Council approves CPI and pass-through adjustments to solid-waste rates; CR&R proposes mulch procurement fix

The City Council adopted resolutions approving routine consumer-price-index and pass-through adjustments to residential and commercial solid-waste rates after a staff presentation and public discussion.

Community Development Director Mike Borho said the city received a rate-schedule request from franchise hauler CR&R that passes through CPI increases and county waste-management adjustments. Borho also described a CR&R proposal to change how compost mulch procurement is handled so the city will not have to fund or store thousands of tons of mulch each year.

Borho said the change would alleviate the city’s cost and storage concerns related to providing mulch to residents. He said details remain subject to agreement between CR&R, the POA and the city, and that liability and storage arrangements would need to be finalized before the city committed to a permanent distribution program.

Council members praised CR&R’s on-the-ground responsiveness during recent cleanup operations and noted the challenge of managing large mulch tonnages; Borho said the initial annual tonnage involved was about 882 tons, which staff described as impractical for the city to procure and store directly.

The public hearing closed with no formal protests and the council voted unanimously to adopt the resolutions to implement the CPI and pass-through adjustments.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to work with CR&R and the POA to explore resident access to mulch at events and to finalize any operational agreements required before larger distribution programs are implemented.