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MDRR seeks to extend Rio Vista franchise to 2042 in exchange for free pilot programs
Summary
Mount Diablo Resource Recovery asked the council to accept automatic five‑year extensions now so its franchise would run to 2042; MDRR and its consultant offered a package of pilot community services (dump days, battery drop‑off, compost giveaways, reuse pickup) free for two years, and the council debated protections, performance measures and contract modernization.
Rose Radford Burn of R3 presented a request from Mount Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR) asking the Rio Vista City Council to accept all five‑year term extensions now so the franchise expiration would move from 2027 to 2042. She told the council the existing franchise is old and that R3 and MDRR recommend modernizing the agreement if the city accepts an extension.
"Mount Diablo Resource Recovery is simply asking to essentially accept all of those term extensions right now such that your contract term would expire in 2042 rather than 2027," Rose Radford Burn said.
MDRR officials described pilot programs they would provide at no charge for the next two years if the city agrees to the extension: a community dump day for large‑item drop offs, additional battery drop‑off locations, household hazardous waste events, compost giveaways to residents and a reuse pickup pilot that diverts reusable items to charities. Sarah Davis and Bill Fraser said the reuse pilot held in November involved 161 accounts and recovered about 20 tons of material for reuse.
"We did the pilot in November. 161 accounts participated, and about 20 tons were recovered through that for reuse," Sarah Davis said.
Council members pressed why MDRR sought a long term. MDRR representatives and staff said the upgrades required by Senate Bill 1383 (organics collection) and equipment investments (including future vehicle and cart fleet costs) are capital‑intensive; longer contracts allow those costs to be spread over a longer amortization period and can lower rate impacts for ratepayers. MDRR said the company’s contracts in other jurisdictions commonly run 15 years and that a revised franchise could include enforceable performance standards, liquidated damages and other protections.
"A new agreement would let you have new and modern contract provisions to hold us accountable and to make sure that the way we've been performing... will continue till 2042," the MDRR representative said.
Council members voiced concern about locking in a long term if performance declines and about changing market conditions or city leadership; they asked staff and legal counsel about contractual triggers, ability to terminate for cause and options to require measurable service standards in any extended term. Staff said the proposal will return to council for negotiation and that modernized contract language can include safeguards for the city and ratepayers.
Public comment included both praise for MDRR’s local office and service and questions about compost quality and e‑waste handling. MDRR said compost is screened and that it would be willing to discuss adding e‑waste collection as part of a revised franchise but does not currently handle e‑waste under its hauling permit.
The council did not take final action on the franchise extension at the meeting; staff said the item will return to a future agenda so the council can negotiate updated contract terms and performance language.
