Solid-waste department reports stable finances, route optimization and fleet needs; no rate change proposed

Eric Zaragoza, director of solid waste, presented the department's FY26 summary, accomplishments and decision packages. Zaragoza said the department serves roughly 29,000 residential accounts and the current residential rate is $13.50 per month (a reduction made in 2020).

Zaragoza emphasized route optimization work in progress, noting the project rebalanced routes and anticipates an additional residential truck in future years to match development-driven demand. He said fleet procurement can be unpredictable: "As a matter of fact, we just received a truck last month that we ordered in 2022," and explained vehicle-build delays affect capital timing.

Financial position and policy: actual revenues for FY24 were about $10.0 million and projected FY26 revenue is a little over $10.0 million; expenditures reflect annual capital and truck purchases. The solid-waste fund projects reserves well above the city's reserve thresholds and staff said that, assuming Bemis (landfill partner) maintains $0 tipping fees for both cities, they do not forecast a rate increase for FY26.

Requests and next steps: decision packages list two roll-off trucks, grapple trucks and a commercial side-load truck for alley/metal-container service. Staff also asked council for continued annual review of rates and noted the importance of maintaining the landfill tipping-fee relationship.

Ending: Zaragoza said staff will continue route optimization completion and monitor fleet delivery schedules; council thanked solid-waste staff for daily operational service.