Residents packed the North Miami council cambers Tuesday night to make their final arguments regarding a controversial garbage pickup ordinance.
One-by-one, in both English and Creole, residents presented their views during the four-hour debate. In the end the ordinance passed on a 3 to 2 vote, allowing the city move forward privatization of garbage collection.
There are currently about 22 private haulers within North Miami who are permitted to service apartment complexes and commercial establishments.
The rest of the city, including single-family homes, is serviced by city trash collectors.
If the city goes private, North Miami would contract with one firm to collect garbage from the entire city, including apartments and businesses.
Councilman Michael Blynn and Councilman Scott Galvin voted against privatization, saying they worried about response after a hurricane, possible rate hikes and ability to respond to complaints.
"This is a quality of life issue. I've been on this city council for almost 13 years my only interest and only agenda is to make sure you have a quality of life that you had when I came on and to make it better and everyone in the city," Blynn said. "By passing this amendment you are going to lower your quality of life."
A 2011 study done by the city on trash pick up found privatization should be considered, but noted but privatization will not eliminate all of the costs of the sanitation department because storm clean-up and pensions will have to be paid by the city.
Councilman Jean Marcellus, who sponsored the ordinance, said he wanted the city to issue a request for proposals from companies interested in the trash contract, which would be evaluated by City Manager Stephen Johnson.
He also asked him to look into piggybacking on contracts held by other cities.
Galvin questioned Johnson during the meeting about companies and cities he is in contact with about privatization.
"There is no company on my radar," Johnson said, adding he is asking various city managers about "what to look for, how they feel about privatization, and how they feel about the service and quality of service."
Mayor Andre Pierre said once the city starts getting bids, the city's sanitation department will be allowed to participate in the process.
"Right now, we are charging $51 and 20 something cents," said Pierre, who has previously said he thinks a private company could provide the same service for about $20 a month.
Residents currently pay for garbage pickup as a part of their utility bill once every three months.
"The utility bill is commonly known as the water bill," Pierre said Wednesday after some residents questioned his appearance on Haitian radio over the weekend when he spoke about the ordinance. "I made it clear on the radio, I knocked on doors and talked to people, everyone knows that it as the water bill."
This is what several residents called it when at the podium.
"I was told my water bill will go up," if the ordinance doesn't pass, said resident Bernadette Dorcely in Creole. "I pay a $350 water bill and the person I rent to pays $350 a month too. I can't keep up with it."
The waste management issue was first presented to the council in 2010 but voting was delayed on the issue because council members wanted to further research the topic.
The mayor's nephew, Ricardo Brutus, was arrested in March for allegedly accepting $4,000 from a local businessman to ensure the ordinance was delayed until after the election.
Some who are against the ordinance alluded to the arrest.
When resident Claudio Sanchez mentioned it during her public comments, the mayor was told he was not to address anyone who was not on the council.
"Can I mention your nephew or not?" Sanchez said. "Listen, people of North Miami, these people want to go private and they want to make money under the table."
Prosecutors say Brutus, who was also Pierre's reelection campaign manager, was caught on tape accepting $4,000 from businessman Shlomo Chelminsky, whose family owned several apartment buildings and was cooperating with authorities. Chelminsky cooperated with authorities in the investigation.
Aside from the Brutus case, residents raised concerns about recycling being included in a new contact, job loss for 26 sanitation employees and clean up after a storm.
The mayor said the city has an existing contract with several private haulers to clean up after a storm and jobs for the 26 sanitation employees and that recycling services along with block pickup will be included.
"I will never vote to get anything less than what our residents are accustomed to," said Pierre. "I want to make sure we have the best rate possible under the sun and the same or better services than the city is providing, and thirdly that it is a fair and open process to make sure everyone can participate."
