LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold a public hearing tonight regarding a raise in the city's garbage rates.

Lakeport Disposal holds the contract with the city for solid waste, greenwaste and recyclable materials collection.

Acting City Manager Richard Knoll said Monday that the proposed 1.4-percent increase is a cost of living adjustment built into the contract with Lakeport Disposal.

For the city's smallest refuse container, a 20-gallon toter, Knoll explained, the rate would rise from $12.27 a month to $12.44. The rate increase would impact both residential and commercial customers, he said.

The city sent out 2,325 notices to all property owners in the city limits regarding the increase, Knoll said.

The city implemented universal, or mandatory, solid waste collection city-wide beginning in January 2004.

Since then, there have been a number of fee hikes, the largest of which came in October 2005. At that time, the City Council approved a 14.25-percent increase for Lakeport Disposal's services because an audit report found that the company's gross revenues was 24-percent below original projections. Those rates went into effect Nov. 1, 2005. In January 2005, the city granted Lakeport Disposal another small rate adjustment.

This past October, the city modified its agreement with Lakeport Disposal and reduced its franchise fee from 10 percent to 3 percent to help out the company.

That change, which began in November, was accompanied by another cost reduction measure, said Knoll. To help Lakeport Disposal reduce its costs, the council agreed to a four-month reduction in greenwaste pickups, said Knoll. From January to April, Lakeport Disposal will only pick up greenwaste monthly, rather than weekly.

The city's agreement with Lakeport Disposal contains a clause that provides for rate increases based on "extraordinary expenses," said Knoll. He reported that Lakeport Disposal has submitted a request for an increase citing higher fuel costs as a factor.

"We have requested an audit and they're performing that now," said Knoll. "We want to make sure that in fact their revenue picture is what they're claiming it to be."

Knolls said the council will base any upcoming decision on raising the rates again on the independent audit's results.

Other topics on tonight's agenda include a resolution approving Phase 1 of the Park Subdivision map and a discussion on eminent domain language being included in the city's redevelopment plan.

The City Council meets at 6 p.m. at city hall, 225 Park St.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..