Solid Waste & Recycling
Consulting Services
REVISED SCOPE OF WORK FOR
SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES
City of San Marino
June 2025
EcoNomics, Inc. | Page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER LETTER .................................................................................................................................... 3 SECTION I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... 4 SECTION II. KEY PERSONNEL ............................................................................................................... 6 William O’Toole...............................................................................................................................................6 Trevor Blythe MBA ..........................................................................................................................................7 Linda Furbee JD ...............................................................................................................................................8 Lisa Robles MS.................................................................................................................................................8 Sara Aubery MS ...............................................................................................................................................9 Ian Bevan MBA ..............................................................................................................................................10 Valeria Ferrufino............................................................................................................................................10 Clarisa Gomez................................................................................................................................................11 Bella Sullins....................................................................................................................................................11 SECTION III. SUBCONTRACTOR ......................................................................................................... 12 Cerene St. John JD.........................................................................................................................................12 SECTION IV. REVISED SCOPE OF WORK FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES ................... 14 TASK 1: CalRecycle Conference Call and Annual Visit..................................................................................................14 TASK 2: CalRecycle Electronic Annual Report (EAR)....................................................................................................14 TASK 3: CalRecycle Implementation Record................................................................................................................15 TASK 4: Proposition 218 Assistance.............................................................................................................................15 TASK 5: Update Contract Attachments B and N, and Other Related Attachments.....................................................16 TASK 6: Assist with Contract Transition.......................................................................................................................16 TASK 7: Progress Meetings with City and Transition Meetings with City and Hauler .................................................17 SECTION V. COST PROPOSAL ............................................................................................................ 18 Staff Hourly Rates........................................................................................................................................................18 Proposed Budget – Revised Scope of Work.................................................................................................................19 SECTION VI. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 20 EcoNomics, Inc. | Page 3
COVER LETTER
June 13, 2025
Amber Shah
Parks & Public Works Director/City Engineer
City of San Marino
2200 Huntington Drive
San Marino, California 91108
RE: Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Services Dear Ms. Shah:
EcoNomics Inc. is pleased to submit the Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Services to the City of San Marino for with solid waste and recycling services for June 1 through September 30, 2025.
The Revised Scope of Work includes the following tasks:
• CalRecycle Conference Call and Site Visit
• CalRecycle Electronic Annual Report (EAR)
• Proposition 218 Assistance
• Update Attachments B and N, and Other Related Attachments • Assist with Contract Transition
• Progress Meetings with City Staff & Transition Meetings with Hauler and City We are excited by the opportunity to assist the City of San Marino with the above outlined tasks and welcome any questions you might have about our Revised Scope of Work. Please feel free to contact me at 858-886-6657 (cell) or email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Trevor Blythe
Senior Vice President
EcoNomics, Inc. (a Colorado ‘C’ Corporation dba ECAL-NOMICS, INC. in California) Corporate Office
832 Camino del Mar, Suite 2
Del Mar, California 92014
(858) 793-9200
Orange County Office
34185 Street of the Violet Lantern, Suite 104
Dana Point, California 92629
(858) 793-9200
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services SECTION I. BACKGROUND
Since 1977, EcoNomics, Inc. has assisted municipal clients in creating sustainability systems that are efficient, cost effective and in compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations. EcoNomics has assisted public and private sector businesses with strategic planning and implementation services for recycling, source reduction, organic waste management, buy-recycled, manufacture-for recyclability and the development of sustainability profiles.
EcoNomics provides a range of specific consulting services designed to create an effective waste management and recycling program. EcoNomics’ experience encompasses the areas listed below.
Strategic Planning, Development and Program Implementation for Compliance with California State Laws AB 939, AB 341, AB 1826 and SB 1383. EcoNomics identifies options, performs cost analyses, develops recommendations, and implements programs to achieve maximum waste reduction and diversion for compliance with the following State laws:
• AB 939 EcoNomics prepares AB 939 Annual Reports and SB 1066 requests, and acts as a liaison between jurisdictions and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) on AB 939 compliance issues. EcoNomics successfully works with businesses and multi-family complexes to implement recycling programs that increased the client’s AB 939 diversion rate and to further demonstrate compliance with programmatic requirements of AB 939.
