http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2011/04/06/news/local/doc4d9c180611998617834931.txt

City pulls plug on red light cameras

By NEIL YOUNG/The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 1:42 AM MDT
 

BULLHEAD CITY — “There will be no agreement with RedFlex,” said Bullhead City Mayor Jack Hakim on Tuesday, after the city council voted 7-0 to rescind the contract. The city began talks two years ago with RedFlex Traffic Systems, Inc. to provide red light cameras at several intersections on Highway 95.

“After a comprehensive review of the red light photo enforcement project, which included examining crash data, traffic statistics, reviewing proposed state laws, the review of the intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation to place equipment on the state highway, and further hearing from our constituents, this motion eliminates the implementation of red light enforcement cameras in Bullhead City,” Hakim said in a written statement before the vote.

Several audience members cheered when the vote was cast. “I think it will be a mutual agreement,” Hakim said, choosing not to elaborate.

Many of those same audience members stuck around for a vote on the city’s plan to bill Allied Waste customers. Some spoke against curbside recycling during the call to the public segment of the meeting.

March 15, the council gave its blessing to proceed with the recycling plan, but Hakim explained Tuesday that it wasn’t a done deal.

Although Allied would continue to bill its customers, it still wants to increase its monthly bills by 35 cents. It also wants to keep 100 percent of the profits from selling recyclables. An Allied official cited its $900,000 investment in recycling carts for each customer and the $300,000 cost of upgrading its facility to handle recyclables. Some council members expressed outrage, believing Allied was not negotiating but was telling the city, “This is the way it is — take it or leave it,” in the words of Council Member Sam Medrano.

The council then voted 5-2 on a motion for Allied to continue billing its customers, for Allied not to increase its monthly bills by 35 cents, and for Allied to share 10 percent of its recycling profits with the city. “We are partners. Partners share things,” Hakim said. Medrano and Council Member Jerry Duvall, who both voted against the original measure, also voted against this one, as well.

The city and Allied will go back to the bargaining table.

Bullhead City council meetings are repeated on NPG Cable channel 4 and available on demand at www.bullheadcity.com.
 

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