>>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO
THE JULY 9 MEETING OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS, UTILITIES, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND ARTS
COMMITTEE.
IT IS 9:38 A.M.
I'M LISA HERBOLD, THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
MEMBER REPRESENTING WEST
SEATTLE AND SOUTH PARK.
JOINED AT THE TABLE BY MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE, COUNCIL
MEMBERS O'BRIEN AND SAWANT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT TO IT.
THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, PUBLIC
COMMENT, ONE ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WE HAVE NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS,
THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
SO WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE
F█IRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
>> ITEM ONE IS EVERY OTHER WEEK
GARBAGE PILOT BACKGROUND AND
FINDINGS.
>> THANK YOU.
BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE A
QUICK OVERVIEW?
>> SURE.
SPU IS HERE TO DISCUSS EVERY-
OTHER-WEEK GARBAGE COLLECTION
PILOT THAT WAS CONDUCTED IN THE
CITY IN THE LAST HALF OF 2012.
THE PILOT WAS KNOWN AS THE ONE
LESS TRUCK PROJECT INCLUDING
ABOUT 800 RESIDENCES.
ú>> SPU CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICER AND STILL SOLID WASTE
DIRECTOR FOR A WHILE LONGER.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> HANS VANDUSEN, SPU.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES 2012,
ONE LESS TRUCK PILOT.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE EVERY-OTHER-
WEEK GARBAGE.
AS YOU KNOW COUNCIL AUTHORIZED
NEW SOLID WASTE SERVICE
CONTRACTS EARLIER THIS YEAR.
INCLUDING SUPPORTING NEW FLEET
INVESTMENTS.
THESE CONTRACTS AND INVESTMENTS
SUPPORT THE CONTINUED WEEKLY
GARBAGE ALONG WITH WEEKLY YARD
WASTE AND EVERY OTHER WEEK
RECYCLING.
IN THIS CONTEXT SPU HAS NO
PLANS OR CONTRACT PROVISIONS TO
SHIFT TO CITY WIDE EVERY-OTHER-
WEEK GARBAGE.
AND THE EXECUTIVE ALSO DOESN'T
SUPPORT FINGER THAN WEEKLY
GARBAGE FOR EVERY PART OF THIS
CITY EVERY WEEK.
WE ALSO BELIEVE ROBUST 2012
FINDINGS THAT WE WILL REVIEW
TODAY WILL DEMONSTRATE
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CUSTOMER
CHALLENGES.
ANY OTHER, EXCUSE ME, ANY
FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS OF EVERY-
OTHER-WEEK GARBAGE INCLUDING
LIMITED OPERATIONAL SAVINGS FOR
COLLECTION CONTRACTORS AND
LIMITED POTENTIAL FLEET TO
MISSION REDUCTIONS, POTENTIAL
FUTURE CUSTOMER GARBAGE FUEL
SAVINGS AND UNDER 10%
ACCOMPANYING CUSTOMER
PERCEPTION THAT THE SERVICE
WOULD BE REDUCED BY HALF OR BY
50%.
AT A PARTICULARLY CONCERN TO
SPU, MAYOR DURKAN, THE FINDINGS
THAT LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS,
LARGER HOUSEHOLDS, AND DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES WERE LESS
SUPPORTIVE OF THE CHANGE.
IN SHORT WE BELIEVE THE PILOT
FINDINGS AND CURRENT CONTEXT
ACCURATELY CAPTURE THE
FINANCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS FOR
EVERY-OTHER-WEEK GARBAGE TODAY
AND IN THE FUTURE, AND CONTINUE
TO BELIEVE THE CURRENT
COLLECTION MODEL RIGHT NOW IS
THE BEST FOR SEATTLE RATE
PAYERS.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
HANS, WHO IS GOING TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND AND
LAUNCH INTO THE PRESENTATION.
>> GREAT, AND BEFORE WE LAUNCH
INTO THE PRESENTATION, JUST
WANT TO SEE WHEN WE GET TO THE
DISCUSSION AROUND THE FINDINGS,
AROUND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION,
WE'RE GOING TO DELVE INTO THAT
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SHOULD I HOLD MY QUESTIONS
UNTIL WE GET TO THAT?
>> SURE.
I THINK THERE'S A SLIDE OR TWO
THAT WILL BE A GOOD TIME.
>> I'LL WAIT.
>> GREAT.
OKAY.
THANKS FOR THE INTRO.
WE'LL GO OVER O SOME OF THE
FINDINGS FROM THE 2012 PILOT.
AND JUST TO SET THE STAGE FOR
CONTEXT RIGHT NOW THE
FREQUENCIES WE HAVE, WE COLLECT
RECYCLING EVERY OTHER WEEK,
GARBAGE AND YARD WASTE
COLLECTED WEEKLY.
FOR CONTEXT, SIMILAR AMOUNTS
ARE COLLECTED INTO THE WASTE
STREAMS FROM THE SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSEHOLDS HERE.
SO WE DO HAVE THE EVERY-OTHER-
WEEK WITH THE RECYCLING, ABLE
TO ACHIEVE THE FLEET AND COST
SAVINGS THERE.
AND THEN THIS IS PARTICULARLY
JUST TALKING ABOUT HOUSEHOLD
SERVICES, OF COURSE, MULTI-
FAMILY AND BUSINESS SERVICES
ARE COLLECTED EVERY OTHER WEEK
DEPENDING ON THEIR NEEDS.
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FLEET
COST SAVINGS, HOW HAVE YOU
CAPTURED THOSE AS FAR AS BEING
ABLE TO QUANTIFY WHAT THOSE
SAVINGS ARE?
>> YEAH, WE DO HAVE A SLIDE OR
TWO THAT TOUCHES KIND OF WHAT
THE OPERATIONAL FEET MIGHT BE.
>> THE CURRENT.
>> YES, FOR RECYCLING.
WE'VE HAD EVERY OTHER WEEK
RECYCLING FOR 20 YEARS HERE,
AND SO THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN
THAT, SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN A
SHIFT IN COST ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER THERE BECAUSE WE'VE
CONTINUED THE SERVICE.
>> CAN WE QUANTIFY WHAT WE SAVE
BY DOING IT EVERY OTHER WEEK AS
OPPOSED TO ONCE A WEEK?
>> WE TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT
HERE FOR GARBAGE.
SO MAYBE IT'S SLIGHTLY PARALLEL
WITH RECYCLING, BUT WE DON'T
REALLY HAVE THE APPLES AND
ORANGES COMPARISON.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER PER
SE.
OKAY, SO EVERY-OTHER-WEEK
GARBAGE IN OTHER CITIES, JUST
BY THE WAY THE SERVICES IN
PLACE IN TACOMA, OLYMPIA,
RENTON, AND PORTLAND AS YOU'RE
FAMILIAR AND ALSO PARTS OF
CANADA AND EUROPE.
