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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02132007 - SD.5 t Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS , _�� Costa FROM: Dennis M. Barry, AICP County . STA.CY3" Community Development Director 01i . 'DATE: February 13, 2007 J p SUBJECT: RATE INCREASE FOR SOLID WASTE COLLECTION IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS SERVED BY CROCKETT GARBAGE SERVICE UNDER THE COUNTY FRANCHISE AGREEMENT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. ACCEPT report from NewPoint Group dated January 31, 2007 regarding their review of the Interim Year Rate Application submitted by Crockett Garbage Service. (EXHIBIT A). 2. APPROVE a solid waste collection rate increase of 3.75% effective March 8, 2007, for customers in the 'unincorporated areas served by Crockett Garbage Service under the County's Franchise Agreement. a' FISCAL IMPACT No impact to the County General Fund. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS 11 The County has a solid waste collection franchise agreement with Crockett Garbage Service (CGS), a subsidiaryof Republic Services, Inc., for service to the following unincorporated areas: Crockett Port Costa Tormey The County's CGS Service Area includes portions of Supervisorial District II. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE . --,'RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMI E ---APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURES : Al"C��r ACTION OF BO ON t3 , APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER The Chair opened the public hearing, there were no public speakers, the Chair closed the public hearing. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE VI/UNANIMOUS (ABSENT � AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Deidra Dingman (925/335-1224) ATTESTED 3 XV cc: Community Development Department (CDD) JOHN CU N, CLERK OF THE Crockett Garbage Service' BOARD O SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY , DEPUTY II Changes in Solid Waste Collection Rates Charged by CGS February 13, 2007 Page 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (continued) NewPoint Group Review The County entered into anllag reement with NewPoint Group to review the Interim Year Rate Change Application submitted by C rockett Garbage Service. NewPoint Group conducted their review consistent with the applicable provisions of the rate setting manual approved by the County for use in other areas within the County served by Republic Services. The result of NewPoint Group's review is contained in their letter dated January 31, 2007 which is attached as EXHIBIT A. Proposed Solid Waste Collection Rate Increase ii Interim year rate changes are calculated based on a weighted increase in controlled and uncontrolled costs. The recommended 31.75% increase of the solid waste collection rate was calculated based on 3% projected increase in uncontrolled costs and 3.79% increase in controlled costs. Uncontrolled Costs Uncontrolled costs refer to tipping fees and associated regulatory charges. CGS submitted an Interim Year Rate Application showing a projected 3% increase of the tipping fee (also referred to as the gate rate) at the Golden Bear Transfer Station from $65.00 per ton to $66.95 per ton. Controlled Costs Controlled costs include all costs other than the tipping fees and associated regulatory charges. Controlled costs are adjusted based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which increased by 3.79%. The below table summarizes the existing and recommended residential solid waste collection rates. MONTHLY •LID WASTE COLLECTION Size Existing CR 3.75% Increase of CR Recommended CR 20 gallon can $ 20.42 $ 0.77 $ 21.19 32 gallon can $ 24.22 $ 0.91 $ 25.13 45 qallon can $ 32.01 $ 1.20 $ 33.21 64 gallon cart $ 42.48 $ 1.59 $ 44.07 95 gallon cart $ 51.61 $ 1.94 $ 53.55 A majority of residents in the CGS service area receive 32 gallon service. The recommended 3.75% increase would also; apply to commercial and light-industrial customers served by CGS under the County's Franchise Agreement. ATTACHMENTS Exhibit A—Letter from NewPoint Group dated January 31, 2007 i G:\Conservation\Bryn\Franchise\Franchise-BIS\Crockett\2007 Rates\BO-Crockett Interim Year Rate Increase 2007.doc NewPoint Group` EXHIBIT A Management Consultants January 31, 2007 Ms. Deidra Dingman Solid Waste Program Manager Community Development Department Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street 4th Floor,North Wing Martinez, California 94553-0095 Subject: 2007 Interim Year Rate Review of Unincorporated Contra Costa