Council: Public comment urges retaining city solid waste disposal services
December 15, 2010
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula City Council
Although the main focus of the December 6 City Council was installing new and returning members and appointing a new mayor, there was public comment centered on the city’s potential of privatizing trash services, including remarks by two former leaders of the Public Works Department.
Outgoing Mayor Jim Tovias limited public comment to three minutes before several speakers supporting the city-run trash enterprise took to the lectern at the crowded Community Center. First up was former Public Works Director Cliff Finley, whose controversial termination occurred in May after about seven years with the city, including as interim city manager.
“It’s good to be here this evening,” said Finley, who offered personal thanks to outgoing two-term Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre “for many years of service to Santa Paula.” Finley noted, “I live in Santa Paula and notice when I drive around town I see a big banner, ‘Shop Santa Paula - Support Your Community.’ It’s about pride... I think the same should go along with the trash service.... I like my service, I like writing a check to the city,” and based on the city’s study of outsourcing trash, Finley said he sees no benefit to the city.
“I like to write my check to Santa Paula, not Los Angeles or Ventura,” and Finley said trash division personnel “do a great job. I want to keep my money in town.”
Resident Bob Carson said he works for the City of Thousand Oaks Public Works Department, which has contracted trash services. “I do believe something is missing in that picture” and, noted Carson, “I would like to see Thousand Oaks work locally” by switching to municipal trash services, “keep those dollars in town... it’s critical” to the local economy.
Danny Carrillo, the SEIU workplace coordinator, urged the council to “do right for the city,” and to consider the “excellent” customer service provided by the city’s trash division. “We all believe the same thing,” that if the city privatizes trash service “you will lose control, not have the same call-outs and services provided you have now.”
“I’m going to mix it up a little and talk about solid waste,” joked former city Deputy Public Works Director Jon Turner, who publicly resigned shortly after Finley was terminated. “First, to start off I’m saying I live in town and we own property in town, and the solid waste division is amazing,” with “excellent” staff and customer service.
Turner said when the department was “asked to step up and increase the diversion rate” after the city was threatened with fines, “the city solid waste division did that... and took it to the next level,” by exceeding the state mandated 50 percent by 10 percent and “remaining over 60 percent.... When I write my check I also like to keep my money in town... and solid waste has been in the black... for several years.” Turner said, “I can’t understand,” with all the issues that should be examined regarding privatization, “why try to fix something that’s not broke.”
Roslynn Turner of Santa Paula also urged that city refuse services be retained: “As a resident of Santa Paula I just want to speak of my support to keep solid waste” services local. The city’s division offers extra programs and “wonderful” customer service. “I don’t worry about being shuffled through” an out-of-town based service provider, an aspect of city service Turner said she does not want to lose.
Recent council meetings have featured comment by citizens who both support and oppose privatization of the city’s solid waste division.
