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Agoura Hills directs staff to prepare RFP while continuing talks with Waste Management
Summary
With the city's residential franchise expiring June 30, 2027, council directed staff (4–0, one recusal) to draft a competitive RFP while continuing negotiations with Waste Management; the concurrent approach preserves flexibility if talks fail and addresses WM's request for commercial exclusivity and SB 1383 compliance.
The council on May 27 directed staff to prepare a competitive franchise RFP while continuing negotiations with the city's current residential hauler, Waste Management (WM). The city's existing residential franchise, in place since 2017 with an exercised extension, expires June 30, 2027.
Staff said negotiations with WM have been collaborative and have covered service enhancements, rate structure and SB 1383 compliance. WM has asked that commercial collection and permanent rolloff services be included as a commercial exclusive in a successor agreement; city staff warned that granting such exclusivity activates a five‑year state notification period that requires letting other commercial haulers plan transitions.
Because the council must either have a successor contract in place or be positioned to run an RFP before the June 2027 expiration, staff recommended one of three options: (1) proceed to draft a successor agreement with WM; (2) initiate a competitive RFP; or (3) take a concurrent approach to draft an RFP while continuing negotiations. Council chose the concurrent option to preserve negotiating flexibility while ensuring the city can issue an RFP quickly if negotiations stall.
Motion and vote: Council Member Anderson moved and Council Member Sylvester seconded the motion to direct staff to prepare an RFP while continuing WM discussions. Roll call: Anderson — yes; Anstead — yes; Sylvester — yes; Mayor Wolf — yes. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Klein Lopez recused himself from this item. Vote 4–0.
Key local implications: staff and WM explained that SB 1383 (state organics diversion rules) and industry changes since 2017 drive new cost and service discussions; WM representatives said commercial exclusivity can reduce rates by spreading costs across more customers but acknowledged the policy change affects local businesses and competitors.
Next steps: staff will draft an RFP and continue WM negotiations; if agreeable contract terms are reached, staff could return to council with a successor agreement; otherwise, the city will issue the RFP before the current contract expires.
