Here are a few of the issues...

Here are a few of the issues the council decided Monday:

FRANCHISE FEE

The council approved for the second time a law imposing a

franchise fee on most of the city’s trash haulers. Councilmen Chris

Steel and Allan Mansoor dissented. Council members first approved

this law on Nov. 1.

The law will impose a 12% fee on the total sales of waste haulers,

except the Costa Mesa Sanitary District’s exclusive residential waste

hauler, CR&R.; Such franchise fees are paid to cities for use of city

streets.

The revenue from the new fee is expected to help the city close

its recurring budget gap. Franchises will be granted for seven-year

terms. Haulers serving commercial, industrial and multifamily

properties, like condominium complexes, will make an annual minimum

payment of $10,000 for a permit to operate in the city. Haulers that

handle Dumpsters for construction and demolition sites will pay

$1,500 for their permits.

WHAT IT MEANS

The law will take effect Jan 1.

APPEALS BOARD CHANGES

The council approved a resolution reducing the membership of the

Access, Building, Fire and Housing Board of Appeals. This board

handles appeals of decisions made by a city building official or fire

marshal.

The current board has 10 members and the council will consider

reducing the membership to five. The reduced board will be made up of

two physically handicapped members, two people with construction

experience and one member of the public. A completely new board will

be appointed so the members meet these requirements.

WHAT IT MEANS

Staff members will start recruiting for the new board.

PENSION BOOSTING

The council agreed to look at a resolution at its Dec. 6 meeting

that would give Assistant City Atty. Tom Wood and paralegal secretary

Marilyn Robinson the opportunity to receive credit for two extra

years of work to boost their pensions.

Both received six-month layoff notices in September, because the

city is now using an outside legal firm instead of an in-house city

attorney’s office. State law allows cities to provide additional work

credit for employees who are laid off. Staff members estimate the

most it could cost the city is about $135,000.

Adding years of service to retirement benefits is common practice

in the corporate world, Mayor Gary Monahan said. He pegged the cost

at about $60,000, since both are expected to retire before the end of

the six-month period, and their salaries are included in the staff

members’ estimate.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council will consider the resolution at its next meeting.