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Council delays vote on Republic Services contract amendment and solid-waste fee changes
Summary
Staff recommended a 3.5% overall increase to residential solid-waste fees and an amendment to extend the Republic Services contract and hold the minimum service fee at $4.55 through 7/1/2028; council voted 4–1 to continue the item to June 17 to clarify pricing exhibits and roll-off availability.
City staff presented a resolution to update the solid-waste fee schedule and amend the city's residential collection contract with Republic Services, including a proposed 3.5% price increase and an extension of the contract term to July 1, 2028.
Jacqueline Rhodes, director of infrastructure, told council the fee changes would be effective July 1, 2025, and that the amendment would hold Republic Services' minimum service (opt-out) fee at $4.55 per month through July 1, 2028. She said the proposed overall increase is 3.5% and provided estimated monthly bill changes "ranging from 59¢ a month to 90¢ a month based off of your cart service size." Rhodes listed example monthly totals by cart size as $9.34 (35-gallon), $13.92 (65-gallon), and $18.50 (95-gallon).
Rhodes and other staff explained a pending state extended-producer-responsibility program (referred to in the presentation as House Bill 22 13 55 and the Circular Action Alliance plan) could reimburse municipalities for residential recycling collection, but implementation details were not finalized. Staff said the city and Republic Services are monitoring the program; reimbursements are not anticipated until late 2026, with CDPHE approval of the producer plan estimated in December 2025. Rhodes advised that the contract and fee schedule could be amended after the plan is finalized.
Council members raised a separate concern about pricing language and the treatment of roll-off containers listed in the pricing exhibit. Council member Marriott and Council member Ambrose pressed staff to clarify that the roll-off prices shown in the exhibit relate to the city's internal bulky-item events and are not public-facing per-unit rates available to individual customers. Staff agreed the exhibit language was confusing and said they would correct it.
Council member Davis moved to continue the resolution to the June 17 meeting to give staff time to clean up the pricing exhibits and to allow Council member Mormon (absent tonight) to weigh in. The motion passed 4–1, with Council member Ambrose voting no and the mayor pro tem and Council member Pfeiffer excused.
Ending: The fee-schedule resolution and contract amendment were deferred to the June 17 meeting for clarification; the staff presentation established key numbers and a proposed effective date of July 1, 2025 if approved.
