“We are supposed to pick up cart contents,” said Rudy Rodriguez of Allied Waste at the Aug. 16 Pleasanton City Council meeting.

Rodriguez was asked to speak before council and clarify what Allied Waste, the City of Pleasanton’s garbage collection service, will pick up for residential accounts.

Rodriguez said that Allied Waste bills for cart contents, per cart. Some of their drivers have been picking up cart contents, plus other bags. Rodriguez also cannot say that their drivers will not continue to do this in the future. However, they are supposed to pick up cart contents only.

Some residents have so much out that they really need a second cart, or even a third or fourth cart, Rodriguez said. That is why Allied Waste is offering a second cart at half-price as encouragement.

Rodriguez said he really wanted to get the message out to the public.

Councilwoman Jeanne B. Israel talked about the changes that have taken place over the years. She said she remembered specifically they went from four-six bags, then to a cart plus two additional bags.

“My big concern is more than anything, when we make these changes, I do not believe that the residents have been made well aware of the intentions of Allied Waste,” said Israel.

Israel did not believe that the last few ordinances or the original contract states specifically that Allied Waste will only pick up cart contents. The city has to deal with customers so they needed to specify it and state it in black and white.

More discussion took place, with Rodriguez reiterating, “That’s what the contract states. We bill out per cart. Not per cart, plus bags.”

Councilman J.R. Gallegos said to defend Allied Waste, some residents need a second cart. Gallegos said that when it comes to brush and bulky pick-up, Allied Waste picks up way more than they should. He said this was a doublestandard. Gallegos thought they were doing a good job.

Rodriguez and City Manager Bruce Pearson said they understand that this is something that will not just happen overnight. They realized it would take some time.

City Councilman Roger G. Garza suggested the city let residents know by putting it on their bill. City Manager Bruce Pearson said that could be done, as well as through the media and through flyers at City Hall.

Israel said she appreciates Allied Waste and the job they do, she just wanted clarification and a straight answer.

Councilman Jimmy Magel said he does not put out more than one cart, except occasionally. Council and the audience laughed when he said he puts a box or bag on top of the cart.

In other Allied Waste related news, council voted unanimously to direct City Manager Pearson to work with Allied Waste in negotiating new terms, conditions and provisions of the contract, for waste hauling services, but remain with the five year contract in place. Also included in this motion is that this be done over an eight-ten month time frame, with prices as they are and that the city attorney be included in revising this contract.

Prior to the vote, Mayor Clinton J Powell began the discussion by saying they needed to get together and see what they could hammer out. Gallegos then made a motion to dismiss action on the item. He suggested first trying to get the word out. Allied Waste is reasonable, provides a good quality service and if people want brush and bulky pick-up more often, said Gallegos, they will pay a lot more.

Mayor Powell said they were getting a little off the subject, because the discussion was on dismissing the item.

Israel then said she was not disappointed with Allied Waste services. Gallegos then made a call to question. Israel said they just needed to get back to the point where they have one piece of paper they are working from.

Gallegos then made a point of order, stating the city had just renewed a contract with Allied Waste for five years, so it was not an old contract. Israel then asked Pearson to make a comment.

Pearson said the last contract with all of the provisions, definitions and conditions was in August of 2000. Pearson said he had told Rodriguez he may be getting direction from council to sit down over the next eight-ten months and bring a new, clean contract. This would be just to clean it up and not contain anything about prices. Rodriguez said he would be happy to do this if this was the pleasure of the council. Following this, a motion by Gallegos to dismiss the item failed.

The first reading was conducted, of the ordinance amending waste hauling rates to include rates for a second 96-gallon residential or commercial container. The monthly residential rate is $18.80 and a second residential cart will be $9. Commercial hand pick-up is $18.80 and the fee for commercial shared service is $67.13. The ordinance also lists the prices for commercial container service, based on size and how often.