County Areas Served by Crockett Garbage Service Dear Ms. Dingman: This letter report represents results of NewPoint Group's evaluation of an Interim Year Rate Application submitted by Crockett Garbage Service for unincorporated Contra Costa County (County). For purposes of this review, we used the County's 2003 Rate Setting Process and Methodology Manual for Solid Waste Charges as applied to Richmond Sanitary Service, Inc. —a division of Republic Services Inc. (RSS Manual). Republic Services, Inc., dba as Crockett Garbage Service (CGS),purchased the company in May of 2001. Since then CGS has provided residential, commercial, and industrial refuse collection services to the unincorporated Contra Costa County (County) areas of Crockett, Port Costa, and Tormey. Our review was conducted consistent with Steps 2, 4, and 5 in Chapter 3 of the County's RSS Manual. This letter report is organized into four sections as follows: A. Summary B. Background C. Analysis of Interim Year Application D. Recommendations. There also are three (3) attachments to this letter report. t NewR lnt Groupi'' Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 2 January 31, 2007 A. Summary Based on our analysis, we recommend a rate increase of 3.75 percent. Changes to the most common residential rates in the County rate structure are shown on page 1 of the Interim Year Rate Change Worksheet (Worksheet) included as Attachment 1. This recommended 3.75 percent rate increase also is applicable to multi-family residential, commercial, and light industrial customer rates. B. Background The franchise agreement specifies that CGS is allowed to submit an application for a rate change in a format required by the County. In 2003, the County adopted the RSS Manual The County and CGS use the RSS Manual for Crockett area rate setting. The RSS Manual reflects the County's desire to use the operating ratio method for establishing allowable profit levels in base years. The RSS Manual identifies guidelines for allowable,pass-through, and non-allowable costs. Every four years, during base years, the hauler submits audited financial statements and a Base Year Rate Application. These documents are reviewed to determine whether a rate change is necessary. Interim years follow a more streamlined process. Interim years occur during each of the three years between base years when the hauler submits an Interim Year Rate Change Application. The interim year process distinguishes between controlled costs (non-tipping fee costs)and uncontrolled costs (tipping fee costs). In interim years, controlled costs are adjusted based on the change in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Consumer Price Index, All Items, for All Urban Consumers (CPI). The CPI is published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. CGS submitted an Interim Year Rate Change Application(Application) on September 29, 2006. A copy of the Application is included as Attachment 2. The request was for a 3.79 percent rate increase. The format and content of the Application was consistent with that specified in the RSS Manual The Application requests a 3.00 percent increase in tipping fees and a 3.79 percent increase in all other costs. Crockett area rates, and rate changes, since 1996, are shown in Table 1. In 2001, the following service changes were made to CGS-served areas: ❑ Added monthly collection of greenwaste using 64-gallon cart ❑ Changed frequency of collection of commingled recyclables from weekly to bi-weekly, using a 64-gallon cart ❑ Allowed exemption from greenwaste service to 20 percent of customers ❑ Required one container for greenwaste collection at multiple unit dwellings (unless otherwise exempted). NewPoint Group"' Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 3 January 31, 2007 Table 1 Contra Costa County Crockett Service Area Historical Rates Year Service 1996 2001 2002 2003 to 2005 2006 20-gallon (backyard) $16.00 $18.34 $18.73 $19.13 $20.42 32-gallon $20.00 $21.74 $22.20 $22.69 $24.22 45-gallon2 $27.00 $28.74 $29.34 $29.99 $32.01 64-gallon(curbside) $39.80 $42.48 95-gallon(curbside) $48.35 $51.61 Change in rate $1.74 - $2.34 2.1% 2.2% 6.74% Explanation for Service CPI CPI Base year change in rate change review(tipping fee increase) C. Analysis of Interim Year Application As part of the interim year process, the County is required to complete the Worksheet (Attachment 1). Based on completion of the Worksheet,the recommended rate increase is 3.75 percent, as shown on page 1 of the Worksheet. This rate increase corresponds to a $0.77 per customer, per month, increase for the 20-gallon can(backyard) service, a $0.93 per customer,per month, increase for the 32-gallon can (backyard) service, a$1.23 per customer, per month, increase for the 45-gallon can(backyard) service, a$1.59 per customer, per month, increase for the 65-gallon cart service, and a$1.94 per customer, per month, increase for the 95-galloncart service. We used controlled and uncontrolled costs in the Worksheet consistent with those costs approved in the 2006 base year rate review. Controlled costs represent 71.6 percent of the total costs(Worksheet,page 2 of 2, line 4) while uncontrolled costs (i.e., tipping fees) represent the remaining 28.4 percent of the total costs (Worksheet,page 2 of 2, line 7). 