Livermore Council OKs 8.67% Cut to Sanitation Rates

The Livermore City Council on May 12 approved a staff recommendation to reduce citywide solid-waste rates charged by Livermore Sanitation, Inc. (LSI) by 8.67% for the upcoming rate year.

Acting Public Works Director Judy Erlinson told the council the reduction resulted from a cost-based review required by the franchise agreement and that consultants and staff confirmed the calculations comply with the contract methodology. "The recommended rate reduction is due in large part to the caps placed on increases in costs," Erlinson said.

Vice Mayor Branning said he was pleased the city could lower rates while also expressing caution about future volatility: "I'm always a little concerned ... if we're gonna see rubber banding on them." Staff responded that the next three years will use index-based adjustments tied to the consumer price index and that caps remain in place, but emphasized that future CPI movements are uncertain.

No public commenters spoke during the rate hearing. After brief council discussion, the motion to authorize the rate decrease was moved and seconded and passed unanimously.

The city noted that roughly 80% of residents subscribe to smaller cart sizes and that staff expects rates could rise again in later years as allowed by the franchise agreement and CPI index adjustments. The council did not set specific dollar figures in its motion beyond authorizing the percentage decrease as reflected in the updated franchise-exhibit schedule.

The council's action directs staff to implement the new rates and provide the required notices to ratepayers; staff said LSI must give at least 30 days' notice when rates change.

Next steps: staff will finalize the updated rate schedule and notify customers as required by the franchise agreement.