2008

An ABC7 report showed baled tin cans falling from $280 a ton to zero, and Assistant City Manager Karen Pinkos proposed relying more on rate revenue, “which we believe is more stable”: the integrated waste management fee rose 88 cents a month, essentially a 15% increase. Asked about a rebound, staff said “we're not confident but we're expecting it to come back”, and that without materials revenue residents would underwrite 75% of the program. City Manager Scott Hanin said recycling “has a long history of putting the cart before the horse” and markets “do bounce back”. The Council adopted the fees and East Bay Sanitary's 2009 rates, a 1.4% increase, unanimously.

It then approved 10,000 64-gallon gray carts for $537,500, just under $54 each, by lease purchase at 4.85% over seven years, after Councilmember Lyman raised elderly residents who could not wheel them, a member raised blocked sidewalks, and Jones asked whether it was “the best price”; a member asked for an analysis of the promised savings.

The Council enrolled in Measure WW park bond funding of “just a little over $1 million”, heard the police traffic unit's year and the launch of an economic development website that two speakers doubted, one saying “this is not what's going to make the deal”, and Mayor Sandy Potter read the 2009 liaison assignments, with commission reappointments to be agendized on January 5th.

Rose groups, the Garden Club and a childhood friend honored Miriam Wilkins (as captioned), who began the Heritage Roses group in 1974 and the annual celebration of old roses at the community center; Wilkins, the daughter of city founders, recalled watching the first Fairmont School burn down at age 5. Dr. Bruce Harter thanked the Council for supporting Measure D, which had drawn over 79% of the vote, and a resident backed the Cerrito Theater ahead of an audit.

Colleagues and residents thanked departing members Bridges and Moore, while Peter Lobel faulted them for a theater that “cost us $7 million in subsidy.” After Mayor Bill Jones, Chang and Lyman took the oath and the November 4 election results were confirmed, the Council selected Sandy Potter mayor and Janet Abelson mayor pro tem, and the Redevelopment Agency named Jones chair and Chang vice chair.

Assistant City Manager Karen Pinkos said the estimate to rebuild the center for the two-bin program came in “7 to 10 times higher than originally anticipated”, more than half of it for on-site processing on a former quarry, and proposed off-site processing, 64-gallon carts with lids and wheels, and a single unsorted cart, with backyard service continuing. Councilmembers asked about workers' compensation, storing carts, routes and the cost of carts. An R3 Consulting Group principal said contamination with single stream “is no longer um a fatal flaw” with education; Dave Weinstein of the old task force said the plan “sounds very good”, and Al Miller asked for “a full court press” to inform residents. Mayor Jones said the city was “designing a new facility for half the cost” and gave staff direction without a formal motion.

The police presented crime maps on crimereports.com, staff demonstrated new meeting webcasts, and the Council approved a Wall of Fame process and Miriam Wilkins's nomination. Three residents opposed moving Portola Middle School to the Castro site, one saying “the neighborhood cannot accommodate a big box commuter School”.

In reports, the Waste Authority's 2009 rate proposal and Delta water concerns came up, and the meeting adjourned in memory of a Richmond police officer. The captioned recording begins at 2:28, during Council reports.