Staff recommends Best Trash after RFP review, cites lower rate and expanded services

Jennifer Reyna, the city's Utility Director, told the council the RFP produced seven proposals and four finalists and that staff judged proposals on cost, service level, transition readiness and best value. "We're more service, lower bill," Reyna said, summarizing staff's case for preferring Best Trash.

Reyna said the recommended baseline keeps one-day-a-week residential pickup with a 96-gallon cart and commercial service, while adding curbside recycling and bulky-item collection on regular trash days. She told the council Best Trash offered a rear-load crew model with three people per truck "so nothing pretty much will be left behind," and that Best Trash scored 91 on the staff evaluation compared with Republic Services at 89, BVRBIG at 86 and Next Waste at 71.

The staff presentation signaled no immediate decision was required. Reyna said staff will return with finalized contract terms and a recommended rate order and that the goal is to reduce customer bills while expanding services. Council members asked staff to invite the preferred provider to the next council meeting to answer operational questions before any final authorization to begin contract negotiations.