Redwood City dumps Allied Waste

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 9, 2008 | by Shaun Bishop

Despite a San Mateo County supervisor's concerns about the process used to pick Norcal Waste Systems as the Peninsula's next trash collector, the Redwood City City Council has chosen the company for a new curbside pick-up contract.

With the council's 7-0 vote Monday night, Redwood City became the first member of the South Bayside Waste Management Authority to choose San Francisco-based Norcal over incumbent Allied Waste for a major 10-year trash collection deal beginning in 2011.

The council also became the first to approve up to $65.5 million in bonds to pay for an expansion and seismic overhaul of the Shoreway Disposal and Recycling Center in San Carlos, which is owned by the authority.

City officials said the two moves will probably cause residents' garbage rates to rise an estimated 10 to 15 percent.

Each member of the authority, which includes 10 cities from East Palo Alto north to Burlingame, the West Bay Sanitary District and San Mateo County, must separately approve Norcal's selection. Together, the contracts would be worth an estimated $70 million per year for Norcal.

Redwood City's decisions came as the authority plans to hire an outside consultant to ensure that the process to pick Norcal was unbiased and transparent.

Authority board Chairman Larry Patterson decided to give the process another look after Supervisor Jerry Hill sent a letter criticizing authority Executive Director Kevin McCarthy and questioning the transparency and credibility of the process.

McCarthy sent a letter to city councils Aug. 25 that Hill described as "inappropriate" and "insulting to elected officials of San Mateo County" because it included personal opinions instead of unbiased facts.

Hill also criticized McCarthy for soliciting letters of support from the companies that bid on the collection contract and presenting those letters to city councils without disclosing that he asked for them.

"That goes to the heart of transparency," Hill said last week. "To me, that raises serious questions as to the whole process."

McCarthy denied Monday that he had personal biases that affected the process and said Patterson's decision to hire an outside consultant is a good check.

"I think (Hill's criticisms are) good concerns in the sense elected officials weren't on the selection committee" and weren't involved first-hand, McCarthy said.

"If there's a perception out there, then why take any chances?" he asked.

Without referring to Hill's concerns, several Redwood City council members said they felt obligated to focus on the data and facts in the selection process as they made their decision.

Councilman Jim Hartnett said he trusts the opinion of Finance Director Brian Ponty, who represents the city on the authority's board.

Ponty said the process was transparent and "didn't reek of back- room dealings."

"My concern at this point is that it now not turn into the political," Hartnett said.

"With the amount of time and energy that has been put into this, I, like Councilmember Hartnett, have a hard time doing anything but following the committee's recommendation," added Councilman Jeff Ira.

The council also questioned the necessity of the Shoreway expansion, which will include new recycling equipment that will allow residents to put all their recyclables in one bin.

Authority officials said the facility is outdated and must be upgraded to allow the recycling program to grow.

The council approved the $59.3 million project with a 10 percent contingency in case the price tag goes up. Two-thirds of the authority members must approve the Shoreway deal for the project to begin.

E-mail Shaun Bishop at sbishop@dailynewsgroup.com.