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March 11, 2024 Via Email There are many problems with this course of action by the City Council, one of which is basing a decision to take away my clients' business on the flawed organized collection city analysis. With just a short review of this document over the last few days, we have already identified numerous issues with the data presented to City Council by City staff and the City's attorneys. The analysis is incomplete as it relates to cities with very current contracts. As the hauler consortium has made clear to the City all along, the vast majority of organized collection contracts in the metro area were originally negotiated years ago, before the pandemic and related inflationary period with supply chain issues, labor issues, etc. Several specific examples follow: o St. Louis Park is mentioned in the footnotes but not broken out in any detail, even with estimates that are easy to calculate. This is a brand new contract. Even with an estimate to separate yard waste, recycling, and taxes, St. Louis Park has far higher prices than the hauler consortium's proposal for Mounds View. o Another new (and nearby) contract omitted is that for Columbia Heights. Walters has that new contract with 2024 prices of $24.63, $25.44 and $29.94, all virtually the same as proposed to Mounds View. Another nuance not factored in is that Columbia Heights is in Anoka County, which enjoys significantly lower disposal rates. The hauler consortium offered Mounds View, apples -to -apples, a much lower price for service, with disposal charges in Ramsey County driving the total price to be basically the same as Columbia Heights. o The numbers for St. Paul in the city analysis are too low, also. A simple look at the St. Paul website shows the current 2024 rates per quarter that can easily be broken out per month of $18.11, $27.10 and $32.34 for 30/60/90 gallon carts, about $3 higher than the current chart provided by the City. Left out of the price is the additional $2.75 garbage fee per month that is added to all property taxes. To create a true apples -to -apples comparison of what St. Paul residents pay, this must be included. Also left off the chart is the recycling fee of $10.75/month. Including "N/A" on the chart for these items is at best misleading and implies it is included in the trash price. o The pricing listed for Osseo is also incorrect. Beginning in May 2024, these prices are actually $13.38, $13.88 and $13.88 (30/60/90), that is, over $3 per month higher than what is reflected on the analysis. Additionally, the price for recycling is out of date; beginning in May it will be $6.70. o Yard waste prices provided for both Osseo and North St. Paul are misleading. Everyone pays for the service even if they don't use it, so the listed price isn't close to an actual per house annual fee for those who participate. Finally, something else not discussed or factored into the City Council workshop conversation on March 6 is the critical point that the hauler consortium proposed prices for a contract that starts in late 2024, not the earlier years shown on the City's analysis. The hauler consortium price factors in 2024 inflation and related issues, so to do a true comparison, the City needs to add whatever increase factor is included in each contract and make sure it is current for 2024/2025. This was not done, so the City is not comparing apples to apples.