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Council approves most consent items, seeks compensation for solid‑waste service interruption
Summary
Newark’s City Council on Nov. 13 approved most consent items and discussed a July recycling/green‑waste service stoppage; staff said they are negotiating an automatic credit with Republic Services for affected residential accounts and will bring terms back to council.
The council approved the bulk of the consent calendar at its Nov. 13 meeting and discussed a July service interruption that affected recycling and green‑waste collection.
The mayor read the consent calendar which included audit demands, minutes, acceptance of a 2025–26 STEP federal grant and several contract and budget amendments. Councilmembers requested separate consideration of item 6 (rate increase for solid waste recycling and organics collection) and item 5 (amendment to contract C23071 with CSW Scribe Stroh Engineering Group to increase the not‑to‑exceed by $117,279 to a contract total of $1,014,004.97). After discussion, the council approved items 1,2,3,4 and 7 by motion and unanimous vote.
Councilmember concern: Councilmember (speaker 8) requested an update on negotiations following a roughly two‑week stoppage of service in July related to union strife elsewhere. City Manager (speaker 12) said staff, led by the environmental services manager, have been negotiating with Republic Services for an automatic credit for residential account holders affected during that stoppage and are finalizing terms for commercial accounts and staff compensation. City Manager Benun said the city hopes to bring an agreement to council on Dec. 11 or, if not ready, in January.
Separate votes: The council took separate action on item 6 and the contract increase (d5). City Engineer (speaker 13) explained that extra consultant design work for Thornton Avenue would be reimbursed by the Alameda County Water District; council approved the consultant increase (d5) and the separately considered item 6 unanimously.
Outcome and next steps: staff will finalize the credit terms with Republic Services and present any agreement to council for approval; construction‑related contracts and design work will be returned for standard council approval.