1 For curbside service. Backyard service is currently$24.88 per customer,per month, for a.32-gallon container. A majority of 32-gallon customers use backyard service. 2 For curbside service. Backyard service is currently$32.68 per customer,per month, for a 45-gallon container. A majority of 45-gallon customers use backyard service. NeWPOint Group`' ManagementConsulfants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 4 January 31, 2007 For the controlled cost portion of the rate adjustment, we used the August to-August CPI for this interim year review. Between August 2005 and August 2006, the CPI increased from 203.0 to 210.7 or by 3.79 percent(see Attachment 3).3 There is no adjustment factor for this interim year, as the County completed a base year review last year(with rates implemented March, 2006). The adjusted change in the CPI thus is equal to 3.79 percent (Worksheet,page 2 of 2, line 11). The Application indicated a 3.00 percent increase in tipping fees, or an increase from$65.00 per ton to$66.95 per ton(Worksheet,page 2 of 2, line 18). A total of six other neighboring disposal facilities were surveyed. Tipping fee rates for self-haul weighed loads are shown below: O Davis Transfer Station (Oakland)—$100.00 per ton 71 Berkeley Transfer Station (Berkeley)—$96.00 per ton O Contra Costa Transfer & Recover Station (Martinez)—$66.00 per ton 0 Pittsburg Transfer Station (Pittsburg) - $56.20 per ton O Pleasanton Transfer Station (Pleasanton)—$53.00 per ton O Altamont :Landfill - $53.50 per ton. These rates average $70.78 per ton for weighed loads. This survey confirms that the tipping fee rate charged to Crockett residents is below average, and approximately in the middle of the range, of weighed tipping fee rates charged to self-haul customers at other neighboring disposal facilities. To account for the fact that the hauler must pay a five percent franchise fee to the County, we adjusted the 3.56 percent increase (Worksheet,page 2 of 2, line 25) upward to a 3.75 percent increase in rates(Worksheet,page 2 of 2, line 27). Historical trends for the change in August CPI are shown in Table 2. The last four years has been a period of relatively low, but increasing, inflation. For the four-year period, since the RSS Manual's implementation(i.e., 2003 to 2006), the change in the August CPI ranged from 1.2 to 3.8 percent, and averaged 2.2 percent. Following three interim years (2007, 2008, and 2009), in 2009 for rates to be set for January 1, 2010, the County will conduct a base year rate review. A base year application is required to be submitted to the County by June 30, 2009. In a base year rate review, the County will, among other analyses, assess whether the hauler's costs have escalated at a rate faster or slower than the CPI, which may provide a rationale for why rates would be increased or decreased at that time. Thus, if in interim years, use of the CPI has materially overstated or understated the hauler's actual change in costs, rates could in turn be adjusted during that base year(based on a measurement of the operating ratio level). ' For rates set in March 2006,as part of the prior base year rate review,the August-to-August CPI was used as an inflation estimate. In the future,the County should use the August-to-August change in the CPI for interim year adjustments. NewPoint Group Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 5 January 31, 2007 Table 2 Change in Consumer Price Index San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose(All Items, CPI-U) 2003 to 20064 (August-to-August Period) Percent Change in Year Index 2003 1.4 2004 1.2 2005 2.2 2006 3.8 Average—4 years 2.2 D. Recommendations Based on our evaluation of the Application, we recommend a rate increase of 3.75 percent. New residential rates, for typical County services,under our recommendation would be as follows: ® 20-gallon mini-can (backyard)- $21.19 per customer,per month ® 32-gallon can (curbside) - $25.13 per customer,per month • 32-gallon can (backyard) - $25.81 per customer,per month in 45-gallon can (curbside) - $33.21 per customer,per month in 45-gallon can (backyard) - $33.91 per customer,per month • 65-gallon cart (curbside)- $44.07 per customer, per month • 95-gallon cart (curbside)- $53.55 per customer,per month. 