IT'S USED.
AND THEN --
>>
I'M SORRY, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE
THESE CITIES HAD THE EVERY-
OTHER-WEEK GARBAGE?
>> SURE, LESS THAN 10.
THE ONES IN PUGET SOUND AND
SAME WITH PORTLAND.
ABOUT THE LAST DECADE OR SO, SO
NOT FOREVER.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF A COUPLE
OF NOTES ON HOW THESE OTHER
CITIES IMPLEMENTED IT.
OFTEN IT WAS DONE WHEN YARD
WASTE WENT TO A WEEKLY SERVICE
AND FOOD SCRAPS WERE ADDED TO
THAT YARD WASTE COLLECTION.
SO OFTEN WHEN THEY ADOPTED THE
EVERY-OTHER-WEEK GARBAGE IS
WHEN THEY SHIFTED AND ADDED
FOOD SCRAPS TO THE WEEKLY
GARBAGE COLLECTION.
THEN ALSO BOTH TACOMA AND
OLYMPIA, WE SHOULD NOTE OUR
MUNICIPAL RUN OPERATIONS, CITY
EMPLOYEES RUNNING THOSE
OPERATIONS.
SO THEY SOMETIMES CAN MORE
DYNAMICALLY CAPTURE THE SAVINGS
THROUGH THEIR OWN OPERATIONS ON
A MONTH TO MONTH OR YEAR-TO-
YEAR BASIS.
THEY HAVE MORE OF AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE THOSE
SAVINGS AT TIMES BECAUSE
THEY'RE DIRECT EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN THE PILOT STUDY, ALL
OF THEM HAD SOME CHALLENGES IN
THE NEAR TERM FOR SURE AND
IMPLEMENTATIONS.
THEN GENERALLY TODAY IT'S
WORKING OKAY FOR THEIR
CUSTOMERS.
>> SO SLOW DOWN JUST A LITTLE
BIT.
THANKS.
AS IT RELATES TO THE OTHER
CITIES, CAN WE GET A BREAKOUT
OF WHICH CITIES IMPLEMENTED
EVERY-OTHER-WEEK GARBAGE
COLLECTION TOGETHER WITH MOVING
TOWARDS EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR
RECYCLING AND/OR YARD WASTE AND
WHICH ONES DID IT SEPARATELY?
>> YEAH, I COULD GUESS, BUT
PROBABLY BETTER IF I JUST
FOLLOWED UP LATER WITH YOU GUYS
ON THAT.
>> THAT'S FINE, THAT'S 100%
FINE.
>> CERTAINLY AT LEAST HALF OF
THEM DID, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF
ALL OF THEM DID AS I LOOK AT
THE LIST.
>> HELP US UNDERSTAND A LITTLE
BIT MORE ON WHY IT IS THAT
CITIES THAT HAD THEIR GARBAGE
COLLECTION SERVICES PERFORMED
BY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES WERE
BETTER ABLE TO CAPTURE THE
SAVINGS OF GOING TO EVERY OTHER
WEEK GARBAGE COLLECTION.
>> YEAH, GENERALLY THE BIG
PICTURE WAS WE CONTRACT FOR THE
SERVICES.
WE DO HAVE CONTRACTS FOR A
DECADE AND THE PRIVATE FIRMS
THAT BID OVER THAT TERM OVER
THAT DECADE TERM AND THEY WILL
HAVE LABOR CONTRACTS.
USUALLY FOUR TO FIVE LABOR
CONTRACTS.
WHEREAS WITH MUNICIPAL
OPERATIONS, YOU MIGHT BE
TURNING OVER YOUR FLEET ON THE
REGULAR BASIS, YOU KNOW, JUST
LIKE WE DO AT THE WATER
DEPARTMENT, JUST BUYING NEW
TRUCKS AS THEY COME OUT.
TURNING OVER YOUR FLEET ON A
MORE FREQUENT BASIS.
AND THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE OF
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE
LABOR STAFFING THROUGH
RETIREMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT JUST A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE
IN THE YEAR-TO-YEAR COUNTING
WHEN WE CONTRACT OUT FOR A
DECADE AND SOME OF THE FINDINGS
THAT ARE ALIGNED.
MORE IN THE CONTRACTING THAN IT
IS.
>> IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE
CONTRACT, NOT WITH FIG THAT'S
INHERENT ABOUT THE SOURCE OF
LABOR?
>> OPERATIONALLY IT'S NOT VERY
DIFFERENT.
ANY EMPLOYEES ARE GENERALLY NOT
PAID THAT MUCH DIFFERENTLY.
WELL REPRESENTED AND HAVE GOOD
BENEFITS IN GENERAL AND BOTH IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC
SECTOR.
>>
THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE FOR
THE SLIDE IS THE FINAL BULLET
SAYS OTHER CITIES EXPERIENCE
CHALLENGES AND IMPLEMENTATIONS
AND POSITIVE CUSTOMER REACTIONS
AFTER AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD.
DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION
ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THAT
ADJUSTMENT PERIOD?
>> WE'LL CHECK ON THAT FOR YOU.
I KNOW WE DID SOME OUTREACH,
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID THE PILOT
PROJECT.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE MORE DATA
THERE FROM THAT OUTREACH, YEAH.
>> OKAY, GREAT, THANKS.
>> GREAT QUESTIONS.
OKAY, SO FOR SPU OUR
INVOLVEMENT HAS BEEN THAT -- SO
WE JUST STARTED CONTRACTS THIS
SPRING.
THEY GO FROM 2019 TO 2029.
THE PRIOR SET OF CONCEPTS WENT
FROM 2019, WE JUST FINISHED IN
MARCH.
THE RFP REQUESTED PRICES AND
THEN WE DID RECEIVE PRICES FOR
WHAT HAPPENED IF WE ADOPTED
EVERY OTHER WEEK GARBAGE.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PRICE
OPTIONS.
WE HAD THE WINDOW AND WE HAD
ADVANCED PRICES TO MAKE THAT
TRANSITION IN 2009, 2011, 2013.
THAT WAS KIND OF THE CONTEXT OF
DOING THE PILOT IN THE SIX-
MONTH PILOT IN 2012.
AND THEN LIKE WE SAID BEFORE
THOSE WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THAT
SHIFT AT THE WEEKLY YARD WASTE
IN 2009 THAT WE WENT FROM EVERY
OTHER WEEK AND ALL FOOD WAS
ADDED.
SO YEAH, THE PILOT AS WE
MENTIONED EARLIER, SINGLE-
FAMILY CUSTOMERS.
TO LOOK INTO THE FINANCIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL
CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE SIX MONTHS IN THE END
OF 2012.
800 HOUSEHOLDS AS BRIAN
MENTIONED IN FOUR DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEN IN EACH OF THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS, EVERYONE HAD TO
PARTICIPATE.
