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South Miami to draft RFP and continue talks with county on solid‑waste interlocal amendment
Summary
Facing a county‑proposed 20‑year interlocal that would shift long‑term exposure onto cities, South Miami commissioners directed staff to draft a market RFP for alternative disposal/marshaling operations while keeping parallel negotiations open with the county and requesting month‑to‑month extensions where feasible.
The Commission addressed a county draft third amended interlocal agreement for solid waste services that proposes a 20‑year commitment and would change cost allocation. Commissioners expressed concern that the new term could expose the city to long‑range cost increases and reduce the local cost‑containment mechanisms that are generally present in 10‑year agreements.
The mayor reported the county has circulated a revised interlocal; commissioners said the city should not be forced into a long‑term agreement that shifts risk to municipal taxpayers. The Commission directed the manager to prepare an RFP instrument to test the market for alternatives (marshaling, green‑waste diversion, resource‑recovery facilities or private operators) and to have that RFP near ready for the Jan. 20 meeting so the city can move quickly if county negotiations stall.
Commissioners stressed a parallel track: continue good‑faith conversations with the county while preparing an RFP and an interim plan for month‑to‑month operations so the city is not contractually trapped into an unfavorable long term term. Staff noted the current county‑system tipping rate would be significantly higher outside the interlocal (the transcript observed the county's non‑interlocal tipping rate is materially above the city's current rate), so any market alternative must provide a transitional bridge to avoid short‑term cost spikes.
Next steps: staff to draft an RFP and vet evaluation criteria, pursue month‑to‑month extensions with the county where available, and return to the Commission with findings and recommended next steps.