4 CPI source data is provided in Attachment 3. New nt Group" Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 6 January 31, 2007 Should you have any questions regarding the interim year rate review process, or any of the contents of this letter report, please do not hesitate to contact me at (916)442-2456. Sincerely yours, NewPOnt Groupo Inc. Erik Nylund Principal NewFoint Group` Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 7 January 31, 2007 Attachment 1 Interim Year Rate Change Worksheet NewPcint Group- Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 8 January 31, 2007 Contra Costa County Crockett Area Interim Year Rate Change Worksheet Summary 1. Percent Change in Rates 11 =53 MONME I Rate Schedule Increased New Rate Schedule Current Rate Rate Adlustments(a) Rate 20 gallon nini-can(backyard) $ 20.42 $ 21.19 $ $ 21.19 32 gallon container(backyard) 24.88 25.81 25.81 45 gallon container(backyard) 32.68 33.91 33.91 32 gallon container(curbside) 24.22 25.13 25.13 45 gallon container(curbside) 32.01 33.21 33.21 65 gallon container(curbside) 42.481 44.07 95 gallon container(curbside) 51.61 53.55 53.55 a) Not applicable. The County has elected not to round rates to the nearest$0.05 interval. Year: 2007 Page 1 of 2 NewPoint Group" Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 9 January 31, 2007 Contra Costa County-Crockett Area Interim Year Rate Change Worksheet Financial Information I Section 1--Base Year Costs Base Year Controlled Costs b) 1. Total Allowable Costs 2. Plus: Allowable Operating Profit 3. Minus: Tipping Fees Profit Allowed 4. Equals: Total Controlled Costs 7 Base Year Uncontrolled Costs b) 5. Tipping Fees(Profit Allowed) 6. Plus: Tipping Fees((Pass Through) 7. Equal: Total Uncontrolled Costs 4°Ari 8. Base Year Revenue Requirement(Less Franchise Fee) Section 11--Changes in Costs Change in Controlled Costs 9. Projected Change in Consumer Price Index O.Y.79° 10. A iustment Factor from Prior Interim Year 0. 11. Adjusted Projected Change in Consumer Price Index 3:79% Change in Uncontrolled Costs 12. Prior Year Tipping Fees Per Ton $ 65.00 13. Plus: Prior Year Regulatory Fees Per Ton $ 14. Equals: Total Prior Year Uncontrolled Costs Per Ton 15. Projected Interim Year Tipping Fees Per Ton $ 66.95 16. Plus: Projected Interim Year Regulatory Fees Per Ton $ 17. Equals: Total Projected Interim Year Uncontrolled Costs Per Ton t . 6 9S) r 18. Projected Change In Uncontrolled Costs :. ?fj0 ISection III-Calculation of Percent Change in Rates Weighted Change in Controlled Costs 19. Controlled Costs as%of Base Yr.Revenue Requirement r 20. Multiplied by., Adjusted Projected Change in Consumer Price Index 21. Equals: Weighted Change in Controlled Costs 2 T19a Weighted Change in Uncontrolled Costs V 22. Uncontrolled Costs as%of Base Yr.Revenue Requirement 28.4% V 23. Multiplied by: Projected Change in Uncontrolled Costs 3.00% 24. Equals: Weighted Change in Uncontrolled Costs Total Change r 25. Total Percent Change in Costs V 26. Divided by: Adjustment for Franchise Fee(1-5.0%) 95.0% 27. Equals: Percent Change in Existing Rates Year: 2007 Page 2 of 2 b) Actual numbers are not shown to protect the hauler's confidentiality. NewPoint Group'' Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 10 December 14, 2006 Attachment 2 Interim Year Rate Change Application NewMint Group" Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 1 I January 31, 2007 CROCKETT GARBAGE SERVICE P.O.BOX 4113•RIGHMOI I D,CALIFORNI/ February 1,2007 Ms.Deidra Dingman,Solid Waste Program Manager Contra Costa County Department of Community Development 651 Pine Street,a Floor,North Wing Martinez,CA 94553 Dear Deidra: As promised,enclosed is the executed original of the corrected Interim Year 1L i e Change Application for the 2007 CPI adjustment provided for in the Franchise Agreement between the County and Crockett Garbage Service. If you need anything else from us,please let me know. Again,my genuine apology for the delay in getting this information back to yo I. Very truly yours, r Janna M.Coverston Contracts Administrator/ Management Counsel Enclosure NewPOlnt Group" Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 12 January 31, 2007 REVISED Crockett Interim Year Rate Change Application Section I.