By Sara Beth Williams–
Dozens of residents and business representatives filled Citrus Heights City Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 12 to discuss future residential waste collection service options.
Wednesday evening, the council spent almost two hours listening to a city presentation, public comment, and discussing whether or not to move forward with pursuing negotiations with Republic Services, which is the current waste collection service company for Citrus Heights, or to advise the city to issue a Request for Proposal, better known as an RFP.
Just over thirty residents spoke during public comment, a majority in favor of keeping Republic Services as a waste management service provider, including Sunrise Christian Food Ministry director April Jacek, Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheri Merrick and other Chamber board members, Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team president Irene Hronicek, several representatives from the River City Waterway Alliance, and several Republic Services employees.
Residents and community leaders speaking in favor expressed their appreciation for how deeply involved Republic Services has been in the Citrus Heights community and praised the company’s high level of customer service.
Some community leaders and business representatives from other waste hauling companies also spoke to the council, lobbying for an RFP process, which would allow the city to examine what other companies have to offer, speakers said.
Speakers advocating for an RFP emphasized that an open request for proposals didn’t mean the city would have to switch from Republic Services, but that it would allow for competition. Multiple added that an official RFP showed “good governance,” and that the process would increase transparency, reduce the appearance of favoritism, and ensure the city makes a decision driven by data.
Republic Services currently serves Citrus Heights with weekly garbage and green waste collection, recycling collection every two weeks, and offers multiple other services, including recycling batteries, oil, and extra cardboard. The company also provides quarterly bulk pickup, a hazardous waste center where residents can drop off household hazardous waste, and the hauler will pick up to 600 yards of illegal dumping annually.
The city presented several results from surveys to the City Council, including a recent FlashVote survey, which found that over 90 percent of residents indicated their experiences with Republic Services has been okay, good, or great. Other surveys issued by Republic Services to its customers found similar results with a satisfaction rate of over 90 percent, city officials reported.
The city expressed interest in wanting to incorporate street sweeping services into a new negotiated contract, as well as examining new innovation options, such as EV vehicles. City staff also mentioned wanting to utilize landfills in closer proximity to Citrus Heights, as the distance to the landfill that is currently utilized is over 100 miles round trip.
City Council members were initially split on how the city should move forward. Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa and Councilmember Porsche Middleton initially favored starting with 60-day negotiations, while Vice Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff and Councilmember Tim Schaefer favored an RFP, with Schaefer saying that the city’s largest contract “deserves an RFP.”
At the end of debating, Councilmember Kelsey Nelson said she heard no new information from visiting solid waste management companies who wanted to compete for a contract through an RFP that would sway her from the idea of pursuing negotiations with Republic Services instead.
“We already have the lowest price, no complaints, and great satisfaction from customers,” Nelson said.
Middleton warned the council and city that sending out an RFP will “almost guarantee a rate increase.”
“With negotiations, we can minimize a rate increase,” Middleton said.
Through further discussion, the city explained that there was still time to pursue both options, as the current contract with Republic Services would not expire until Dec. 31, 2027. Schaefer and Lopez-Taff estimated the 10-year current contract exceeds $100 million. An email to the city to confirm the dollar amount of the current contract was not immediately returned.
The council advised city staff to move forward with 60-day negotiations, with Schaefer leaning in favor by the end of discussions and Lopez-Taff voicing her dissent against the decision for the record. Karpinski-Costa also asked the city to involve applicable 2-by-2 committees where possible so that the council could be more involved in the negotiations.
The City Council first approved a contract with Allied Waste, which is now known as Republic Services, in July 2004 and the official contract lasted from 2006 to 2012. The contract was amended to extend through 2017, and then renewed again to extend through 2027.
According to the agenda packet, pursuing 60-day negotiations will cost the city $50,000. If negotiations aren’t successful, the city has already established enough time ahead of the contract end date to also issue an RFP, if necessary, which will cost $125,000. Any final contract negotiated would go before the City Council for approval.
