The Auburn City Council Study Session for May 24 covered the city’s Housing Action Plan, Environmental Review, solid waste charges, and restoring a 1% utility tax city owned utilities.
Ordinance No. 6816 (Ordinance info, watch) relating to the city’s solid waste collection charges was discussed. The City of Auburn completed a request for proposal process in 2020, and selected Waste Management as the City’s solid waste service provider for the next ten years. Under the new contract customer
service and billing for solid waste will be transferred to Waste Management.
Rate Increase:
A solid waste rate study was performed and recommendation of three rate increases over a 27-
month period presented to council.
- The first proposed rate increase of 13.6% would become effective October 1, 2021;
- The second proposed rate increase of 14.2% would become effective January 1, 2022; and
- The final proposed rate increase of 13.6% would become effective January 1, 2023.
The City’s last solid waste rate increase was on January 1, 2014.
More Taxes?
Ordinance No. 6822 (ordinance information, watch) allowing the city to restore a 1% utility tax on its city owned utilities to go to the Arterial Street Preservation Fund, which was inadvertently omitted during the 2021/2022 biennial budget process.
A presentation on The State Environment Policy Act and Environmental Review (presentation, watch) was provided to the council. And finally, a document related to the Housing Action Plan (information), under a state department of commerce grant, was presented (watch here).