By Sara Beth Williams–
Following 60-day negotiations between Republic Services and the City of Citrus Heights regarding a 10-year contract, the City Council is slated to weigh in on the future of residential waste services for the city at the upcoming City Council meeting.
On Wednesday, Feb. 25, the City Council will decide whether to approve an amended and restated Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Services Agreement with Allied Waste Services, subject to the results of a public hearing regarding a rate increase, or to direct city staff to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the residential solid waste and recycling collection services contract.
According to the city, Republic Services proposed the following for a 10-year term contract:
- An initial one-time 2.5 percent market adjustment, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2028, and a 3.5 percent adjustment effective Jan. 1, 2028 (equivalent to the current contract Consumer Price Index [CPI] water, sewer, and trash cap), which would result in a total one-time rate increase of 6 percent.
- Ongoing adjustments would also include an annual CPI cap of 4.25 percent based on the CPI-Water-Sewer-Trash index, with a one-year rollover provision. If the combined index is lower, the lower index applies.
- A variety of options that could potentially reduce the cost of the Neighborhood Cleanup program
- Costs for potentially adding street sweeping into the contract
- Other service adjustments that would not increase the cost, including one annual local household hazardous waste drop-off event, a skid steer for community compost distribution and related activities, a utility truck for illegal dumping response and increased annual illegal dumping tonnage, and an alternative collection vehicle pilot program within 18-24 months.
The customer rates will be finalized as part of the contract package and will be subject to approval during a public hearing prior to the start of the new agreement term.
In a chart shared by the city comparing the default cost of waste services utilizing one 64-gallon trash can, Citrus Heights lists its price as $33.04 per month, although customers are billed bi-monthly. Five other jurisdictions listed in the chart, including Sacramento County, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, and the City of Sacramento, charge between $36 and $54, with the City of Elk Grove as the only jurisdiction listed that charges less than $40.
City staff also shared a chart with costs reflecting the predicted rate increases and maintained that Citrus Heights would continue to have the least-expensive waste management services.
In the City of Roseville, which wasn’t listed in the city’s chart, monthly waste management services, for a single-family home, increased from $36.05 to $37.13 in July 2026, and another rate increase is planned for 2027 that would raise the rate to $38.24.
In mid-November 2025, dozens of residents and business representatives filled Citrus Heights City Hall to discuss future residential waste collection service options, as the city’s 10-year contract with Republic Services is expected to expire at the end of 2027.
The council spent almost two hours in November 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.
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.
Speakers advocating for an RFP emphasized 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.
Citrus Heights city staff explained in the latest packet that solid waste services are not subject to formal bidding requirements under the Public Contracting Code and that the city council may either approve a negotiated agreement or direct staff to conduct a competitive RFP process.
“Consistent with this discretion, the existing agreement with Republic Services includes a provision allowing the city to enter negotiations near the end of the contract term, with no obligation on the city to extend the term of the contract,” the city said.
In November, City Council members were initially split on how the city should move forward. Then-mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa and Councilmember Porsche Middleton initially favored starting with 60-day negotiations, while then-vice mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff and Councilmember Tim Schaefer favored an RFP, with Schaefer saying that the city’s largest contract “deserves an RFP.”
Related: Citrus Heights council split on direction for major solid waste contract – Citrus Heights Sentinel
According to the agenda packet, pursuing 60-day negotiations cost the city $50,000, and the cost can be reimbursed if the city moves forward with an amended contract with Republic Services.
City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
