahead of the state mandate that
we have the luxury of asking and looking at options before we are fined for
non-compliance.
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