3.10.210 Rates and charges.
The franchisee shall submit to the City a schedule of rates for its customers and those rates are subject to approval by resolution by the City. The City may approve those rates if they are not unreasonable and are not substantially higher than those charged generally under similar service requirements and for the same and similar quality of service, or the City may establish a different rate schedule. In establishing rates or in considering rate increases or decreases, the City must find that the rates will be just, fair, reasonable and sufficient to provide proper service to the public and will take into consideration the cost of doing business by the franchisee, the ability of the customer to pay such rates and the rates charged by a similar business. In determining the appropriate rates to be charged by the franchisee, the Council shall consider:
(1) The cost of performing the service provided by the franchisee;
(2) The anticipated increase or decrease in the cost of providing this service;
(3) The need for equipment replacement and the need for additional equipment to meet the service needs; compliance with Federal, State or local laws or regulations; or technological changes;
(4) The franchisee’s investment, the value of the business and the necessity that the franchisee have a reasonable operating margin and rate of return on revenue;
(5) The public interest in assuring reasonable rates to enable the franchisee to provide efficient and beneficial service to the residents and other users of the service;
(6) The local wage scales, cost of management, facilities, and disposal fees and charges;
(7) Any profit or cost savings resulting from recycling and resource recovery, and any additional costs resulting from recycling and resource recovery;
(8) Any increase or decrease in the franchise fee charged by the City;
(9) Rates in other cities for similar service;
(10) Any other information deemed necessary for a rate review and adjustment. (Ord. 98 § 21, passed 8-9-2005)