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Published on 12/22/1999 All articles from this issue

LAH could dump extra garbage fee

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By Leslie K. Martin / Town Crier Staff Writer

Town roundup

The Los Altos Hills City Council may lower garbage can rates for people with more than one can set back more than 100 feet from the street.

Council members asked City Manager Mark Miller at the Dec. 2 meeting to propose an amendment to the agreement with the Los Altos Garbage Company (LAGCo) so that residents would be charged a single fee for the additional distance, regardless of the number of cans.

The current agreement with the garbage company has been for pick-up service up to 100 feet from the street. There has been an additional charge for each garbage can beyond 100 feet from the street. As an example, a resident with three cans set at the top of a 200-foot driveway pays three times the extra charge that a resident with a single can at the same distance is paying.

The extra fees affect 178 LAGCo customers, and give the town revenues of $1,160 per month, or $13,920 per year.

Councilwoman Toni Casey, who researched the charges at the request of Mayor Elayne Dauber, said that Dauber's point was, "it doesn't cost any more to go the extra 100 feet for the three cans than it does for one can."

Dauber made note of the fact that residents who have complaints about garbage service should call town hall at 941-7222.

The city council will next meet Jan. 6 at town hall, 26379 Fremont Road.

TOWN HALL, INVESTMENT INTEREST DISCUSSED: The Los Altos Hills City Council discussed investment interest and town hall renovations at its Dec. 2 meeting.

Councilman Steve Finn raised concerns that the city wasn't earning as high an interest rate as possible on city funds. City Manager Mark Miller said that the 5.37 percent interest rate was low but safe. Jim Steiner of the finance committee said the management of the fund was a work in progress, and that the committee felt secure and comfortable with the current fund management. He indicated spending more time in research might pay off better in the long run. The council asked for a report from the finance committee in January.

A request from the Town Hall Building Committee to hire a consultant, at an estimated $50,000, for conceptual drawings and estimates for a new town hall brought strong criticism from councilmembers Finn and Toni Casey. Finn and Casey stated that paying for plans for a new building was premature, since no study had been done to determine how future city business and facility needs might change in five to 10 years.

Miller said that before reviewing the amassed research he'd been skeptical himself. He now believes that saving the current building was pointless due to the code and seismic requirements which are necessary to make the current structure safe and functional for staff. Miller pointed out that if new construction is delayed, at least $50,000 will be needed for band-aid remedies to make the current building safe for employees.

An extended discussion ended in agreement that Miller would hire a futurist, in place of an architect, to lead discussions and formulate a conception of the city hall of the future.

ELECTION UPDATE: Emily Cheng, former planning commissioner, applied to run for the city council seat to be vacated by Councilman Bill Siegel in January. So far, Cheng and Jim Steiner are the only applicants to file for a special March 7 election.