City Considering New Garbage Hauler Fee

New Port Richey City Council members are considering creating a new franchise fee that garbage haulers would have to pay to operate within the city.

Council members voted 4-1 on July 16 to give preliminary approval to the ordinance amendment needed to create the fee. Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips was the only person to vote against it. 

The proposed ordinance change requires garbage haulers to enter into a franchise agreement with the city and to pay the city for the privilege. The proposal requires garbage haulers to pay the city a percentage of their gross revenues every month as part of the agreement.
 
The ordinance does not spell out a specific percentage haulers would be asked to pay. That would be decided by a separate resolution.  

City staff proposed the franchise as a way to generate revenue for cash-strapped New Port Richey, which is now in the middle of its budget process.

Some of the conditions in the change rubbed City Council members the wrong way. One was a requirement that garbage haulers provide recycling services at least once a week

“I’m not sure if we should require them to provide recycling once per week,” said Councilman Chopper Davis.

Phillips expressed concern that garbage haulers were being asked to pay a percentage of their gross revenue. He and Councilwoman Judy DeBella Thomas also expressed concern that garbage haulers hadn’t been notified about the ordinance.
 
This was the first of two votes needed to change the ordinance to create the franchise. The second is scheduled for Aug, 6.

City Council members directed staff to take the recycling service requirement out of the franchise conditions.  A notice will be put out to garbage haulers to let them know the city is taking its final vote on the ordinance in August.