WE HAD AN ENTIRELY NEW CUSTOMER
BUILD.
THEY HAD OPTIONS TO KEEP THEIR
THEME SIZE OR CHANGE THEIR
SIZE.
A NEW BILL STRUCTURE THAT WAS
ADOPTED FOR THE PILOT.
EVERYONE ANTICIPATED.
THEN WE WENT AFTER THE DIVERSE
MIX OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO ALLOW
US TO LOOK AT THE IMPACTS AND
THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
AND THERE'S TWO SLIDES HERE.
SO WE WILL TOUCH ON SOME OF
THIS SATISFACTION AND ELEMENTS.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION INCREASED
DURING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
PILOT.
THAT'S TO SAY BEFORE THEY WERE
MORE SKEPTICAL THAN THEY WERE
AFTERWARDS.
63% OF THEM WERE SATISFIED
AFTER THE PILOT.
AND THAT INCREASED BEFORE THE
PILOT, BUT WE CERTAINLY NOTED
THAT IT IS MUCH LOWER THAN OUR
CITY WIDE SATISFACTION FOR OUR
CURRENT SERVICES AT TIME, 89%,
WHICH IT IS TODAY AS WELL
AROUND THAT SAME LEVEL.
AND THEN ABOUT 53% OF THE
PARTICIPANTS SAID THEY
RECOMMENDED IT FOR US TO GO
CITY WIDE WITH THAT.
>> WHAT WAS THE BASELINE
SATISFACTION WITH THE START OF
THE PILOT?
>> YEAH, I DON'T REMEMBER OFF
THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I THINK IT WAS I WANT TO SAY IN
THE 40s OR SO, BUT YEAH.
>> AND HOW IN THE SURVEY, HOW
DID WE ASK PEOPLE TO MEASURE
SATISFACTION?
>> ON THE SCALE OF ONE TO
SEVEN, YEAH.
>> WAS IT JUST OPEN-ENDED
SATISFACTION OR WAS IT
SATISFACTION ACCORDING TO OH,
YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SMELLS OR
OH, I THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE
GOTTEN MORE OF A REDUCED BILL.
OR WHAT MAKES UP THE
SATISFACTION?
>> THIS PARTICULAR NUMBER,
OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THE
SERVICE.
AND THEN WE ALSO DELVED INTO
SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS AND THE
SERVICE ELEMENTS, YEAH.
>> AND DID WE HAVE A SENSE OF
THOSE ELEMENTS, WHICH MOST
CONTRIBUTED TO EITHER PEOPLE'S
SATISFACTIONS OR LACK THEREOF?
BECAUSE I'VE HEARD FROM SPU
THAT THE THING PEOPLE WERE MOST
UPSET ABOUT WAS THIS NOTION
THEY WERE EXPECTING THEIR BILLS
TO BE REDUCED BY HALF BECAUSE
THEIR SERVICE WAS BEING REDUCED
BY HALF.
SO I'M TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF
IT.
IS THAT THE LARGEST FACTOR THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO DISSATISFACTION
OR WERE THERE OTHERS, AND HOW
DID WE WEIGH THEM?
>> YEAH, THERE WERE OTHERS.
I THINK THE HIGHEST RESIDENCE
WAS THE CHALLENGE, THE
PERCEPTION OF SERVICE BEING
REDUCED MORE THAN THEIR BILL
BECAUSE OF THE FINAL
CONSTRAINTS AROUND THAT.
IT VARIED BY COMMUNITY TOO AS
WELL AND THE HOUSEHOLD AND WHAT
THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS WERE.
SO ALL OF THOSE CAME OUT NOT
WANTING TO HAVE THEIR SERVICES
FOR TWO WEEKS.
THERE WAS SOME FEEDBACK ON
NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS.
WE ALSO MONITORED FOR THAT, BUT
THAT WASN'T AS HIGH AS SOME OF
THE OTHER FEEDBACK FACTORS.
THE BILLS SAVINGS, WE TALKED
ABOUT.
AND THEN YEAH JUST WAITING.
I THINK THE OTHER ONE I
RECALLED THERE WAS NOT WANTING
TO HOLD ON TO IT, TO MANAGE IT
FOR TWO WEEKS.
WHAT CAME UP AS WELL.
I MEAN THIS IS SOME OF THE
FEEDBACK THAT WAS PILOTED.
SATISFIED PARTICIPANTS SAID
THEY LIKED THE COST CUTTING.
THEY LIKED THE FLEET REDUCTION,
AND THEY DIDN'T PERCEIVE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE HIGHER
END OF THE SATISFACTION.
CONCERNS REGARDING HAVING
GARBAGE LIKE I MENTIONED AND
SOME POTENTIAL FOR SMELL AND
ODOR FROM THEIR WASTE.
SO THOSE WERE THE TWO KIND OF
CONCERN FACTORS THAT WERE
HIGHER ON THE LESSER SIDE.
>> SO ACCORDING TO THIS SLIDE
THE ISSUE OF THE SAVINGS IS NOT
RISING TO BE ONE OF THE FACTORS
THAT LED TO PEOPLE BEING LESS
SATISFIED?
THAT'S CONTRARY TO INFORMATION
THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST?
>> THAT IS MORE TO THEIR
RECOMMENDATION, YOU KNOW,
SHOULD WE GO FORWARD CITY WIDE?
AND THEN IN THEIR EXPERIENCE
PIECE OF WHAT THEY LIKE AND
DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT IT, WERE THEY
SATISFIED OR NOT SATISFIED?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A
LITTLE DEEPER DIVE ON THAT.
>> SURE.
>> THE REASON IS I THINK IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PRIOR
TO LOOKING AT ANOTHER PILOT OR
ANOTHER SIMILAR SHIFT, OPTION
OF AN OPT-IN OPTION, THOSE
SORTS OF THINGS.
WE COULD EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
MUCH BETTER THIS TIME TO MANAGE
THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND EXPLAIN
WHY BILLS DON'T, AREN'T GOING
TO BE REDUCED IN HALF ON THE
FRONT END.
AND I THINK, AGAIN, THIS IS A
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD STUDY.
I THINK PEOPLES EXPECTATIONS IN
THE LIGHT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR WHAT
THEY EXPECT IN RETURN FOR
PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES
THAT ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, I ALSO THINK PEOPLES
TOLERANCE LEVELS ON THE STORAGE
OF GARBAGE IS DIFFERENT TOO
BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
ACTUALLY DON'T TAKE THEIR
GARBAGE OUT EVERY WEEK BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT ACCUMULATING THAT
MUCH.
>> OKAY.
I'LL JUST GO BACK AND MAKE SURE
WE COVER THIS.
YEAH, SO WE COVERED SOME OF THE
THINGS WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT,
THE SERVICE REDUCTION AND THE
BILL SAVINGS.
AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE
OTHER CITIES, WE COULD FOLLOW
UP WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ON
WHAT THAT PERIOD LOOKED LIKE
KIND OF.
AND THERE'S THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF
THE SATISFACTION.
THIS IS ONCE AGAIN THEIR
OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THE
PROGRAM, WHICH WAS ON AVERAGE
63%.
SO YOU SEE THERE WAS A
DIFFERENCE BOTH IN INCOME AND
RACE, AGE, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, AND
THEN WHETHER THEY WOULD HAVE
DIAPERS IN THE FAMILY.
>> AND WHERE ARE THE OTHER
RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS
REPRESENTED?
>> WELL, THERE'S A GROUP THERE
OF OTHER.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS.
I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IT IS UNDER
OTHERS, BUT I'M JUST, I'M
SURPRISED YOU HAVE A BREAK DOWN
FOR ASIAN, BUT NOT FOR OTHERS.
>> NO, WE HAD ALL THE
DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE REPORT, SO
WE CAN PROVIDE THAT AS WELL.
THIS IS JUST A HIGH-LEVEL
SUMMARY FOR THE SLIDE, BUT YEAH
THAT'S INTERESTING AS WELL, AND
WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
>> AND SO AGAIN THIS IS THE
OVERALL QUESTION AROUND GENERAL
SATISFACTION, NOT INDIVIDUAL
QUESTIONS ABOUT ASPECTS, INCOME
SATISFACTION.
>> THIS HIGHLIGHTS WHERE THERE
IS A DELTA, WHERE IT WASN'T SO
SIGNIFICANT AND IT DOESN'T SHOW
THAT AS WELL, WHICH IS
INTERESTING TO KNOW AND PURSUE
AS WELL.
>> I JUST WANT TO NOTE IT IS
INTERESTING TO SEE THAT, IT'S
REFLECTING MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR
EVERY OTHER WEEK.
EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG
DIFFERENCES LIKE THE
HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH HAD DIAPERS.
EVEN THOUGH THE HOUSEHOLDS,
WHICH HAD DIAPERS, 58%
SATISFIED, IS THAT WHAT IT IS?
>> YES.
GREAT.
ALL RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE
OPERATIONAL ELEMENTS MOVING
ALONG THE CUSTOMER SIDE, THIS
IS KIND OF WHAT WE SAW IN THE
PILOT AND IN NEGOTIATIONS KIND
OF WHAT LED UP TO THE SERVICE
CONTRACT AS WELL, PROVIDING
SOME CONTEXT.
FOR THE HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE
COLLECTION FLEET, THE TRUCKS
THAT ARE SERVING JUST GARBAGE,
JUST FROM HOUSEHOLDS, IT LOOKED
LIKE ABOUT A 35% REDUCTION IN
THE FLEET.
AND SO SIMILAR REDUCTION IN
EMISSIONS AND JUST TO PROVIDE
CONTEXT THERE.
IT'S NOT ACTUALLY 50% REDUCTION
BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL PUT OUT
CLOSE TO THE SAME VOLUMES OF
GARBAGE, SO THE ROUTES GET A
LITTLE SMALLER, AND YOU SERVE
400 HOUSES INSTEAD OF 600, SO
YOU HAVE MORE TRIP AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU COULD CUT THE
FLEET IN HALF.
I HOPE THAT MAKES SOME
INTUITIVE SENSE.
>> 5% REDUCTION IS STILL PRETTY
FANTASTIC.
>> THAT'S PRETTY GREAT.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE
FLEET, INCLUDING THE RECYCLING
FLEET, IT REPRESENTS MAYBE
ABOUT 15% REDUCTION.
>> JUST IN TERMS OF BEING
ACCURATE IN MY OWN HEAD, WHEN
YOU SAY 35% REDUCTION IN FLEET
EMISSIONS, YOU'RE BASICALLY,
THE METRIC YOU'RE USING IN THE
NUMBER OF TRIPS, RIGHT?
>> NUMBER OF MILES WOULD BE A
GOOD WAY TO THINK OF IT.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I MEAN THE FOURTH, THE BOTTOM
BULLET HERE IS THE REDUCTION ON
YOUR STREET BECAUSE THAT'S
WHERE YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, ONE
WEEK YOU HAD THREE TRUCKS COME
IN AND THE OTHER WEEK YOU HAVE
TWO, AND THEN JUST TWO WEEKS
INSTEAD SO THAT'S 25%
REDUCTION.
>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
REDUCING EMISSIONS IS A BIG
GOAL.
SO WE'RE MEASURING THIS THROUGH
THE NUMBER OF MILES WE'VE USED
THROUGH EVERY OTHER WEEK
PICKUP.
>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO
THINK OF IT BECAUSE THERE'S A
LOT OF VARIABLES ABOUT WHICH
FUEL AND THE TRUCKS HAVE BEEN
CLEANER AS WELL.
CONTINUING TO REDUCE OUR
EMISSIONS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
AND THIS IS ABOUT, I THINK
MILES IS A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE
OF IT.
>> AND GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW,
FOR SEATTLE OUR GREATEST GAINS
IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE ARE IN
TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK IT'S 67%.
IS THE TARGET NUMBER, SO I MEAN
I THINK THE MORE THAT THE CITY
AND ITS DEPARTMENTS CAN DO ON
THE VEHICLE EMISSION SIDE THAT
THAT'S AGAIN WHERE THE GREATEST
GAIN IS FOR OUR CITY.
>> GREAT.
SO THEN ON THE RECYCLING
BENEFIT SIDE, WE LOOKED AT THAT
AND THE STUDY AS WELL.
WE DID SEE THAT ACROSS THOSE
800 CUSTOMERS GARBAGE WAS
REDUCED, RECYCLING WAS
INCREASED AND FOOD WASTE
DIVERSITY WAS LOWERED.
A NUMBER OF THINGS HAVE
HAPPENED SINCE THEN.
WE MADE THE REQUIREMENT THAT
FOOD WASTE NEEDS TO BE IN YOUR
YARD WASTE.
IN 2015 WE DID A LOT OF
OUTREACH STILL TO THIS DAY, SO
THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY A
LITTLE LOWER TODAY BECAUSE
THROUGH OTHER POLICY MEASURES
WE HAVE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT
DIVERSION.
BUT IT'S LIKELY THE PROGRAM
MEANING THE SHIFT WOULD STILL
HELP PEOPLE ON THAT FINAL STEP
OF TAKING THINGS OUT OF THE
GARBAGE CONTAINER.
SO ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE JUST
BIG PICTURE AS KEN MENTIONED.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SERVICE OR
CONTRACT PRICE OPTIONS IN THE
CURRENT CONTRACT FOR THIS.
SO WE CAN'T PROVIDE ANY
SPECIFICS THERE.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT BEFORE IT
SUGGESTED THAT THE OPERATIONAL
SAVINGS COULD BE ABOUT 30%.
