By Mary O’KEEFE

Residents of the City of Glendale still have time to send a formal letter of protest regarding a proposed increase in solid waste rates. A public hearing will be held on June 6 at 6 p.m. at the City of Glendale council chambers, 613 E. Broadway, floor 2 in Glendale. The letter of protest must be received by the City prior to or on the day of the public hearing.

“The City of Glendale is considering new solid waste-related rates for single-family and multi-family (two-four units) customers. In April, the City mailed a Proposition 218 Notice and Public Hearing Process letter to all residential account holders,” according to the City of Glendale.

The letter stated that, due to rising costs of providing solid waste services in Glendale, the City is proposing a rate re-structure and increase to ensure the continuity of municipal integrated waste management operations. The adjustment, a rate increase, is for the collection and handling of trash, recycling and organic waste services for City’s single-family and multi-family residences with fewer than five units.

The notices were sent to the owner of record of each identified parcel and to customers responsible for paying for solid waste collection services from the City of Glendale.

“The collection, processing and disposal of solid waste generated by Glendale’s single-family residential customers and multi-family customers with fewer than five units is performed by the City’s integrated waste management operation. The City also fulfills several other responsibilities such as oversight of the Glendale Recycling Center, customer outreach and education, CalRecycle regulatory compliance, and maintenance of the closed Brand Park Landfill,” according to the City.

The City last adopted a solid waste increase over 12 years ago. As an example, in the proposed first year increase, a single-family residential (SFR) customer in Glendale will see the monthly flat fee increase from $18.34 to $32.34 for weekly collection of their 96-gallon refuse, recycling and organics containers.

Many residents have spoken at City Council meetings against the proposed rate hike. Most stated that although they understood the need to raise costs after 12 years the price jump, to them, seemed extreme. They would have preferred a more gradual increase over 12 years.

The public can affect the increase if 50% plus one person sends in protest letters.

The protest letter must meet the following requirements:

• Be in writing
• Received by the city clerk before the June 6 hearing
• Contain parcel(s) description with the APN
• Include the property address
• Include a statement protesting the rate increase
• Include the name and signature of property owner or rate payer
• Mailed or delivered in person to 613 E. Broadway, Room 110 in Glendale, CA 91206. Written protests may either be mailed or personally delivered to the city clerk at this address.

To be valid, a protest must be in writ­ing and received (not postmarked) by the city clerk prior to the public hearing on June 6. Oral, telephonic and email protests will not be accepted. Because an original signature is required, emailed, faxed and photocopied protests will not be counted. Oral comments provided at the public hearing will not qualify as a formal protest unless accompanied by a written protest.

For more information, contact the City of Glendale at (818) 548-3916 or visit https://tinyurl.com/2n8jkx33 for a copy of the letter from the City.