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City amends municipal franchise to allow new multifamily billing options with CR&R
Summary
Laguna Beach approved a third amendment to the solid-waste franchise with CR&R that changes multifamily definitions so 2–8 unit properties may choose centralized collection billed at residential per‑unit rates; council approved the amendment unanimously.
The Laguna Beach City Council on Jan. 28 authorized the city manager to execute a third amendment to the municipal solid-waste franchise with Consolidated Disposal Service/CR&R to clarify multifamily-service definitions and related cleanup items.
What changed: Under the amendment, multifamily properties with two to eight units may elect either individual curbside sets for each unit or a centralized shared‑cart collection and be billed at the residential per‑unit rate instead of the multifamily rate. The change is intended to address a pattern of inaccurate customer-service data and physical constraints at many small multifamily properties where tenants or managers lack space for multiple individual sets of carts.
Rates and timing: The city and contractor told council the change will take effect Feb. 1, 2025 and apply retroactively to services rendered between Nov. 1, 2024 and Jan. 31, 2025. The amendment also clarifies contract language about two contamination audits per year and extends time for an ongoing service-level audit to June 30, 2025.
Council action: The council moved and approved the staff recommendation to authorize the city manager to execute the third amendment. The vote was recorded as unanimous among council members present.
Why it matters: Staff told council the amendment will reduce the number of excessive carts at small multifamily properties, allow property owners to offer a shared‑service option and should produce cost savings for many duplexes and small apartment properties while enabling billing to be managed consistently by property owners or managers rather than by individual tenants.
Council discussion and public comment focused on the perceived fairness of billing by unit versus billing strictly by observed use; staff said the amendment improves flexibility while the town remains bound to state recycling and organics mandates.
Next steps: CR&R and city staff will implement the revised definitions and adjust billing starting with the February invoicing period.
