After many months of discussion, the Dos Palos City Council met on May 20 and unanimously adopted a refuse rate increase and street sweeping schedule. As of July 2, street sweeping began, and there will be a refuse rate increase.
The council met to discuss the addition of a refuse rate increase and a street sweeping rate. Under Proposition 218, property owners must approve all taxes and rate charges and are allowed to protest the council’s decision.
Special elections would be held if more than 25 percent of total property owners protested the vote. The threshold was not met, as only 43 property owners protested the refuse rate and street sweeping change.
The increases will occur over a five-year timeline for both refuse rates and street sweeping. Refuse rate increases vary each year, with the highest increase being 60 percent within the first two years.
Street sweeping is set to start at $3 with a 5 percent increase over the next five years. Mayor Katy Reed believed this refuse rate increase was necessary for the city.
“There is a need to increase rates to prevent continued use of the general fund for these services and ensure that revenues from the service fees are comparable to cover the cost of refuse in street sweeping services,” Reed said.
Mid Valley Disposal will be providing the street sweeping services for Dos Palos and will start up around 6:20 a.m. every other Wednesday.
The Southside of town (or residents whose trash is thrown out on Tuesdays) was the first to be swept on July 2, and the Northside (or residents whose trash is thrown out on Thursdays) will be alternately swept starting July 15.
The City of Dos Palos and Mid Valley Disposal ask for patience as it may take time for the city to adjust.
The council proceeded to discuss and consider options for future lead lease agreements. The city is currently leasing land to the wastewater treatment plant, and the contract expired in November of last year.
There is no process in place to pick who gets the new contract. The council discussed parameters around the lease, in which the contract will be no longer than five years, and there will be no subleasing.
Although they are open to many options, there are limits to what can be grown. Additionally, nonprofit organizations will only be considered if they benefit the community of Dos Palos.
Under these conditions, organizations must submit proof of their nonprofit status with their application.
An outline will be drawn out within the next two months. The applications will be opened up sometime in September and will be awarded in October. This timeline is still pending changes, as it is just an estimated timeline provided by the council.
