Council approves solid‑waste franchise amendment changing multifamily collection definitions, effective Feb. 1

Laguna Beach City Council authorized the city manager to execute a third amendment to the city’s solid‑waste franchise agreement with CR&R that modifies the definitions and billing rules for multifamily dwellings with two to eight units.

Under the amendment, certain multifamily properties with 2–8 units may opt for either individual curbside collection for each unit or a shared “centralized” set of carts for the property and be billed at residential rates per unit. The change is intended to address space constraints and billing errors the city and the contractor identified during the transition to a new franchise last year.

Public Works staff told the council the amendment responds to inaccurate customer‑service data (primarily affecting multifamily buildings with 2–8 units), and gives property owners more flexible service options: they can provide shared carts instead of one full three‑cart set per unit and have the property owner (not individual tenants) billed. Staff said rate adjustments will be effective Feb. 1, 2025 and applied retroactively to services rendered beginning Nov. 1, 2024 for billing purposes.

City staff presented tables showing the expected financial impact for typical configurations. Staff said about 966 multifamily properties fall into the 2–8 unit band and that an estimated 936 properties may see a rate decrease compared with their previous multifamily billing if they choose the residential‑rate option. Staff also noted clean‑up language in the contract amendment to correct references to required contamination audits and to extend an audit deadline to June 30, 2025 so inaccurate data can be reconciled.

During the council discussion several speakers described longstanding complaints about receiving an excessive number of carts after the 2024 transition; staff said the amendment aims to reduce those cases and to give property owners cleaner, more equitable options. A few multifamily property owners spoke at council seeking specific help; staff explained how the revised definitions and billing would apply on a case‑by‑case basis and that CR&R will work with property owners to adjust accounts.

Council approved the amendment and staff were authorized to execute the contract modification. Staff advised that customers would see the new billing reflected in invoices for the February–April 2025 quarter and that CR&R and city staff will continue outreach to affected property owners to adjust accounts and reduce erroneous carts.

Council did not change the rate‑setting method (rates still depend on the cart size selected and are calculated per unit); staff noted the multifamily rate structure historically differs from single‑family residential rates and that the amendment is meant to allow flexibility consistent with state recycling and organics mandates.