SO THAT'S SIMILAR TO LOOK WE
TALKED TO THE FLEET REDUCTION,
BUT OTHER FIX COSTS THERE THAT
YOU WON'T SAVE.
AND THE AGE OF THE FLEET NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE AMORTIZATION PERIOD IS THE
MOST COMPLICATED RIGHT NOW.
THE NUMBER OF COSTS THAT ARE
COVERED ON THE BILL, RECYCLING
YARD WASTE, HELPS RESERVES
CLEAN CITIES AND SUPPORT OTHER
EFFORTS SUCH AS FIXED COSTS AND
CURRENT DISPOSALS, THINGS LIKE
THAT THAT THE ACTUAL SAVINGS ON
THE BILL WOULD BE UNDER 10%.
SO GOING FORWARD FUTURE
OPTIONS, WE, AS KEN STATED
CLEARLY, PLAN TO CONTINUE
WEEKLY GARBAGE IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
AND IT'S SPECIFIED IN THE
CURRENT CONTRACT ALONG WITH THE
FLEET INVESTMENT THAT WAS THERE
TO SUPPORT THAT SERVICE.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE NEW FLEET ON
THE STREET TODAY SUPPORTING
THAT FREQUENCY.
ONE OPTION THAT YOU MENTIONED
THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS THAT WE
COULD CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE OF
VOLUNTARY OPT-IN OPTIONS, WE
DID PROVIDE TERMS IN THE
CONTRACT TO ALLOW THAT, TO
ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO OPT IN
INDIVIDUALLY, ONE ON ONE TO BE
ABLE TO TRACK AND SUPPORT A
BILL FOR THAT.
ONE CHALLENGE IN THE LAST
BULLET THERE AS WE WOULD
PROBABLY NEED TO IDENTIFY
ADDITIONAL REVENUE BECAUSE THE
ACTUAL SAVINGS WOULD BE
MINIMAL, CERTAINLY INITIALLY.
AND SO IF WE JUST DID A COST OF
SERVICE REDUCTION, IT WOULD BE
VERY MINOR, WHICH IS ONE
OPTION.
BUT IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT
VOLUNTARY OPT-IN WITH THE
LARGER BILL SAVINGS OF SOME
SORT, THEN WE PROBABLY NEED TO
FIND REVENUE.
>> INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT A
VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION EVERY
OTHER WEEK PER HOUSEHOLD, IS
THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD
CONSIDER -- BECAUSE I DON'T SEE
HOW WE WOULD REALIZE ANY OTHER
REDUCTIONS IN VEHICLE EMISSIONS
IF IT WAS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL
HOUSEHOLDS BECAUSE YOU STILL
HAVE TO DRIVE THAT STREET IF,
YOU KNOW, EVEN IF ONE PERSON IS
OPTING OUT OF WEEKLY GARBAGE.
SO IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD
DO A VOLUNTARY OPT-IN PER
NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WAY OF
ACTUALLY COMBINING THE DESIRED
OUTCOMES, BOTH TO NOT HAVE
THEIR GARBAGE PICKED UP EVERY
OTHER WEEKEND.
REALIZING REDUCED VEHICLE
EMISSIONS.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
>> I DON'T SEE THE VOLUNTARY
OPT IN PER INDIVIDUAL
ACCOMPLISHES ANYTHING.
>> AT LEAST NOT STARTING OUT I
WOULD GUESS.
THAT'S KIND OF THE TIPPING .
THING HAD.
YOU KNOW, LIKE IF YOU GET
ENOUGH PARTICIPATION, THEY
WOULD REROUTE AND ACHIEVE THE
EFFICIENCIES AND THEN YOU WOULD
GAIN.
SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY
PEOPLE OPTED IN I WOULD THINK.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, YEAH,
IT'S A MATTER OF THE SCALE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WALKED IN ON
THAT PART OF THE QUESTION.
THE OTHER PART OF THE QUESTION,
COULD YOU JUST DRAW A LINE?
THE CONTRACT TERMS WOULD
SUPPORT THAT.
THE SAME PIECE OF THE QUESTION
IS THERE IF YOU WANT TO OFFER
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND MORE OF A
MINOR DISCOUNT THAT YOU WOULD
NEED TO FIND A REVENUE TO
SUPPORT THAT.
THAT WOULD BE THE FINANCIAL
CHALLENGE, A SLIGHT DISCOUNT
FOR MAKING THAT CHANGE IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEN THERE WOULD BE A REVENUE
QUESTION.
BUT I THINK OPERATIONALLY THE
CONTRACT TERMS WOULD SUPPORT
US.
THAT WAS THE DESIRE OF THE
CITY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN?
NO?
MAYBE?
>> MAYBE I'LL WAIT ONE SECOND.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
>> I'LL JUST SAY THAT WAS THE
FINAL SLIDE.
>> I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
CALL THIS A BIGGER QUESTION OR
NOT, BUT MAYBE THIS WAS
DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS
AND I DON'T RECALL, BUT WHAT IS
THE RATIONAL FROM SPU AND THE
EXECUTIVE ABOUT WHY SEATTLE
SHOULD NOT GO TO EVERY OTHER
WEEK WHEN MANY COMPARABLE
CITIES HAVE WHEN THERE ARE
STRONG ARGUMENTS FOR, YOU KNOW,
CARBON EMISSION REDUCTIONS THAT
WE HAVE ON OUR SIDE OF A VERY
STRONG RECOGNITION ABOUT THE
DANGERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND
THE NEED TO REDUCE EMISSIONS.
I MEAN I REALLY DON'T QUESTION
THE COMMITMENT THAT ORDINARY
PEOPLE HAVE FOR THIS.
I ALSO HAVE SEEN, AGAIN, THIS
LAST PART, I DON'T HAVE
STATISTICAL INFORMATION.
MAYBE SPU DOES, BUT PEOPLE I
KNOW THAT EVERY OTHER WEEK
ACTUALLY -- AND THE
UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
IT DOES PROMPT YOU TO CHANGE
YOUR BEHAVIOR AND COUNCIL
MEMBER YOU WERE MENTIONING THIS
EARLIER.
THE BEHAVIOR CHANGE THAT YOU
SEE IS QUITE REMARKABLE IN
REDUCING GARBAGE ITSELF BECAUSE
YOU KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
PICKED UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS
MORE, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO
DEAL WITH THE SMELL AND THE
ODOR, AND YOU WILL REALLY TAKE
PAINS TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW,
IN TERMS OF REDUCING GARBAGE,
EVEN WHEN YOU MAKE GROCERY
SHOPPING DECISIONS, TO SEPARATE
THINGS OUT AND SO ON.
SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO
MUCH GOING FOR US TO MOVE
TOWARDS THIS DECISION AND GIVEN
OTHER COMPARABLE CITIES HAVE
DONE THIS.
