Council hears complaints about multifamily trash-rate shift; asks staff to return with alternatives

Lompoc — A monthslong transition of multifamily solid‑waste billing that phases out per‑unit multifamily rates and shifts billing responsibility to property owners drew sharp public and council criticism at Tuesday’s meeting, prompting the council to ask staff to return with alternatives for possible action.

Robert Cross, the city’s financial services manager, reviewed a cost-of-service study and the city’s phased implementation that began with notices in April 2023 and council action in June 2023. Cross said the city’s intent is to bill multifamily complexes as commercial customers — by container size and collection frequency — to align bills with the actual cost of service. He said the move is intended to encourage more efficient, consolidated service (for example, one 450‑gallon container could be cheaper than five individual 95‑gallon containers).

Why it matters: Property owners and property managers at the meeting said they did not expect the change and that shifting the billing to owners violates preexisting lease arrangements and imposes costs that are difficult to absorb. Several landlords and council members said notices and public hearings occurred but that many affected residents and owners did not attend or understand the change until they received new bills.

Cross said a transition schedule has reduced the number of accounts on the old multifamily rate from about 3,100 in May 2023 to roughly 465 by May 2024 as properties were moved to owner accounts. He provided an illustrative example showing a five-unit property moving from a per-unit multifamily charge of $28.63 to an owner bill that could range from about $148 per month (if consolidated to a 450‑gallon container) to about $300 if each unit retained separate container billing.

Council debate touched on fairness, notice and the practical effect of consolidation: some council members argued that owner consolidation can lower overall costs and simplify collection, while others said the change removes property owners’ choice and shifts collection burdens onto owners who had lease agreements allocating costs to tenants. Council members sought a menu of alternatives that could include phased approaches, targeted relief for small landlords or additional customer notifications. Several council members asked staff to prepare options for council consideration and to return the item as a decision-making agenda item.

What’s next: Council directed staff to prepare and return with specific alternatives and a staff report for action, including possible mechanisms to ease the transition for landlords and tenants. The council did not modify rates or adopt new rules at the meeting.

Speakers (from transcript): - Robert Cross, Financial Services Manager (government) - Multiple property owners and management representatives (unnamed individuals in public comment) (citizen) - Council Member Vega, Lompoc City Council (government) - Council Member Ball, Lompoc City Council (government) - Council Member Starbuck, Lompoc City Council (government)

Authorities referenced (as stated in meeting): - Prop 218 (prov. hearings and notices) — referenced by Robert Cross - City resolution(s) adopting rate changes on June 6, 2023 (transcript notes)

Actions (meeting record): - Council directed staff to return with alternatives and to bring a staff report and possible action on the multifamily solid‑waste billing structure for a future meeting (direction to staff; motion with second and third noted in transcript).

Discussion vs. decision: The meeting included review and public comment; council directed staff to return with alternatives but did not adopt new rates or make binding changes at this session.

Clarifying details extracted from transcript: - Cost‑of‑service study completed and delivered to city on 07/25/2022; rates adopted after hearings in 2023. - Historical account counts: about 3,100 multifamily customers on the rate in May 2023; down to roughly 465 by May 2024 as properties were transitioned. - Example rates cited in staff slide: a 65‑gallon commercial multifamily single-visit rate shown as $46.84 per month; per-unit previous multifamily charge cited as $28.63 in example.

Proper names (as used in article): - Prop 218 (California Proposition 218) (statutory reference) - Robert Cross (person)

Searchable tags: ["solid waste","multifamily","Prop218","rates","utility billing","Lompoc"]

Salience (editorial): {"overall":0.70,"overall_justification":"Direct household and landlord financial impact and complaints; council directed staff to return with policy alternatives.","impact_scope":"local","attention_level":"high","novelty":0.15}

Provenance: staff presentation and public comment on solid waste rates, transcript spans approx. 5439.62–7145.27 seconds.