Aliso Viejo OKs three-year audit of franchise waste hauler to verify payments and service records

The Aliso Viejo City Council voted to approve a three-year consultant contract to audit the city's franchise waste hauler, a staff presentation said during the council's regular meeting.

A city staff member described the review as the routine, contractual audit required every three years under the franchise agreement with CR&R. The consultant will examine the hauler's financial records to verify franchise payments to the city, check diversion and organic-material reporting required by state regulation, inspect records of customer-service issues such as missed pickups, and review fleet condition after recent incidents involving leaks and breakdowns.

"This contract is for a consultant to review the activities of our waste haulers, CR and R," the staff member said, explaining the auditor's scope and noting that the city pays the cost upfront and is reimbursed by the hauler under the franchise agreement.

Council member Tim moved the item forward and an unidentified council member seconded. The motion passed after the council recorded "Aye" votes; no roll-call tallies were read on the record.

Why it matters: franchise audits are the primary mechanism for local oversight of private haulers, ensuring that diversion figures, payments to the city and customer-service records are accurate and in compliance with state rules. Council members pressed for clarity on truck age and reporting accuracy during the discussion.

The item was presented as agenda item 4.5 and approved in the consent/actions portion of the meeting. There was no public opposition recorded at the time of the vote.