Council OKs Waste Pro amendment to pay contractors for storm debris work

The City Council approved a first amendment to the Waste Pro Florida Incorporated franchise agreement to provide a mechanism authorizing payment for eligible disaster debris collection, removal and disposal when work is beyond contract baseline after a declared emergency.

Public Works Director Dennis Barron said Waste Pro requested the change so the company can be compensated when it performs extra debris removal tied to a named storm or event. He explained staff used more than two years of monthly tonnage and collection records to build a formula that establishes baseline averages and then identifies excess debris attributable to a storm event. Barron said the change addresses a problem where previous franchise holders performed storm cleanup as part of service, but Waste Pro asked to be paid for extraordinary debris work.

Council members sought clarity about whether the change would be included in future RFPs and whether residents would face rate increases. Barron said the amendment becomes part of the existing contract and likely will be included in future procurements; he said the amendment should not create an automatic resident fee, though in a severe scenario multiple storms could generate costs that would need to be covered from reserves or through FEMA reimbursement.

Council approved the amendment by roll call.