Council directs staff to negotiate with BVR on solid-waste contract; asks for recycling cost estimate

The council directed staff to negotiate terms with the city's current solid-waste contractor, BVR Waste and Recycling, and to return a negotiated contract for council approval. Staff said the current five‑year contract expires Jan. 1, 2027, and that contractor onboarding for a new provider typically requires about three months for truck procurement, hiring and cart delivery.

The city manager reviewed comparative rates from nearby towns and told council the current residential charge under the contract rose once during the five‑year period; staff said that after a 2023 increase the current residential charge is about $1,547 per month under the existing arrangement. "It typically takes about three months to make that happen" if a new contractor is selected, staff said, noting the operational headaches and public complaints that often follow a supplier change.

Council members asked staff to negotiate price and contract terms with BVR, press for better pricing where available, and to request a recycling proposal (for example, biweekly curbside recycling with its estimated per-household cost). Staff agreed to return with a proposed agreement and to run a brief community interest survey on curbside recycling options and costs. Council did not take final contract action at the meeting; staff will return a proposed extension or a re-bid plan for council consideration later in the calendar year.