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Board approves 10-year garbage franchise agreements, sets rates for unincorporated districts
Summary
The Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 approved new 10‑year franchise agreements for garbage collection in the county's unincorporated districts and adopted maximum rate schedules that standardize services, strengthen labor and reporting requirements, and set transition timelines for implementation.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors adopted resolutions on Jan. 14 approving new 10‑year franchise agreements for garbage collection in the county's three unincorporated service districts and adopting corresponding maximum rate schedules.
The agreements, which will take effect July 1, 2025 and run through June 30, 2035, were negotiated by the county's Integrated Waste Management program. They include standardized services across districts, enhanced labor peace-plan reporting, annual certified wage reporting for sorters and drivers, quarterly reporting of unfair-labor-practice filings and new liquidated-damages provisions for contract performance and outreach deliverables. The agreements also expand customer services such as bulky-item curbside pick‑up vouchers and provide a dedicated outreach coordinator position for District West.
Key rate changes (summary): staff presented negotiated rate outcomes showing a modest rate decrease in District South due to a multi-district discount, a small increase for certain service levels in District East (to reflect county-directed processing and SB 1383 commercial organics monitoring), and adjusted residential and commercial percentages in District West. Staff said the final rates are the product of negotiated concessions and a county preference for preserving affordability.
Vote and procedural notes: The public hearing on this item was continued from Dec. 10; staff reported no speakers on Jan. 14 and the board voted to adopt the resolutions and execute the two franchise agreements. The clerk recorded a unanimous roll-call vote.
Why it matters: The 10‑year agreements set service standards and price ceilings for unincorporated residents and businesses, add explicit worker protections and reporting expectations, and give staff a fixed transition window to implement service and outreach changes.
Follow-up: Staff said it will supply transition-plan updates to the board in March, April and May, and will coordinate with social‑service agencies to identify rate‑discount eligibility for low‑income customers.
Speakers - Edgar Olasco, Director, Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency (first referenced 11:40:51) - Vanessa Marcadaez, Program Manager, Integrated Waste (first referenced 11:40:51)
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Provenance: staff presentation and public hearing (meeting timeline 11:40:51).
