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Fullerton delays solid‑waste RFP to let public review full document amid transparency concerns
Summary
Councilmembers directed staff to place the city’s proposed solid‑waste RFP on the Sept. 16 consent calendar after public commenters and some council members said the full RFP was not included in the agenda packet and asked for more transparency, while staff warned the timeline is tied to SB 1383 compliance.
Fullerton city staff presented a draft schedule for a new solid‑waste services RFP on Aug. 19 and told the council the city intends to release the RFP on Aug. 26 to meet state SB 1383 compliance and contract rollout timelines. Multiple council members and public commenters objected that the full RFP document was not in the agenda packet and asked for more time and transparency.
Michelle (staff presenter) told the council the RFP process is a lengthy, roughly two‑year effort that includes outreach, a pre‑proposal conference, proposal evaluation, interviews and an anticipated contract start on July 1, 2027. Consultant Mike Balliet said the review committee will summarize proposals and scoring in a report for the council’s study session.
A public commenter argued the RFP governs "millions of dollars over the life of the contract" and said "this is not transparency" because the document was missing from the packet and auditors and residents need to know how certain fees (such as the NPDES fee) were calculated. The commenter asked the council to continue the item so the full RFP could be provided with an explanation of fee calculations.
Council members debated the tradeoff between preserving the state timeline and allowing public review. Mayor Pro Tem Charles and others asked for a clear report from the ad hoc review panel and for the public to be able to review the full proposals and the summary report at a study session before final approval. Council directed staff to return with the full RFP and to place the RFP on the Sept. 16 consent calendar so the public could review the document while preserving the timetable for a 2027 contract rollout; the motion passed by recorded vote.
What's next: Staff plans to publish the RFP on Aug. 26 but will bring the full RFP and a detailed explanation of fees and evaluation criteria back to council and the public at the Sept. 16 meeting; the consultant said the review panel’s scoring and a summary report will be available for the council’s study session and that the council can ask questions before final approval.