• AB 341 EcoNomics assists its client municipalities with implementing commercial and multifamily recycling programs to comply with AB 341. To this end, EcoNomics develops compliance plans for its clients; drafts and implements cost-saving recycling proposals for large commercial and multi-family generators; develops outreach materials for distribution to AB 341-non-compliant properties to notify them of the law; and monitors progress with compliance.
• AB 1826 EcoNomics has been implementing organics diversion programs at restaurants, hotels, schools and large stadiums since 2002. For AB 1826 compliance, EcoNomics assists its clients with identifying the restaurants that meet the compliance thresholds; developing outreach materials to notify the restaurants of the requirement to divert organics; and works directly with the restaurants to implement cost-saving organics diversion programs. • SB 1383 Since 2018, EcoNomics has overseen three RFPs and five negotiations that produced SB 1383 specific agreements. In addition, we are assisting several jurisdictions in complying with SB 1383 with respect to planning and provision of infrastructure options.
Franchise Agreements, Contract/Franchise Negotiations, Collection Contracts, and Contract Management. EcoNomics assists local governments in competitive procurements and negotiations for franchise/service contracts, contract amendments, rate reviews, audits, and contract management and oversight. The procurements feature contracts/agreements that contain specific measurable and enforceable performance provisions. These customized provisions ensure that the jurisdictions we serve can effectively respond to both current and anticipated regulatory and legislative requirements and EcoNomics, Inc. | Page 5
City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services mandates. Specifically, EcoNomics assists cities and counties in customizing procurement services for refuse collection, materials recovery facilities, curbside recycling programs, commercial/industrial recycling programs, green waste recycling, composting and household hazardous waste collection/drop off programs. EcoNomics provides effective solutions for the community with an understanding of the fundamental challenge of local governments to balance complex services and programs with the realities of budget constraints. State legislation is changing the structure and importance of contracts for these services.
Solid Waste Generation & Diversion Composition Studies. Using statistical sampling methods developed exclusively for its clients, EcoNomics conducts detailed studies to determine the quantity and composition of the client's waste stream. The results of these studies are then used to develop waste reduction and recycling programs targeted to the specific materials in the waste stream and/or to determine a new baseline year for purposes of AB 939. In addition, we have designed new sampling protocols for SB 1383 that measure contamination and collection route efficiencies.
Secondary Materials Markets. With the increased goal of 75% diversion, and the passage of SB 54, more types of discarded materials will need to be sold into the secondary materials markets. The revision in import restrictions by China, India, and other export markets has changed the flow of materials to alternate export markets. Hauling companies are trying to shift market risk to municipalities. This is not always a valid response and needs to be carefully examined in discussions with hauling companies.
EcoNomics understands the vital link between recycling programs and markets for the collected materials.
EcoNomics constantly monitors both the domestic and overseas markets for recyclable commodities such as glass, paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, and aluminum. This expertise allows us to assist clients in marketing the ever-broadening types of recyclable materials and to forecast the trends that affect materials pricing and cost structures. Markets for food scraps via composting are more complex and require expertise to get the food scraps out of the waste stream and back to fields and farms. EcoNomics is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving organics processing technologies and markets for organics as well as state and federal standards for the compost produced.
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services SECTION II. KEY PERSONNEL
WILLIAM O’TOOLE
Title: President & Founder
Education: BS in Biology (Systems Ecology), University California, San Diego, 1976 Specializations: Strategic Oversight, High-level Compliance Planning, Waste Composition Study Design and Review, Contract Negotiations
William O’Toole will provide senior review and strategic direction on the project’s procurement process.
Mr. O’Toole is a “hands-on visionary” working with cities and counties to anticipate legislative trends, shifts in secondary materials markets, and other factors that affect local collection contracts. He devises practical, cost-effective methods for implementing diversion programs that benefit cities’ residents and businesses and enable clients to meet the requirements of both AB 939 and the evolving requirements of AB 341, AB 1826 and SB 1383. William has worked with dozens of cities to negotiate hauler contracts or manage the competitive procurement process, including local Orange County cities such as Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills/Lake Forest joint procurement, Tustin, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, and Lake Forest.
