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Council tables proposal to raise solid-waste collection rates pending vendor data and clearer fee schedule
Summary
After extensive staff and council discussion about inconsistent spreadsheets, missing rate codes, and whether to use a flat up-charge or percentage, the Grants Lane City Council voted to table Ordinance 2026-10 on solid-waste rates until staff compiles complete vendor comparisons and fixes rate-code issues.
Councilors spent an extended period reviewing a proposed update to the city's solid-waste rate schedule and the supporting rate charts. Staff said previous ordinance changes had not been fully implemented in the city's financial software and that some rate codes were missing, causing confusion about what the ordinance would actually charge customers.
Council members and staff discussed two approaches for updating customer charges: a flat per-account up-charge and a percentage increase tied to contractor CPI or contract terms. One councilor noted the city had sometimes been billed by the vendor at higher rates than what citizens were charged, creating a shortfall.
Because the spreadsheets in the packet were inconsistent and the staff did not yet have comprehensive vendor pricing and correct fund-view codes, Council member Brian moved to table Ordinance 2026-10 so staff could gather the accurate numbers and return with a consistent proposal. Scott Gorby seconded the motion; the council voted to table the ordinance by unanimous voice vote.
Council instructed staff to assemble vendor rate comparisons, fix missing rate codes in financial software, and propose either a percentage CPI-based update or a single flat up-charge with clear examples before a future vote.
