CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/15/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider the distribution of a Commercial Solid Waste Service Survey to solicit input from City businesses.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Review the proposed Commercial Solid Waste Survey prepared by Staff and its solid waste consultant MSW Consultants; and,
(2) If deemed acceptable, authorize Staff to distribute the proposed Commercial Solid Waste Service Survey to solicit input from City businesses between September 16, 2026 and October 2, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT: The survey and associated outreach materials would be provided using a City-hired consultant (MSW Consultants) for approximately $5,900 funded by Professional/Technical Services for Waste Reduction (see below account information). Any further promotion through City platforms utilizing existing staff resources is accounted for in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Adopted Budget under Salaries and Benefits as routine operations. No additional budget appropriation is required.
Based on the survey results, the City Council may be asked to consider transitioning to an exclusive commercial hauler system at a future meeting. If that occurs, Staff will return to the City Council with potential fiscal impacts for consideration at a future meeting including subsequent analysis and potential transition costs for affected businesses. VR
Amount Budgeted: $130,000
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): 213-400-0000-5101
Waste Reduction Fund – Professional/Tech Services VR
ORIGINATED BY: Vanessa Hevener, Project Manager
REVIEWED BY: Susan Pan, P.E., Principal EngineerSP
David Copp, P.E., Interim Director of Public Works
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
1 ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Proposed Commercial Solid Waste Service Survey (page A-1) B. July 19, 2022 City Council Staff Report
C. City Council Policy No. 2 (page C-1)
BACKGROUND:
On July 19, 2022, the City Council approved non-exclusive franchise agreements for commercial solid waste collection and recycling services (Services) with seven (7) Service providers: California Waste Services LLC; Arakelian Enterprises, Inc., DBA Athens Services; Consolidated Disposal Service, LLC, DBA Republic Services; EDCO Disposal Corporation; Universal Waste Systems, Inc.; USA Waste of California, Inc., DBA Waste Management of Los Angeles; and West Coast Waste & Roll Off Service (Attachment B). On June 1, 2023, Athens Services notified the City that it was withdrawing from providing these Services within the City. As a result, the City currently maintains non-exclusive commercial agreements for the Services with the remaining six (6) Service providers.
These companies provide the Services to local businesses as well as residents and businesses conducting construction, demolition, and remodeling activities. Customers can contract and negotiate rates directly with any of these City-approved haulers to provide the requested Services. These non-exclusive agreements between the City and the Service providers are set to expire on July 7, 2027.
In July 2021, one of the above-listed City-approved haulers approached staff with a proposal to consolidate the Services under one (exclusive) agreement. This proposal was of interest to the City Council’s Solid Waste Subcommittee (Mayor Seo and Councilmember Ferraro), and staff subsequently coordinated with the two parties in a series of meetings to obtain more information about how the proposed consolidation would be of benefit to the City and its local businesses.
Further, and before the current above-described agreements expire, the City Council’s Solid Waste Subcommittee requested Staff, in coordination with the City’s solid waste management consultant, MSW Consultants (MSW), to evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks of consolidating these services into a single agreement. To complete a thorough evaluation, Staff believe outreach to local businesses to seek their feedback is necessary.
DISCUSSION:
The City Council is being asked to review and approve the proposed Commercial Solid Waste Service Survey (Survey) for distribution to businesses located within the City, with the option to complete the survey via digital or hard copy formats. The Survey was 2 developed in partnership between Staff and MSW. Because the Survey may be promoted through City platforms and contains the City logo, City Council approval is requested pursuant to City Council Policy No. 2 (Attachment C), which requires that all questionnaires and/or surveys to be sent by the City to the general public or special groups to be authorized by the City Council at a public meeting.
The draft Survey (Attachment A) includes 10 questions designed to gather community input from the City businesses on the following:
• Which best describes your relationship to a commercial property in Rancho Palos Verdes?
• Who is your current solid waste hauler?
• How satisfied are you with your current trash, recycling, and organics collection service?
• How important is it to your business to be able to choose its own waste hauler? • Which factors are most important to you when considering commercial waste collection service? Please select up to three.
• If the City-selected hauler provided comparable service and your total rates were lower than they are today, would you support allowing the City to select your hauler?
• If the City-selected hauler provided comparable service and your total rates were approximately the same as they are today, would you support allowing the City to select your hauler?
• If your rates were somewhat higher, but using one City-selected hauler would significantly reduce the number of collection trucks operating on City streets (e.g., less noise, less wear and tear on city streets, vehicle emissions), would you support allowing the City to select your hauler?
• If an exclusive system resulted in less truck traffic congestion (e.g., less noise, less wear and tear on city streets, vehicle emissions, etc.) how important would that benefit be to you?
• Is there anything else the City should consider when deciding how commercial waste collection services should be provided?
Public Outreach Process
MSW will lead the outreach and survey distribution process. If authorized by the City Council this evening, distribution of Survey will commence on September 16, 2026 and conclude on October 2, 2026. Staff will lead promotions on the City’s social media platforms. To enhance participation, Staff plan to support promotion of the Survey through the following City platforms, subject to Council approval:
• City social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, and Nextdoor) • City website at www.rpvca.gov
• City Manager’s Weekly Report
3 If approved, Staff and MSW will coordinate to finalize the outreach materials and commence engagement activities with local businesses within the timeline described above.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Consolidation of the Services would require a new contract solicitation and award process, along with the termination of any agreements preceding the execution of a single consolidated agreement.
Pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 49520, the City is required to issue a five-year notice of non-extension to its existing commercial haulers prior to terminating existing agreements and consolidating residential and commercial services. Issuing this notice does not prevent the City from continuing to use several haulers in the future, rather, it gives the City the option to reduce the number of commercial haulers or consolidate the residential and commercial agreements once the five-year notice period concludes. On July 20, 2021, the City Council authorized the issuance of the notice, which was subsequently issued on July 7, 2022.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommend the City Council review and approve publishing the attached draft Commercial Solid Waste Service Survey pursuant to City Council Policy No. 2.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not approve the proposed Survey.
2. Provide direction to Staff regarding the Survey, including modifications to specific questions or outreach channels.
3. Take other action as deemed appropriate.
4
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Commercial Solid Waste Service Survey
Help the City Evaluate Commercial Trash, Recycling, and Organics Collection The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is evaluating how commercial trash, recycling, and organics collection services should be provided in the future. To best inform potential future decision making, the City seeks feedback from local businesses and property owners regarding their current commercial collection services and their opinion on potentially changing from a non-exclusive system to an exclusive system.
How Commercial Collection Works Today
Commercial customers in Rancho Palos Verdes currently receive service under a nonexclusive system. Three private waste haulers are authorized to provide commercial collection services, and businesses generally have the ability to select their commercial hauler.
The City is considering whether to maintain this system or transition to an exclusive system, under which the City would select one hauler to provide commercial collection service throughout the City.
Each approach has potential advantages and disadvantages.
Non-Exclusive System — Current Exclusive System — Alternative Businesses can choose among authorized
haulers.
The City selects one hauler for all commercial
customers.
Competition among haulers may help
control rates and encourage responsive
service.
More customers on each collection route can
improve operating eƯiciency.
Businesses can change haulers if
dissatisfied.
Fewer collection vehicles may reduce truck
traƯic, noise, road impacts, and emissions.
Multiple haulers operating throughout the
City can result in more collection trucks and
less eƯicient routes.
Businesses would no longer be able to select
their own hauler.
A-1
Non-Exclusive System — Current Exclusive System — Alternative Haulers compete directly for individual
customers.
Competition would occur when the City selects
and negotiates with the hauler rather than at the
individual customer level.
Commercial Solid Waste Service Survey
The City would like to understand which of these considerations are most important to your business.
Survey responses will help the City understand the priorities and preferences of Rancho Palos Verdes businesses before considering whether any changes should be made to the City's commercial solid waste collection system.
1. Which best describes your relationship to a commercial property in Rancho Palos Verdes?
Business owner or operator
Commercial property owner
Property manager
Restaurant or food-service business
Other: __________________________
2. Who is your current solid waste hauler?
EDCO
Republic Services
Waste Management (WM)
Other / Not sure
3. How satisfied are you with your current trash, recycling, and organics collection service?
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
A-2
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Any additional comments, favorable or unfavorable, about how satisfied you are with your service.
Additional comments:
4. How important is it to your business to be able to choose its own waste hauler? Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not important at all
No preference
Briefly explain the reason(s) for your selection above.
A-3
5. Which factors are most important to you when considering commercial waste collection service? Please select up to three.
Lower rates
Ability to choose my waste hauler
Reliable collection
Customer service
Ability to change haulers if dissatisfied
Fewer collection trucks on City streets
Reduced truck noise and traƯic
Environmental benefits / reduced emissions
Availability of recycling and organics collection services Other: __________________________
Considering the TradeoƯs
Under an exclusive system, your business would be required to use the waste hauler selected by the City. Please tell us how the following situations would aƯect your preference.
6. If the City-selected hauler provided comparable service and your total rates were LOWER than they are today, would you support allowing the City to select your hauler?
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Unsure
Probably no
Definitely no
7. If the City-selected hauler provided comparable service and your total rates were approximately the same as they are today, would you support allowing the City to select your hauler?
A-4
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Unsure
Probably no
Definitely no
8. If your total rates were somewhat HIGHER, but using one City-selected hauler would significantly reduce the number of collection trucks operating on City streets (e.g., less noise, less wear and tear on city streets, vehicle emissions), would you support allowing the City to select your hauler?
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Unsure
Probably no
Definitely no
9. If an exclusive system resulted in less truck traƯic congestion (e.g., less noise, less wear and tear on city streets, vehicle emissions) how important would that benefit be to you?
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not important at all
Unsure
10. Is there anything else the City should consider when deciding how commercial waste collection services should be provided?
A-5
Thank you for your input.
A-6
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 2
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 02/04/92
SUBJECT: Questionnaires sent to the public by City Council, Committee/ Commission(s) and Staff
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City Council that all questionnaires and/or surveys to be sent by the City to the general public or special groups, whether generated by Staff, City Council or Committee/Commission(s), be authorized by the full City Council at a public meeting.
The City Manager shall be authorized, however, to approve any questionnaires and/or surveys for information to be sent to other public agencies.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council recognized the need to establish a policy to control questionnaires and surveys for information that are sent or delivered to the general public and special interest groups.
C-1