Mr. O’Toole founded EcoNomics, Inc. in 1977 and has 40 years of experience in the recycling and solid waste industry. As one of the early pioneers in the recycling industry, he worked to implement some of the first curbside recycling programs in California and then developed secondary materials markets to accept the materials collected. He then turned his attention to implementing commercial recycling programs, which, in most cities yield far more tons of diversion due to the size and composition of these waste streams. He is now heavily involved in continuing the transition from the traditional view of solid waste and recycling towards the more encompassing vision of a sustainable materials management industry.
During the process of developing recycling programs, it became clear that existing collection contracts were insufficient with respect to programs, reporting, and enforcement tools to handle the additional requirements of diversion mandates. In addition, the segmentation of wastes into subcomponents (i.e., E-waste, HHW, “big box” recyclable streams, etc.) also required a new development of contract language and management tools to meet the demands of a different approach to the handling of what used to be considered as Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). It was at this point that Mr. O’Toole became involved in overseeing the procurement of hauler services. He works with his client cities to develop contracts that are specifically tailored to maximize diversion, identify costs, and develop rate structures that are transparent.
Mr. O’Toole is one of the founders of the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) as well as Californians Against Waste (CAW). He has worked on statewide legislation and has been a member of several committees and task forces for the California Integrated Waste Management Board (now known as CalRecycle) on AB 939 Diversion Calculations and Reporting Requirements for Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) and Transfer Stations.
Mr. O’Toole brings significant local knowledge about the Orange County solid waste and recycling system including familiarity with the recycling, materials recovery, construction and demolition waste processing facilities, the landfill system and all the solid waste and recycling companies that are active in the Orange County area.
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services
TREVOR BLYTHE MBA
Title: Vice President and Co-Owner
Education: BS in Environmental Science, University California, Santa Barbara, 2006 MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School, 2014 Specializations: Project Management, CalRecycle Compliance Management and TroubleShooting, Hauler Contract Negotiation and Procurement Trevor Blythe has over 18 years of experience as a consultant in the sustainable materials management industry. Mr. Blythe works daily with local governments, private industry, and cities’ waste haulers to overcome operational and financial barriers to implementing sustainable materials management programs at the municipal scale. He is an expert on solid waste regulations, operations, and collection system optimization. Mr. Blythe holds a Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco. During his coursework at Presidio, Trevor explored market-based solutions for returning key nutrients from organic waste back to the soil. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara with an emphasis on Geographic Information Systems.
Mr. Blythe is currently assisting the cities of Anaheim, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Tustin, and Stanton with contract management, SB 1383 compliance planning, program cost, rate impact analyses and other tasks. Mr. Blythe has assisted the cities of Laguna Hills, Lake Forest/Laguna Hills joint procurement, Lake Forest and Tustin with competitive RFPs for hauling service that incorporated all SB 1383 programmatic requirements as well as other technological innovations. Similarly, he has assisted the cities of Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Rancho Mirage, and Laguna Hills with hauler contract negotiations to update agreements to comply with new legislative mandates. He also assists EcoNomics’ client cities with compliance program implementation, including developing fair and reasonable pricing to comply with new, state-mandated diversion programs, monitoring diversion reports to assess hauler compliance with state laws, and leading meetings with cities and haulers to monitor contractual compliance and resolve outstanding contractual obligations.
Mr. Blythe has developed comprehensive organics cost models used in the City of Anaheim, Mission Viejo, Tustin, Santa Ana, Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Rancho Mirage, and Napa. The model is used to project the cost of AB 1826 and SB 1383 compliance and to examine the impact of these costs on different components of a city’s rate base. The model allows for real-time entry of generator participation assumptions, rate incentives, and service scenarios to predict the total cost of the program and the potential rate impact on residential and commercial accounts. The model can be used to illustrate the impacts of different funding scenarios for presentation to elected officials and senior City management.
In many cases, the rate model was developed with the franchise haulers to construct a rate that adequately compensates the hauler while still providing a rate incentive for the generator, thus aligning the profit incentive of the hauler with the cost reduction incentives of the generators with the compliance requirements of the City.
