Waste Management proposes 4.98% rate increase; staff recommends 2‑year renewal or bid review

Tyler Scroggins, public works director, briefed the board on the city’s sanitation contract, which expires May 30, 2025. He said Waste Management provided an escalation calculation that would produce a 4.98% price increase effective April 1, 2025, and staff presented two options: accept a two‑year contract extension under the contract’s escalator clause or seek bids now.

Scroggins also said the contract contains provisions about cart ownership and replacements. If the city opts out of the current contract before a specified date in 2027, there could be costs to the city (staff estimated roughly $250,000) to cover replacements or to settle the contractual equipment swap.

Scroggins recommended renewing for two years in order to maintain continuity while staff works with finance to set a sanitation fee policy and to communicate clearly to residents which phone/email to use for service problems. Several board members signaled support for a two‑year renewal and asked staff to return with clear user‑facing information and a plan to reduce customer confusion about where to report missed collections or cart problems.

What happens next: staff will prepare the necessary renewal paperwork if the board directs them to renew, and staff will work with finance and communications on customer notifications, the sanitation policy update and any consumer‑education steps.