The La Mesa City Council on Tuesday voted to adopt two-year solid waste, recycling and organic waste service charges requested by EDCO, the city’s solid waste contractor.

City staff told the council that an outside accounting firm reviewed EDCO’s rate request under an agreed-upon set of procedures and "found the data submitted by EDCO to substantiate the rate adjustment," and recommended adoption of charges for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

Staff reported residential solid-waste service will increase by $1.31 per month, a 4.8% rise; commercial customers will see a $7.20 per month increase, a 5.9% rise. "These rates will not change for the next two years," staff said. The item was presented by city staff at the hearing; EDCO president Steve South and general manager Carl Sherbaum were listed as available to answer questions.

Under California law (Proposition 218), an increase in rates can be rejected if a majority protest is received from affected property owners. Staff said the city mailed required notices and had received 101 written protests at the time the agenda was published — well short of the 7,512 protests needed to block the increase.

Council members speaking at the hearing praised EDCO’s local engagement while also inviting constituents who believe their bills are unusually high to contact council offices for follow-up. After public comment and discussion, the council closed the hearing and unanimously approved the rate schedule. The clerk recorded the outcome as "motion carries with all council members voting yes."

Council members and residents at the meeting noted EDCO’s community involvement; no detailed billing disputes were resolved on the dais, and staff offered to follow up with individual customers who raised concerns about unexpectedly high bills.

Background: the city’s solid waste franchise agreement requires biannual rate requests from the contractor and an independent review of submitted data. The approved two-year charges take effect July 1, 2025, and remain in place through June 30, 2027.

Key figures and next steps: residential increase $1.31/month (4.8%); commercial increase $7.20/month (5.9%); written protests received at publication: 101; protests required to reject under Prop. 218: 7,512. Residents with billing concerns were invited to provide contact information to council members for staff follow-up.