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Smoothing of Garbage Rates. City staff and the Waste and Recycling Subcommittee <br />discussed smoothing garbage rates and are not recommending this option for rate <br />period five as the increases are specifically tied to indexes and the actual costs for <br />implementing state law SB 1383. <br />However, the City Council may elect to consider smoothing rates and could use either <br />the waste and recycling special revenue fund (Fund 171), or funds which PGS is <br />currently holding as a result of the 35 -gallon residential solid waste cart rate being set <br />above the original staff recommendation upon the commencement of the current <br />agreement', as a one-time credit against the increased costs seen in the application for <br />rate period five. This is common practice for many cities with reserve funds that wish to <br />lower the coming rate increase with a one-time payment in order to lessen above <br />average increases. This amount would need to be generated through the rates the <br />following year unless another credit amount is applied. <br />Table 5 illustrates the impact on residential rates as a result of applying different funding <br />levels. To reduce the coming rate increase from 5.8 percent to 5 percent, reserves <br />would need to fund $210,000. To reduce the rate period five increase to 4 percent, <br />reserves would need to fund $500,000, and to reduce the rate period five increase to 3 <br />percent, reserves would need to fund $790,000. <br />Table 5 <br />Rate Period Four Reserve Funding Net Rate Increase Rate Period Five <br />Rates 1 Y Rates <br />35 gallon $27.58 $ - 5.8% $29.18 <br />96 gallon $48.12 $ - 5.8% $50.91 <br />35 gallon $27.58 $ 210,000 5.0% $28.96 <br />96 gallon $48.12 $ 210,000 5.0% $50.53 <br />35 gallon $27.58 $ 500,000 4.0% $28.68 <br />96 gallon $48.12 $ 500,000 4.0% $50.04 <br />35 gallon $27.58 $ 790,000 3.0% $28.41 <br />96 gallon $48.12 $ 790,000 3.0% $49.56 <br />Should the City Council elect to use reserve funds to lower the rate impact in rate period <br />five, it should be noted that the amount of reserve funds used only delays the increase <br />required for one year. For example, should the City elect to contribute $500,000 from <br />' On July 3, 2018 the City Council set the rates for rate period one. The City Council selected to adjust the <br />staff recommended rate for the 35 gallon residential cart from $24.90 to $26.06 per month. This was to <br />address concerns from PGS regarding cart migration from the 96 gallon cart to the 35 gallon cart. It was <br />noted that City staff would return to the City Council to discuss how this increase in revenue would be <br />applied from this change in the future. The migration anticipated by PGS did not occur so the funds <br />accumulated have been set aside by PGS for the City Council to determine allocation. City Council has <br />not provided direction to date. There is currently $494,869 in this fund. <br />Page 5 of 7 <br />