Mr. Blythe teaches two courses as adjunct faculty in the Sustainability and Resource Management program at Irvine Valley College; SRM 95 – The Business Case for Sustainability and SRM 90 – Sustainability for Communities.
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Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services
LINDA FURBEE JD
Title: Director
Education: BA University of California, Riverside; Juris Doctorate California Desert Trial Academy College of Law
Specializations: Hauler Contract Procurement, Transition to New Hauler Agreements, Hauler Contract Management, SB 1383 Program Development, CalRecycle Compliance and Reporting Ms. Furbee joined EcoNomics in October 2021. As her first assignment, she held a 3-day per week residency at the City of Newport Beach Municipal Operations Division for 1-year where she assisted the City with finalizing its residential franchise negotiations and overseeing the implementation of a citywide organics program. Her function was to oversee the hauler’s implementation of a third organics cart to all households and ensure the roll-out, and the accompanying educational campaigns were done in accordance with the contract terms. Ms. Furbee ran weekly meetings with the City and its hauler to troubleshoot operational issues, coordinate resolutions to customer service issues, ensure compliance with SB 1383 contamination minimization monitoring requirements, and ensure the ratepayers were receiving the value that they were paying for. She managed the City’s edible food recovery program inspections, notifications, outreach, reporting and capacity planning. Ms. Furbee also has assisted client cities including the Cities of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills/Lake Forest joint procurement and Newport Beach with procurement processes, both via a competitive RFP process and via negotiations, to ensure franchise agreements are fully aligned with SB 1383 requirements. To this end, Ms. Furbee has drafted scope of work language, education and outreach requirements, contamination monitoring requirements and other key elements that our client cities may use to attain compliance.
Prior to her tenure at EcoNomics, Ms. Furbee was an account director for a communications firm in the Coachella Valley. In her capacity within the organization, Ms. Furbee assisted clients with implementing communication and marketing strategies. Prior to her career in marketing, Ms. Furbee worked in municipal government in various capacities, including Assistant to the City Manager, Management Services/Marketing Director, and Management Analyst.
LISA ROBLES MS
Title: Director
Education: BS in Communications, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 2011 Master’s in Environmental Studies (MS), California State University Fullerton, 2018 Specializations: SB 1383 Program Development, Compliance and Reporting; Implementation of C&D Tracking Systems such as Green Halo; Education and Outreach; GIS Applications Lisa Robles joined the EcoNomics team in April 2018 and has been managing the SB 1383/AB 341/AB 1826 compliance implementation efforts in the City of Santa Ana as well as the CalGreen C&D program revision and development in the City of Lake Forest. Ms. Robles also works with the City of Anaheim on SB 1383 planning, implementing the OC Waste and Recycling grant, and has experience drafting grant reports, developing CRM systems, and managing a competitive procurement process for PR firms.
Ms. Robles has twelve years of experience developing and managing solid waste and recycling programs in both the both private and public sector. Ms. Robles worked as Republic Services recycling coordinator based out of the Anaheim facility for over four years and gained valuable experience in the operational EcoNomics, Inc. | Page 9
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Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services and outreach components of the materials management industry. At Republic, Ms. Robles assisted client cities with designing and implementing waste diversion programs, ranging from food scrap recycling programs to HHW collection events. She was also the main liaison point with client cities to assist with diversion tonnage and compliance reporting. At Republic, Ms. Robles developed key partnerships through involvement in community groups such as MUZEO and Anaheim Beautiful.
More recently, as an intern in the Public Works Department at the City of Laguna Beach, Ms. Robles managed the City’s CalGreen Construction and Demolition recycling program and worked to continuously improve compliance and diversion rates. At Laguna Beach, Ms. Robles assisted the City with its hauler contract management and oversight as well as overseeing CalRecycle compliance reporting.
Ms. Robles obtained her Master of Science in Environmental Studies from CSU Fullerton. Ms. Robles has experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as well as an in depth understanding of how sustainable waste management at a municipal scale can result in desirable environmental outcomes. Ms.
Robles is proficient in the Microsoft Office suite, the Adobe design platform, ARCGIS, and is a native speaker of Spanish.
