San Juan Capistrano approves Orange County WISE agreement and CR&R rate adjustments after public hearing
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Summary
After a public hearing, the City Council approved joining OC Waste & RecyclingWISE agreement and adopted updated CR&R residential and commercial rates to cover county disposal increases and CPI adjustments; staff said most of the increase is county-imposed disposal cost and six written protests were received before the meeting.
San Juan CapistranoCity Council on April 7 approved joining the Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR) WISE agreement and adopted updated CR&R solid-waste rates that reflect a phased county disposal-rate increase and an annual cost-of-living adjustment.
City Engineer Jeremy Hoenbaum told the council the WISE agreement replaces the existing waste-disposal agreement that expires June 30 and preserves priority landfill access at a negotiated disposal rate. Hoenbaum said negotiations led by the Orange County City Managers Association produced a phased structure that reduces the immediate impact compared with the countyinitial proposal, and includes a five-year review provision and enhanced oversight options, such as an independent financial consultant to monitor OCWR finances and implementation of the agreement.
Hoenbaum and staff said the countydisposal rate increase is the primary driver of higher bills for San Juan Capistrano residents. The city recommended opening the Prop 218 hearing required for extraordinary rate increases, receiving public testimony and written protests, determining whether a majority protest exists, and, if not, approving the WISE agreement and updated CR&R rates and authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement and appendices.
Julie Barreta, a CR&R representative, explained the haulerportion of the increases is limited to an annual CPI adjustment (3.2% this year) while most of the added cost shown on the tables goes directly to the county for tipping/disposal fees imposed by OCWR. Barreta said CR&Rretains about $0.62to$0.70 of the $2.52$2.88 monthly increases shown for typical cart sizes; the remainder goes to the county.
During council questions, staff clarified that a majority protest for this type of hearing is measured by property owners and that customers billed by CR&R will see the increases on their hauler invoices. Staff also explained existing customer options: subscribing to a smaller cart size, removing extra carts, or using a vacation-hold policy (available for absences of 45 days or more) to reduce charges.
Several residents spoke during oral communications and the Prop 218 hearing. Diana Kelly, representing Capistrano Valley Mobile Estates (232 senior mobile homes), urged the city to treat mobile-home parks differently, citing service inconsistencies after CR&R assumed collection in 2023 and asking for billing accommodations for senior residents.
The city clerk reported receiving six written protest letters prior to the meeting. After discussion, a council member moved to approve the staff recommendations and a second was made; the council voted unanimously in favor. The motion authorized executing the WISE agreement and adopting CR&R rate changes that will be applied and adjusted annually for CPI and pass-through county disposal costs under the agreed phased schedule.
The council and staff emphasized that if the city were to reject the WISE agreement the community would lose priority access and face higher posted disposal rates and that the negotiated phased approach and oversight provisions were intended to reduce short-term impact and provide mechanisms to revisit projections in year five.
What happens next: the updated rates take effect per the schedule discussed during the hearing and CR&R will bill customers directly. The city manager was authorized to execute the agreement and applicable appendices on behalf of the city.
