Council to Vote on Opening Bid for New Waste Collection and Recycling Services

Newark City Council will vote Thursday whether to go forward with searching for a new company to provide waste collection and recycling services in the City of Newark.

Staff recommended that the council look at other options after the city’s contract with Waste Management of Alameda County expired.

City council decided to extend the franchise agreement it has with Waste Management for one year in February. Waste Management’s new one-year contract includes a rate increase of approximately 24 percent that became effective on June 1, according to previous city documents.

The fee hike means an increase of a little more than $5 for typical 35-gallon residential service and an increase of about $54 for an average commercial 3-yard bin.

Shortly after, council members authorized staff to hire HF&H Consultants to “develop” and distribute request for proposals for a request for proposals, a review of those proposals and implementation of those services earlier this year.

According to Thursday’s agenda, staff plans to establish a new contract by June 1, 2013 and that the primary goal to search for request for proposals is “to ensure that the City receives proposals that offer cost effective, high quality services” for solid waste collection and recycling services.

City staff said in the agenda that proposals will be submitted by early September then evaluated based on “the company’s qualifications, technical approach, acceptance of RFP and franchise terms and conditions and proposed annual costs and rates.”

Staff also anticipates that council will award the agreement in December, according to the agenda.

Also on Thursday’s agenda:

• City staff will update the city council on the status of repair work being performed at the Alameda County Fire Department Station No. 27 located on Mowry Avenue in Newark. In May, councilmembers voted to declare that emergency repairs were needed at the fire station after a sewer lateral was found damaged. According to the agenda, Frank Bonetti Plumbing, Inc. has provided all necessary documents to be awarded the contract for repair work, which was scheduled to begin Monday. The repairs are scheduled to be completed by Friday.
• Council will vote on awarding a bid to Energywise Works, Inc. for a project to replace 62 energy-efficient parking lot lighting fixtures at the Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center for a cost of approximately $29,900.
• City Council will recognize employees and volunteers of parks and recreation facilities as part of July being Parks and Recreation Month in Newark.

Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursday inside of city chambers on the sixth floor of Newark City Hall, 37101 Newark Blvd. Click here to download the full agenda.