SARA AUBERY MS
Title: Program Implementation Manager and Software Developer Education: BS in Animal and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, 2007 MS in Natural Resource Management and Marine Science, University of the Virgin Islands, 2014 Specializations: Program Design, Implementation and Sustainable Finance, Data Analysis, Database Management, and Outreach and Education.
Ms. Aubery joined EcoNomics in January 2023. She is a skilled recycling implementation project manager who is dedicated to helping cities meet their sustainability goals. Her diverse skill set and passion for creating positive change makes her an ideal partner. Ms. Aubery is currently managing a team of four recycling coordinators in Santa Ana to implement SB 1383 programs in a timeline that conforms with the City’s Corrective Action Plan. To this end, Ms. Aubery uses data-driven methods to achieve process efficiencies and, with the help of her team, implemented over 300 SB 1383 compliant programs in the span of just over 2 months.
Ms. Aubery has managed large data sets with ease and knows how to leverage data to drive impactful decisions. Her keen eye for detail and ability to identify key insights will be invaluable in helping your city optimize its recycling programs. Ms. Aubery has assisted the City of Napa with developing a rate model to identify the optimal incentive for its commercial composting program and to identify keys costs for a new organics route for generators with high-levels of contamination. The model uses a data processing system called ‘R’ and allows for the client to enter various parameters into an online app to assess impacts to the City’s rate revenue and costs in real time.
Prior to this work she spent 5 years in waste diversion for specialty industries. Ms. Aubery is passionate about behavior change and has a proven track record of designing and implementing effective programs that inspire communities to make positive changes towards sustainability. Her expertise in outreach and education, supply chain management, material flow and procurement, graphic design, legislation, and the circular economy will ensure that your city's needs are met with creative and innovative solutions.
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services
IAN BEVAN MBA
Title: Senior Program Implementation Coordinator
Time with EcoNomics: 10 years
Education: BA in Political Science, San Diego State University, 2008 MBA in Sustainable Management, Presidio Graduate School, 2012 Specializations: AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383 Field Implementation; CalRecycle Compliance Reporting (EAR Implementation Record and Form 303)
Ian Bevan specializes in developing cost-effective waste diversion programs that help businesses meet compliance requirements. He has implemented AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383 programs at hundreds of commercial and multi-family properties in San Juan Capistrano, Tustin, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Santa Ana, and Anaheim. Mr. Bevan uses information gathered at site audits to develop customized, cost-saving waste reduction programs that fit the unique needs of each property, from split trash and recycling bins to specialized enclosure signage and outreach. Mr. Bevan has also worked with large retail operations to implement organics waste diversion.
Mr. Bevan has experience working with the City of San Diego Environmental Department managing the construction and demolition ordinance. In this capacity, Mr. Bevan worked with contractors to ensure they met or exceeded the City’s 50% diversion requirement for construction and demolition waste. Mr.
Bevan leveraged his experience as an on-campus sustainability advocate at San Diego State University to found a non-profit company committed to facilitating grassroots, student-led sustainability programs at colleges and universities.
VALERIA FERRUFINO
Title: Senior Sustainability Coordinator
Education: AA in Geography, AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences, AA in Liberal Studies: Teacher Education, Certificate of Achievement in Sustainability and Resource Management, Irvine Valley College, 2020
BA in Geography with Emphasis in Environmental Analysis, Geographic Information Systems Certificate, California State University Fullerton, 2022 Specializations: Edible Food Recovery Inspections, AB 1826 & SB 1383 Monitoring and Compliance, Contamination Audit Reviews, GIS Applications Valeria Ferrufino joined the EcoNomics team in January of 2020 to assist with field implementation. Ms.
Ferrufino conducts recurring audits of participants in the City’s SB 1383 program to assess participation and contamination levels. She has provided education regarding recycling legislation and recommendations for compliance to hundreds of business managers at restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, shopping malls, offices, and multi-family properties in Laguna Hills, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, and Mission Viejo. She has also provided doorstep education to over 1000 residents in San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel, informing about organic recycling guidelines. Ms. Ferrufino has implemented, provided staff training, and verified the quality of dozens of AB 1826 and SB 1383 programs at commercial properties in Irvine. She has worked in the City of Mission Viejo to analyze commercial listings to identify SB 1383, AB 1826 and AB 827 non-compliant generators and bring them the necessary education for compliance.
