Refuse Rate Study Services

The Vendor is required to provide to perform a comprehensive solid waste cost of service/rate study.
- Prepare a cost service analysis, including revenue requirements.
- Develop and analyze appropriate rate structures (up to 4 alternatives that includes variable garbage rate, variable organics rate, variable recyclables rates, special rate, and street sweeping rates).
- City street sweeping is currently under contract with an outside vendor
- Develop a revenue plan to help ensure that the city meets all of the state’s recycling mandates, primarily the regulations set by street 1383.
- Estimate the city’s cost to provide the billing service for each rate structure.
- Determine the rates necessary to meet the city’s revenue requirements.
- Develop appropriate customer service fees for each user class.
- Participate in presentations and meetings.  - Provides commercial solid waste collection including refuse, recyclables, green waste and food compost.
- Services are provided with a variety of sized bins.
- The commercial front-load and rear load trucks are all single compartment trucks carrying only one waste stream at a time and dump their respective loads at the appropriate facility.
- Front and rear-load operations currently have 37 routes that operate Monday through Saturday.
- Solid waste utility is recognized as a self-supporting enterprise fund.
- Revenues are derived primarily from service charges and must be adequate to fund the solid waste operations and maintenance, debt and capital programs.
- Adopted solid waste service charges
- Financial information regarding solid waste revenues and expenditures.
- Identification of any additional long-term funding needs related to the solid waste enterprise, including those related to proposed legislation and recently adopted laws.  
- Conduct a survey of regional solid waste rates and summarize findings in an easy-to-understand format.
- Work with city staff to identify agencies to be included in the survey and to identify any key issues for the survey to address.
- Attend up to four meetings (afternoon and evening) with the city council at work sessions to present the interim status of the study, preliminary and final report and obtain their input.
- Develop a PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings, alternatives, and draft rate recommendations.
- Conduct a workshop to present the findings and input from the city council and the public.
- Provide guidance and advice to city staff to assure compliance with the proposition 218 process as it applies to solid waste services.
- The consultant will include the preparation and completion of the proposition 218 notification (in English and Spanish) as a service to the city.
- The consultant shall ensure that the proposed rates are in conformance with all applicable laws, including the provisions of proposition 218, court cases interpreting these provisions, and court cases concerning the effects of proposition on tiered rate structures.
- Contract Period/Term: 1 year
- A Non-Mandatory Proposal Teleconference Date: May 7, 2025
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: May 14, 2025