The City Council voted 7-0 today to refer to committee a potential ballot initiative on whether mandatory recycling belongs in the City Charter.
City Attorney Mike Aguirre had requested an initiative go on the June ballot; the council agreed to study it within 90 days — keeping it off the summer ballot. Aguirre said he wanted the recycling policy to have the protection afforded by the charter, a step that would require voters to decide before changes can be made. (Voters would similarly need to decide whether they want the policy locked in stone in the charter.)
Additionally, Aguirre said he wanted voters to decide whether to charge residents and businesses a fee for recycling service, which is currently provided by the city to all single-family residences at no charge.
Pam Hardy, a spokeswoman for Council President Scott Peters, said the council and the public had not yet had enough opportunity to discuss the measure to put it on the summer ballot.