-Changes in Uncontrolled Costs I.K— Chango in Uncontrolled Cost 1 Prior Year Tipping Fees per Ton i 65.00 2 Plus: Prior Year Regulator�Fees Per Ton (Included in Tipping Fee) $ 3 Equals: Total Prior Year UneonvcTied Costs Per Ton C:65.00 a Projected Interim Year Tipping Fees Per Ton 9 66.95 5 Plus: Projected Interim Year RegulatoryFees Per Ton II s 6 Equals: Total Projected Interim Year Uncontrolled Costs Per Ton I[_66.95 7 Projected Change In Uncontrolled Costs. C Section II–Explination of I�— IRRF fees do not apply tot Crockett service area. Effective 211106 per ton Tipping Fees include out-of-Co i ity transport,dimposal and additional fees related to transfer operations. Section III–Change in CPT Calculation I_ Consumer Price Index as of Aug 2005 203. (effectiva base of last rate adjustment) Consumer Price Index as of Aug 2006 210.7 Change in CPI 7.7 %change in the CPT 3.79% Section IV–Certification �- To the best of my knowledge,the data and information in this application is complete,accurate,and consistant with the instructions provided by the Contra Costa County. Name: hawn Moberg Title: General Manager Signature: / ISate: 1/30/2007 V Year: 2007 F i;Ie 1 of 2 NewR nt Group"' Manacgemeni Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 13 January 31, 2007 i CROCKETT GARBAGE SERVICE R0.BOX 4M RICHMOND;CALIFORNIA 94804 September 29,2006 Ms.Deidra Dingman Solid Waste Manager; Contra Costa County Departmentof Community Development 651 Pine Street',O Floor,North Wing Martinez,CA 945,53 Dear Ms.Dingman: Re APPLICATION FOR INTERIM YEAR CPI RATE ADJUSTMENT As provided For in the Franchise Agreement between Contra Costa County and Crockett Garbage Service dated October 22,1.996,and in:accordance with the Rate getting Process and Methodology Manual for Solid Waste Charges dated June,30,2003,enclosed herewith is an Application for Interim Year CPI Rate Adjustment. The requested adjustment is for an. increase in rates of 3.79%,effective March 1,2007. Early review of the requested.adjustment will be appreciated so that timely notice canbe..provided to our customers in the Crockett-Tormey-Port Costa service area. If you have any.questions or need additional information, please call Janna Coverston at(510)262-1644. Very trulkergg Shawn M General Manager Enclosure Cc: J.Coverston W.Lau E.Skelly NewPoint Group". Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 14 January 31, 2007 Crockett Interim Year Rate Change Application Sicuon!--Ohanges hi Uncontrolled Costs Change in Uncontrolled Cost I Prior Year Tipping Fees per Ton $83.09 2 Plus: Prior Year Regulatory Feas Per Ton (Induced in Tipping Fee) $ 3 Equals: Total Prior ear Uncontrolled Costs Per Ton 4 Projected Interim Year Tipping Fees Per Ton $65.00 5 Plus: Pro)ected Interim Year Regulatory Fees Per Ton $ 6 gquats: Tota! rojected lyderhn Year Unrronbolled Costs Per Ton 7 Projected Change in Uncontrolled Costs. IRRF fees do not appy to the Crockett service area.•Effective 217!06 per ton Tipping Fees Include oclof-County transport,disposal and additional fees related to transfer operations. Consumer Price Index as of Aug 2005 203.0 (effective base of last rate adjustment) Consumer Price Index as of Aug 2006 210.7 Change in CPI 7.7 %change In the CPI 3.79% To the best of my knowledge,the data and Information in ttds application is complete,accurate,and consistent with the instructions provided by the Contra Costa County. 1 Name: hawk Moberg Title: General Manager Signature: rl Dat 8!2912006 Year. 2007 Paget of 2 NewR int Group'` Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 15 December 14, 2006 Attachment 3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, All Items (CPI-U) San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Area NewRInt Group Management Consultants Ms. Deidra Dingman Page 16 January 31, 2007 Series Id: CUURA422SAO Not Seasonally Adjusted Area: San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA Item: All items Base Period: 1982-84=100 y ' 152.9 153.2�:L52.9 153.9 155.1 155.2 155.9 155.6 156.3 156.9 156.91156.0 155.1 153.9 156.3 570',1579 59 1;596 159y$ 160 0 1.60 6 ME 6. 1:65 1626 1626=1604 158 9 161 9 • . 163.2 164.6 1165.5 166 6 167 2 i 167.4 165.5 164.2 166.9 x,169 4, ,� 1 2..�s b171 8 ,.«; 1735' , , 1%�6�2 X17,4 5 1725 170 8 17r4�2 1, e 176.5 178.7 1179.1 181.7 183.4 i 184.1 180.2 177.7 182.6 190 .. .. 191 1:91 711'90 6 1E899 ., 188 7 191 1 191.31 193.0 193.2 193.5 194.3 1193.2 193.0 192.3 193.7 e A97�7 1`97 3 Imp 196 3 1::96 3196 3 1953 19"6:4 196'84 &19p6 1 .,.. ._�� R e • ,& -.z 198.1 198.3 1199.01 198.7 200.3 1 199.5 198.8 198.2 199.5 j0x2 4 2f1 2Q2 5012 F a 207.1 1208.9 209.1 1210.7 207.9