AS YOU SAID YES, IT'S LESS THAN
A DECADE, BUT ROUGHLY EIGHT TO
TEN YEARS IS A LONG TIME THAT
OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE IT.
SO WHAT IS THE RATIONAL BEHIND
ALL OF THAT?
>> EITHER ONE?
THAT'S ASKING US TO RESTATE
WHAT YOU SAID IN THE BEGINNING,
KEN.
I CAN DO THAT OR YOU CAN DO
THAT.
EITHER ONE.
>> I THINK SOME OF THE MAJOR
CONCERNS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR
SOME OF THE UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES MAKING SURE WE
DON'T INCREASE FROM A COST OF
SERVICE ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THAT
WE'RE NOT PASSING ON ADDITIONAL
COSTS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE
MORE MINDFUL OF AFFORDABILITY.
SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
ANALYSIS AND CONVERSATIONS
AROUND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE
A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF OUR CITY
POPULATION IS OKAY WITH MOVING
FORWARD.
THERE'S OTHERS WHO ARE NOT.
>> AS IT RELATES TO THE COST,
SO EVEN THOUGH THERE WOULD BE
SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH EVERY
OTHER WEEK PICK UP, YOU'RE
SAYING THE COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE CONTRACT?
IS THAT CORRECT, ADDITIONAL
COSTS?
>> THERE COULD BE, RIGHT.
AS WE SAID EARLIER ALSO THE
REALLY TRICKY THING FOR US TOO,
WE JUST SIGN ADD NEW CONTRACT.
>> AND REMIND ME ARE THERE
OPENERS IN THE CONTRACT?
>> NO.
>> NO REOPENERS?
>> NO.
THE CONTRACT IS A 10-YEAR
CONTRACT WITH EXTENSIONS, TWO-
YEAR EXTENSIONS AFTER THAT.
>> IT DOES ALLOW, IT DOES
ANTICIPATE DIFFERENT MODELS IN
THE CONTRACT, WE COULD TRY
DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> YES.
>> THERE'S NO EARLIER TERM, BUT
AT ANY GIVEN DAY WITH ANY
CONTRACTING PARTNER, YOU COULD
SIT DOWN AND SAY WE COULD
CHANGE THINGS.
>> RIGHT.
THERE'S LANGUAGE THAT WOULD
ALLOW FOR SOME SORT OF AN OPT-
INSUBSCRIPTION THAT'S IN THE
CONTRACT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND IN A WAY THAT COULD
CONCEIVABLY ALLOW FOR OPT-IN
FOR LARGER GEOGRAPHICAL GROUP.
>> OF COURSE, I WOULD BE
TOTALLY INTERESTED IN LOOKING
AT EVERY OPTION POSSIBLE.
I'LL JUST SAY THOUGH AND I'VE
SAID THIS BEFORE IN OTHER
CONTRACTS OFTEN ARE NOT THE
BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT THINGS
BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE A REAL
DAMPENING EFFECT ON HOW MUCH
ANY PROGRAM IS SUBSCRIBED INTO
UNLESS, YOU KNOW, AND IN FACT
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE THE
PROBLEMS WITH OPT-IN ARE
RELATED TO SERVICES FOR THE
UNDERSERVED FOR LOW INCOME
PEOPLE ON FOOD ASSISTANCE AND
ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, IT
DOESN'T WORK AS WELL AS WHEN
YOU AUTOMATICALLY TARGET THE
HOUSEHOLDS THAT NEED IT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
IT'S ABOUT THE LARGER GOAL OF
REDUCING EMISSIONS.
WHICH WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE
COMMITTED TO.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I DON'T KNOW
IF OPT IN IS THE BEST STARTING
POINT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN?
>> FIRST OF ALL I APPRECIATE
THE REPORT AND THE REMINDER OF
THE WORK THAT WAS DONE SEVEN
YEARS AGO.
THAT'S HELPFUL.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARITY THAT
THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE
PLAN.
WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE
MAYOR THIS MORNING.
THIS IS NOT A PLAN THAT WE'RE
PLANNING ON DOING.
AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
THINKING HOW CAN I MAKE LIFE
LESS CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN SEATTLE.
CLEARLY GOING TO GARBAGE EVERY
TWO WEEKS WOULD BE LESS
CONVENIENT.
SEEMS TO BE LESS CONVENIENT FOR
FOLKS.
THIS IS NOT DRIVEN BY CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION NECESSARILY.
IT'S DRIVEN BY ANOTHER SET OF
GOALS, WHICH WE HAVE, THE MOST
CONVENIENT THING IS PROBABLY
JUST TO THROW OUT OUR TRASH ON
THE CURB AND LET SOMEONE THROW
IT ALL IN A DUMPSTER AND HAUL
IT OFF TO THE LANDFILL.
OUR GOAL IS TO NOT DO THAT.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE RECYCLING
REPORT THAT CAME OUT LAST WEEK
I THINK.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL THAT
UPCOME.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE KIND OF
FLAT LINED IN THE LAST TWO
WEARS.
UNLESS YOU HAVE TRICKS UP YOUR
SLEEVES, WE ARE NOWHERE GOING
TO MEET OUR 2022 TARGETS.
IN THE SINGLE-FAMILY SECTOR, WE
NEED TO INCREASE OUR RECYCLING
RATE 10% IN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS.
IT WENT DOWN 1% LAST YEAR.
MULTIFAMILIES, WE NEED TO
INCREASE AT 17% TO 54%.
SO WE NEED TO ALMOST DOUBLE THE
RECYCLING RATE IN THE NEXT
THREE YEARS ON THE COMMERCIAL
SECTOR, 10% INCREASE NEEDS TO
HAPPEN.
SO I GET SAYING THAT I DON'T
WANT TO BE THE PERSON THAT
TELLS PEOPLE WE NEED TO CHANGE
OUR BEHAVIOR AND GO TO ONE
EVERY OTHER DAY.
I'M LOOKING AT YOU ALL, BUT I
IMAGINE AND I REALIZE.
I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING IS
THE DEPARTMENT AND THE MAYOR
SAYING WE ARE GIVING UP ON OUR
ZERO WASTE TARGET OR IS IT LIKE
WE DON'T THINK EVERY OTHER WEEK
IS A STRATEGY TO GET THERE AS
WE DID IN 2012.
HERE ARE THE OTHER THINGS,
GIVING US THE 10% INCREASE IN
WASTE PRODUCTION FOR THE NEXT
THREE YEARS.
IT'LL REQUIRE CHANGE IN
BEHAVIOR.
I MEAN THAT'S A HASSLE TO START
COMPOST AND RECYCLING AND
GARBAGE RIGHT NOW.
AND YET WE DO IT BECAUSE WE
WERE APPALLED AS A COMMUNITY AT
THE AMOUNT OF STUFF WE'RE
SENDING TO A LANDFILL AND WE
WANTED TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT.
