COUNCIL NARROWS LIST OF TRASH CONTRACT BIDS.Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - The Santa Clarita City Council on Tuesday narrowed the field of contenders for Santa Clarita's lucrative trash franchise agreement to the three lowest bidders: Blue Barrel, Burrtec and Consolidated. The City Council unanimously directed the city's Environmental Services The various combinations of scientific, technical, and advisory activities (including modification processes, i.e., the influence of manmade and natural factors) required to acquire, produce, and supply information on the past, present, and future states of space, atmospheric, staff to begin private, simultaneous negotiations with each firm to clarify their proposals and attempt to enhance the final terms of the deal, officials said. ``The games begin today,'' said Councilman Frank Ferry. ``This isn't about gimmicks or politics, but getting the best deal for the community.'' Although Councilwoman Laurene Weste voted with the majority of the council, she argued at length that the staff's comparison of the six proposals was not accurate. ``We are not comparing apples to apples,'' Weste said. Waste Management-owned Blue Barrel Disposal Co. submitted the lowest overall bid, followed by Fontana-based Burrtec Waste Industries and Consolidated Disposal Service. Each would significantly reduce the monthly trash bill for homeowners from $22.13, which is among the highest in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County. Blue Barrel and Consolidated are the city's current haulers. The council's action eliminates, at least for the time being, BFI BFI - brute force and ignorance Waste Systems of North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , Crown Disposal Co. and E.J. Harrison and Sons. BFI, which was once thought to be a leading contender for the contracts, was taken out of the running because of the high rate the company would charge apartment dwellers and businesses for trash pickup Pickup A gain in yield made by selling one bond and buying another. Also referred to as "yield pickup." Notes: When the present yield is relatively low compared to the longer-term yields, pickups will be done by investors trying to increase the yield and duration of their and recycling recycling, the process of recovering and reusing waste products—from household use, manufacturing, agriculture, and business—and thereby reducing their burden on the environment. services, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report from the city staff. The City Council dismissed without discussion BFI's offer to give the city half of the land the company owns in Elsmere Canyon, where BFI once planned to build a 190-ton dump, if it was awarded the trash franchise agreement. The proposals from Crown and Harrison were not cost effective, according to the report. If the council is not satisfied with any of the final deals presented to the city by Blue Barrel, Burrtec or Consolidated, it can decide to reopen re·o·pen tr. & intr.v. re·o·pened, re·o·pen·ing, re·o·pens 1. To open or be opened again: Officials reopened the airport after the snow was cleared. Schools reopen in September. discussions with any or all of the firms eliminated on Tuesday, officials said. The City Council is expected to award the nine-year commercial contract and the seven-year residential deal in the fall. The package would be worth at least $12 million and as much as $23 million for the victorious firm. The commercial agreement takes effect in August 2004 and the residential contract will begin in April 2006, officials said. The council may decide to award both deals to one firm, or split the franchise, officials said. Because Burrtec, Blue Barrel and Consolidated all plan to boost the city's recycling rate in similar ways, the deciding factor is likely to be the difference in the monthly rate charged to residents and businesses, officials said. ``This is a dollar issue,'' said Councilman Bob Kellar. ``Make no mistake about it.'' The three finalists have each promised to push Santa Clarita's recycling rate over 50 percent immediately, and have vowed to work toward the city's self-imposed and extremely ambitious goal of 75 percent. If the city's diversion A turning aside or altering of the natural course or route of a thing. The term is chiefly applied to the unauthorized change or alteration of a water course to the prejudice of a lower riparian, or to the unauthorized use of funds. rate rises, the winning hauler could see the length of the agreement extended - but if it does not, the company could face steep fines and other penalties, according to drafts of the contracts. Blue Barrel officials contend that the city's minimum recycling requirements will be nearly impossible to meet and have asked officials to soften the penalties for failing to meet the city's goals. That issue, as well as several other areas Blue Barrel reserved the right to raise with city officials in its written proposal, will be discussed in detail during the final closed-door negotiations, officials said. It is likely that those issues will be resolved, said Laith Ezzet, the city's trash consultant. In 2000, the city recycled 42 percent of its waste. Initial data compiled by state officials show Santa Clarita diverted di·vert v. di·vert·ed, di·vert·ing, di·verts v.tr. 1. To turn aside from a course or direction: Traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident. 2. just 39 percent away from landfills in 2001. Santa Clarita must meet or exceed the 50 percent diversion rate by December 2005 or face sanctions Sanctions is the plural of sanction. Depending on context, a sanction can be either a punishment or a permission. The word is a contronym. Sanctions involving countries: Heather MacDonald, (661) 257-5257 heather.macdonald(at)dailynews.com |
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