As a local small business owner for over a decade, it’s important to me how our city manages its garbage contractors because we citizens and business owners ultimately pay the tab for those decisions. Bill Moritz’s letter in defense of Tris Samberg’s vote on the garbage contract raises a troubling question. Moritz was a large contributor to and aggressive promoter of Tris Samberg’s campaign, something he neglected to mention in his letter. Just before the meeting, Mortiz wrote to the Bothell City Council saying “the only correct conclusion” was to award a monopoly garbage contract to CleanScapes – thereby ousting current garbage provider Waste Management.
Moritz’s letter describing the council vote that followed is simply false, as any citizen can see by viewing the tape of the meeting. http://www.ci.bothell.wa.us/CityServices/CityCouncil/MeetingInformation/VideoArchives.ashx?p3D1714.
Bothell Mayor Joshua Freed and Councilmember Mark Lamb proposed continuing to negotiate with two garbage carriers to try to secure better rates for Bothell consumers. Samberg demanded that the council vote that night to shut off additional negotiation and the opportunity for Bothell to get a better price from CleanScapes. This, despite the fact CleanScapes CEO testified their bid was 10 percent higher than what it costs them to provide the same service in Shoreline.
At the following meeting, Lamb moved that the city should return to CleanScapes and ask them to provide the additional savings they testified were possible. Samberg and Councilmember Andy Rheaume voted against even asking CleanScapes to further reduce their price. At the June 3 meeting, Lamb’s motion saved Bothell citizens $386,000 when CleanScapes agreed to provide the additional requested savings.
Why did Samberg oppose saving Bothell $386,000? All we know for sure is her donor, Moritz, was one of the most active voices arguing against the city to further negotiate the garbage contract.
Bothell citizens should indeed be troubled by Samberg’s garbage contract process and can thank Freed, Deputy Mayor Del Spivey and Councilmembers Bill Evans and Lamb for saving Bothell an additional $386,000 in the CleanScapes garbage contract.
Ron Munroe, Bothell
