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Supervisors pause Rowland Heights award, order outreach after residents protest higher trash rates
Summary
The board approved franchise contract amendments across several areas but withheld final approval for the Rowland Heights/South Diamond Bar award to require at least two community outreach meetings with the vendor and a report back; residents testified about steep rate increases.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved multiple residential waste collection franchise contract amendments but withheld the award for the Rowland Heights/South Diamond Bar area and directed the Department of Public Works to conduct community outreach and return with a report on community feedback.
Supervisor Hilda Solis moved the amendment after residents in Rowland Heights raised alarms over proposed rate increases and limited outreach. Public witnesses described steady rate growth in recent years and said the area’s proposed new rate would be among the highest across the district. One commenter said the total increase over several years amounts to a roughly 48 percent increase in service charges.
Public Works staff explained the solicitation used a multi‑factor evaluation (not a simple low‑bid award): evaluators ranked proposals based on pricing, performance history, work plan, experience, financial resources and environmental history. Department staff said bidders price contracts based on local terrain, service requirements (for example, hilly neighborhoods), proximity to disposal facilities and state policy changes such as organics and recycling rules.
Supervisor Solis’s amendment asks Public Works to withhold the recommended contract award for Rowland Heights/South Diamond Bar (Athens Services, recommended in the staff report), to meet with the community and vendor at least twice in culturally competent formats and languages (including Spanish and Chinese) and to return with a report on community feedback. The board approved the overall set of franchise contract amendments as amended. The amended motion passed on roll call.
Residents and community leaders urged mailers, virtual and in‑person meetings, and clearer explanations of why Rowland Heights proposals were costlier than neighboring unincorporated areas. Public Works committed to additional outreach and to sharing scoring rationale with the community.
Votes at a glance - Item 32 (residential waste collection franchise contract amendments): Moved by Supervisor Hilda Solis; seconded by Supervisor Holly Mitchell; outcome: approved as amended, 5–0 (Solis, Mitchell, Horvath, Hahn, Barger — aye). The board directed Public Works to withhold the award for Rowland Heights/South Diamond Bar pending outreach and a return report.
