Atherton amends Green Waste Recovery franchise to smooth upcoming rate increase; council agrees on resident outreach

Atherton’s council adopted a Fourth Amendment to its franchise agreement with Green Waste Recovery on Nov. 19 to smooth a contractually required base‑compensation increase of about 11% in 2026 into smaller annual adjustments for ratepayers.

City staff and the refuse subcommittee showed a schedule that would reduce the immediate 2026 increase to about 8% for residents by using a mix of the town’s rate stabilization fund and temporarily reduced franchise fee receipts, then step the effective increases down in following years (6% in 2027, 5% in 2028, and smaller CPI‑linked adjustments later). Staff said the vendor agreed to a restructure that defers some compensation to later years of the contract, and that the amendment is intended to avoid a sharp single‑year increase for residents.

Councilmembers discussed tradeoffs: the town will forgo some franchise fee revenue in the near term and draw on the rate stabilization fund, which staff warned cannot subsidize increases indefinitely without replenishment. Members asked how to notify residents; staff proposed a postcard plus an expanded item in the town’s year‑end Athertonian newsletter with a chart explaining the change.

Council moved and adopted the amendment by roll call vote. Staff will prepare outreach materials, include the explanation in the Athertonian and a possible postcard to residents, and return with implementation details.