Plumas County delays decision on waste franchise amendment and revised rates after lengthy public hearing

The Plumas County Board of Supervisors on March 10 continued a public hearing and tabled a proposed amendment to the Feather River Disposal franchise agreement after residents and business owners raised objections to a linked five-year extension and a revised rate schedule.

The hearing, which drew lengthy public comment from Quincy residents and local waste haulers, centered on two related items: (1) an amendment to incorporate customers formerly served by the American Valley Community Services District into Waste Management’s service area and to expand curbside recycling in parts of East Quincy, and (2) a Prop 218 hearing to adopt a revised fee schedule that would set new collection rates. County staff and Waste Management told the board the amendment would lock rates for 18 months and proposed switching the annual adjustment method from a complex refuse-rate index (RRI) to CPI-based adjustments to reduce volatility.

Public speakers warned the board the five-year extension included in the amendment could prevent competitive bids for years and might leave Downtown Quincy customers facing higher bills if the county later re-opened the service area to competition. One resident said downtown rates would rise by roughly "$10 to $11 a month" under the proposed schedule; a Waste Management representative said the company had been providing services in good faith without a contract since ABCSD’s contract lapsed and that the rates and amendment are administratively linked.

Other local haulers and business representatives urged the board to delay action so they could submit alternate proposals. A local business owner said the county "has 1 year until our contract expires" and asked the board to consider a package from another county hauler; Waste Management executives countered that operational costs and vehicle procurement timelines make near-term rebids difficult.

Supervisor McGowan, participating by phone, acknowledged the tradeoffs, saying that locking rates for 18 months would avoid an immediate increase but that a five-year extension could reduce competitive leverage later. After extended discussion and a split board, supervisors voted to continue the Prop 218 public hearing and to table the franchise amendment to the March 17 meeting. County staff were directed to return with a one-year scenario showing estimated cost changes for constituents if the five-year extension is not approved.

The continuance preserves the current short-term service arrangement and gives the county time to run scenarios, consult counsel on Prop 218 implications and collect additional public comment. The board’s action means no change to service contracts or customer bills takes effect this week.