FRANKLY I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY
CHANGES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS
THAT'S PUTTING US ON THE
TRAJECTORY.
SO I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR
SAYING SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO
EVERY OTHER WEEK GARBAGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE MAYOR
COME BACK TO US IN A MONTH AND
TELL US WHAT SHE PLANS TO DO TO
HIT A 10% INCREASE IN THE
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONE OVER THE
NEXT THREE YEARS.
IF IT'S NOT EVERY-OTHER-WEEK
GARBAGE, THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE I
GET THE COMPLICATIONS, BUT WHAT
ARE THE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO
DO INSTEAD?
JUST CROSS MY FINGERS AND HOPE
PEOPLE WILL DO A BETTER JOB.
OR IF THE MAYOR WANTS TO COME
BACK AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO
SLOW DOWN OUR ZERO WASTE
AMBITIONS, I WOULD PROBABLY
DISAGREE WITH THAT.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR WE WANT NEW
GOALS THAT ARE LESS AMBITIOUS
IF THAT'S THE POLICIES WE'RE
GOING TO SET.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD
RECOMMEND.
>> I ASKED FOR THIS BRIEFING
BECAUSE I, LIKE YOU, AM
FRUSTRATED THAT WE AREN'T
PUSHING FORWARD AND
IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE
SOLUTIONS THAT I'VE SEEN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS IMPLEMENT.
I WAS, AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY I WAS AT A PEOPLE
FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY, PORTLAND
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSION OF THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENT GAVE A PRESENTATION
AND TALKED ABOUT THE ACTIONS
THEY HAD TAKEN IN THEIR CLIMATE
ACTION PLAN.
THIS ONE JUMPED OUT AT ME AND I
REMEMBER THE PILOT, I REMEMBER
AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW, FELT
LIKE A DECISION THAT WAS A
POLITICAL DIVISION.
TO NOT MOVE FORWARD.
I JUST REALLY FEEL STRONGLY
THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SEVEN-
YEAR-OLD REPORT, AND PEOPLES
ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED.
I'D LIKE TO TEST THAT THEORY
THAT I HAVE.
NOT ONLY OF PEOPLES ATTITUDES
CHANGING, THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF
THEIR GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE
BOLD SOLUTIONS AND ASK FOR
THEIR AS IN THE COMMUNITY'S
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP
ON THOSE SOLUTIONS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPECT OF US.
AND I REALLY FEEL STRONGLY THAT
PEOPLESPERSPECTIVES HAVE VERY
LIKELY CHANGED IN THE LAST
SEVEN YEARS.
ALSO AS IT RELATES TO MEETING
OUR WASTE REDUCTION GOALS, I'VE
BEEN TRYING TO ALSO PUSH A
LEGISLATIVE CHANGE IN THE LAND
USE CODES SPECIFICALLY THE
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CODE FOR
MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS TO MAKE
SURE NEW BUILDINGS HAVE EVERY
OTHER, I'M SORRY HAVE EVERY
FLOOR -- GARBAGE, COMPOST, AND
RECYCLING FACILITIES LOCATED ON
EVERY OTHER FLOOR BECAUSE SPU'S
OWN STUDIES SHOW THAT THAT IS
THE ONE THING THAT WOULD MAKE
THE MOST DIFFERENCE IN
IMPROVING OUR RECYCLING GOALS
IN MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS.
THIS IS ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT I
THINK WOULD REALLY GO A LONG
WAYS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
MORE SUPPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ON THAT EFFORT AS WELL.
SO I'M WITH YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
O'BRIEN.
IF NOT THIS, WHAT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING
ON THAT.
I KNOW YOU'RE ALL CAPABLE OF
DOING AMAZING WORK.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR
YEARS.
I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED.
I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WORK
REQUIRES OFTEN UNCOMFORTABLE
CONVERSATIONS AND PUSHING
PEOPLES BEHAVIORS.
A PARKING LOT OF THAT IS
POLICIES AND HOW TO MAKE IT
LESS SMELLY AND ALL THOSE
THINGS.
HOW TO MAKE IT THE CHEAPER
ALTERNATIVE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS
ALSO BEHAVIOR CHANGE, WHICH
REQUIRES THE TYPE OF POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP, SO THAT YOU GUYS
COULD DO WHAT I IMAGINE YOU
KNOW WE'RE CAPABLE OF.
AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M
GOING TO PERSONALLY HOLD MYSELF
ACOULD WANTABLE HERE.
MY FIRST FEW YEARS, THE AREA
THAT HAS PAID A LOT OF
ATTENTION TO OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
IT HASN'T BEEN ON MY RADAR AND
I KNOW I HAVE NOT BEEN
PROVIDING THE POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP NECESSARY TO
CONTINUE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.
WHEN I GO BACK IN AND LOOK AT
THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT LAST
WEEK AND WHERE WE ARE, I FEEL
LIKE I LET MYSELF DOWN, I WANT
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO UPDATE
THAT AGAIN.
SEATTLE I THINK HAS BEEN A
NATIONAL LEADER IN WASTE
DIVERSION FOR DECADES.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN RESTING
ON OUR MORALS FOR A FEW YEARS.
NOT BECAUSE I THINK YOUR TEAM
ISN'T CAPABLE AND DOESN'T HAVE
A BUNCH OF IDEAS, BUT BECAUSE
THERE HASN'T BEEN THE POLITICAL
DEMAND TO SAY PULL THOSE IDEAS
OUT, WE WANT TO MAKE THEM
HAPPEN.
SO I THINK WE HAVE A WORLD TO
DO WITH THE MAYOR TO SHIFT THAT
DYNAMIC AND KIND OF UNLEASH THE
POTENTIAL THAT I HOPE YOU GUYS
HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE
REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THAT
WILL TAKE AND IT WILL TAKE
BEHAVIOR CHANGE.
IF, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH THE
COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE, COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT HIGHLIGHTED EVEN
IN 2012 THE MAJORITY OF THE
PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THE PILOT
RECOMMENDED WE SHOULD DO IT.
AND IT'S SHIFTED SINCE THEN.
THERE ARE RACE, SOCIAL JUSTICE,
IMPLICATIONS OF THAT, AND I
APPRECIATE HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
IT'LL BE GOOD TO KNOW WHERE WE
ARE.
BUT LET'S START A PILOT, A
MANDATORY PILOT IN THE
WEALTHIEST WHITEST NEIGHBORHOOD
FIRST IN SEATTLE IF THAT IS OUR
CONCERN.
LET'S SEE HOW THAT WILL ROLL
OUT AND SEE WHERE THAT WILL
WORK ON IF DIAPERS ARE THE
ISSUES, WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF,
YOU KNOW, BAGS THAT WE COULD
OFFER EVERYBODY WITH DIAPERS,
HOUSEHOLDS.
