Joshua City Council approves waste franchise renewal, chamber agreement and emergency services deals; rejects House bill 924

The Joshua City Council voted on a series of contract, land-use and budget items, approving the city—ranchise renewal for solid waste collection, a conditional use permit for recreational-vehicle storage, the restoration of a funding agreement with the Joshua Area Chamber of Commerce with revised reporting, a seven-year municipal lease for a fire department brush truck and an interlocal emergency-services agreement. The council also passed a resolution expressing opposition to House Bill 924 related to state sales-tax sourcing.

The approvals came during the council genda after a work-session discussion in which staff and outside contractors explained terms and timelines. Councilmembers moved and seconded each item in public motions; the council recorded unanimous votes on the listed approvals and the opposition resolution.

Solid waste franchise renewal: The council approved a franchise renewal with Waste Connections under the option described as "option 3," which continues twice-weekly pickup for residential customers, discontinues curbside recycling collection and preserves small commercial roll-off exclusivity. Abel Moreno, district manager for Waste Connections, told the council residents may keep their current recycling bins or request pickup on a bulk collection day; the company plans to begin cart deliveries in mid-April and transition service around May 1 if the agreement is executed. The staff presentation described a monthly residential charge in the new option as $15.50 (an increase compared with current charges). The…