THERE'S THINGS WE COULD DO TO
ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF WORK
AND SOME POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
TO DO THAT.
BUT LET'S DO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE COUNCIL IS
POSITIONED TO COME UP WITH THE
SPECIFICS.
I THINK YOU GUYS HOLD THE
EXPERTISE.
SO I THINK HOW WE COULD ASK THE
MAYOR TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT
COMING BACK TO US IN THE NEXT
MONTH OR TWO AND SAYING HERE IS
A ROAD MAP OF HOW WE COULD GET
TO, IF WE HIT -- HERE ARE ALL
THE THINGS WE WOULD NEED TO DO
IF WE WANT TO HIT OUR 2022
GOALS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
IT WILL BE AMBITIOUS AND
REQUIRE MORE RESOURCES, BUT
LET'S AT LEAST HAVE AN HONEST
DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC ON
WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE BEFORE US.
AND AS A COMMUNITY ARE WE READY
TO KIND OF LIVE UP TO THE GOALS
WE SET A FEW YEARS AGO OR
SAYING NO, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
UP ON THOSE AND ADJUST OUR
GOALS AND BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT
THE CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN.
>> AND I JUST, I FIND, I MEAN I
SCHEDULED A BRIEFING ON THIS
2017 REPORT AS A WAY TO
INITIATE A CONVERSATION.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY THAT
PROMPTED A 9:25 A.M.
LETTER FROM THE MAYOR BASICALLY
SAYING IT'S NOT A CONVERSATION
THAT THE MAYOR WANTS TO HAVE.
SO I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE
COULD WORK ON CHANGING THAT, SO
THAT IT IS A MORE OPEN AND
COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT
WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE.
>> ON ALL THE SLIDES YOU HAVE
POINT TO ABOUT HOW THE OTHER
CITIES DISSATISFACTION WENT UP
AFTER THE HOUSEHOLDS HAD BEEN
IN THE PROGRAM FOR A LITTLE
WHILE.
I DON'T KNOW, JUST ONE BULLET
POINTS.
MONTHS, YEARS, WHATEVER, BUT I
THINK THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING WE
SHOULD TAKE INTO CONVERSATION.
I MEAN IF THERE IS GENUINE
AGREEMENT, NOT JUST LIP
SERVICE, BUT GENUINE AGREEMENT
THAT WE NEED TO GO TOWARDS -- I
MEAN WE NEED TO TAKE EVERY
POSSIBLE MEASURE WE CAN AS A
CITY OF SEATTLE PUBLICLY TO
REDUCE EMISSIONS, THEN WE
SHOULD TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF
OTHER CITIES WHERE THE
SATISFACTION DID GO UP BECAUSE
THEY SAW THAT IT DOES MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
IN EVERYBODY'S WELL BEING IF
THE CARBON EMISSIONS AS THE
CITY AS A WHOLE, THE IDEAS,
WHICH I HAVE NO QUESTION IN MY
MIND THE MAJORITY IS STRONGLY,
MAJORITY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
WILL UNDERSTAND.
WE DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN TO
THEM.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO
REDUCE EMISSIONS HONESTLY.
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN CITY
HALL TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION
THAT I WANTED TO RAISE AND
AGAIN TO HIGHLIGHT EVEN IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, THE PILOT
PROGRAM, I MEAN ALL THE
SATISFACTION, THE NUMBER OF THE
BAR GRAPH, ALL IN THE MAJORITY.
SO YES SOME OF THEM MAY BE SLIM
MAJORITY, BUT IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THEIR MAJORITY.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO REPEAT WHAT
YOU ALREADY SAID, BUT THIS IS A
QUESTION DIRECTLY RELATED TO
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND NOT SO
MUCH TO STAFF THAT I STILL
DON'T SEE WHAT THE COMPELLING
EVIDENCE IS TO NOT MOVE
FORWARD, WHEN EVEN THE LOWER
SATISFACTION WAS THE MAJORITY
DIRECTION.
THE LAST QUESTION I WANTED TO
ASK YOU, IF YOU DON'T HAVE
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RIGHT
NOW, I WOULD LIKE IT IF YOU
COULD SEND IT ELECTRONICALLY
WOULD BE VERY USEFUL.
ONE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU
BROUGHT UP WAS A QUESTION OF
WHETHER HAVING EMPLOYEES IN
HOUSE, AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
VERSES CONTRACTING WITH THE
CORPORATION, IF THAT WAS A
VARIABLE THAT HAD SOME IMPACT
ON OTHER CITIES, SO I DON'T
KNOW.
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, DO YOU
KNOW IF OTHER CITIES HAVE MOVED
TO EVERY OTHER WEEK AND ALSO
HAPPENED TO HAVE ALL THEIR
GARBAGE, RECYCLING, YOU KNOW,
YARD WASTE, EMPLOYEES IN HOUSE
OR NOT?
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING
THAT.
I DO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POINT YOU
MADE ABOUT THE WAGES AND
BENEFITS TO THE WORKERS ARE
COMPATIBLE, BUT SETTING THAT
ASIDE, WHAT IS THE COST OF THE
CITY WHEN IT CONTRACTS TO THE
CORPORATIONS VERSES IN HOUSE?
THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE TO
SHOW WHEN SERVICES ARE BROUGHT
IN HOUSE.
OVERALL THE COST OF THE CITIES
GO LOWER.
SO RATHER THAN REJECTING THIS
PROGRAM AS A WHOLE, WHAT WE
WOULD EXPECT IS THE DIFFERENT
KIND OF LEADERSHIP WHERE WE
TALK ABOUT REAL OPTIONS TO
BRING SERVICES IN HOUSE IF THAT
IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I WOULD ASSUME JUST GENERALLY
SPEAKING THAT IT OFTEN DOES.
AND TAKING THOSE MEASURES TO
REDUCE COSTS TO LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS RATHER THAN SAYING
THEY DON'T LIKE THIS.
I DON'T EVEN AGREE WITH THAT ON
THE FACE OF IT.
I THINK THEY'RE VERY CLEAR
ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE
CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE FRONT
LINES OF THE PROBLEMS RELATED
TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
RATHER THAN PUT THE OWNERS ON
THEM EFFECTIVELY, I THINK THE
OWNERS, THEY SHOULD BE ON US.
>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
THOUGHTS, I THINK I'M GOING TO
TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS
COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD.
I WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO TALK TO
FOLKS AT SPU AND THE MAYOR TO
SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN CRAFT
A PATH FORWARD.
AGAIN I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC
EXPECTS US TO DO MORE AND WE'LL
BE TALKING AS WELL AS WITH THE
FOLKS ON THE GROUND WHO ARE,
YOU KNOW, TAKING THE LEAD ON
PUSHING US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS
TO DO MORE TO ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> GREAT, THANKS FOR YOUR
INPUT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WITH THAT IT IS 10:23
AND THE MEETING HAS ADJOURNED.