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Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services Ms. Ferrufino led sustainability efforts at Irvine Valley College as the Co-President of the on-campus Green Team and with frequent presentations of sustainability projects at the college’s Environmental Leadership Task Force. She also led projects as the Vice President of Communications in the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Ms. Ferrufino has proficient ArcGIS skills that have assisted in presenting field audit findings and optimizing recycling audit routes.
CLARISA GOMEZ
Title: Program Implementation Coordinator
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy and Urban Studies, University of California, Irvine
Specialization: Community Engagement, Outreach, Zero Waste Event Coordination, Field Compliance Assessments
Clarisa Gomez joined the EcoNomics team in February 2024 to assist with field implementation. She has worked with the City of Santa Ana to identify SB 1383 non-compliant generators including small businesses and multi-family complexes that lack adequate service. Ms. Gomez has experience conducting weekly site visits to businesses and multi-family properties to assess compliance with SB 1383, as well as, communicating SB 1383 requirements and outreach materials to customers in English and Spanish when implementing recycling and organic recycling programs.
Ms. Gomez previously worked as a Sustainability Recycling Specialist for CR&R where she compiled tonnage data for monthly and quarterly diversion reports, developed client-focused service proposals to implement food waste and recycling programs for AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383, and assisted in creating materials for annual curbside report, audited landfills, and educational waste sorting materials.
BELLA SULLINS
Title: Program Implementation Coordinator
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, Point Loma Nazarene University, 2023 Specialization: Field Compliance Assessments, Community Engagement, Problem Solving Bella Sullins joined the EcoNomics team in October 2023 to assist with field implementation. She has worked with the City of Santa Ana to identify SB 1383 non-compliant generators including small businesses and multi-family complexes that lack adequate service. Additionally, Ms. Sullins has worked with the City of Irvine to implement organics recycling and food recycling services to residents. Ms. Sullins is diligent and consistent in her communication skills with each customer she comes across, which is illustrated in her high conversion rates.
Ms. Sullins served as a Nature Specialist near Yosemite National Park where she developed a multi-faceted curriculum for kids and young adults. Shortly after, she worked at a non-profit as a Community Engagement Outreach Assistant, where she assisted with the Recycling Call Center to assist the public in proper waste disposal. Her expertise in communicating with constituents has helped capture the true efforts of local government and environmental policy. In all the work she does, she hopes to share the beauty of creation with others so they may be inspired to make change in their communities.
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services SECTION III. SUBCONTRACTOR
EcoNomics is proposing to use one subcontractor if engaged by the City of San Marino. Ms. St. John is an active member of the California Bar and, utilizing over 40 years of experience in the solid waste and recycling field, has extensive experience in drafting contracts for RFP’s, contract negotiations, and collection contract amendments for new diversion services and programs. Ms. St. John has served in this capacity with EcoNomics in several procurements and negotiations including the RFP for the City of Laguna Hills/Lake Forest joint procurement; RFP for the City of Laguna Beach; RFP for the City of Tustin; RFP for the City of Lake Forest; RFP for the City of Laguna Hills; negotiation of a new city-wide collection contract for the City of Laguna Niguel; negotiations for a new residential collection contract for the City of Newport Beach; and negotiations for a new solid waste and recycling collection contract based upon SB 1383 requirements for the City of Rancho Mirage. Her CV is included below.
CERENE ST. JOHN JD
Title: Attorney (Subcontractor)
Education: B.A. in Political Science from California State University, San Bernardino (1977) J.D. Degree from The University of Santa Clara School of Law (1980).
Cerene St. John began her solid waste career as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco. Assigned to the Special Projects Division, she led a team in the Chief Administrator’s Office to find a new landfill for the City when existing contracts were due to expire. She conducted a five-county negotiating effort that resulted in a contract and associated permits for the City’s use of the Altamont Landfill located in Alameda County beginning in 1983.
Ms. St. John then served for six years as the Solid Waste Program Manager for the City of Sunnyvale.
While there, she conducted a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for solid waste and collection services resulting in a new contract with a detailed scope of work and performance standards. She conducted an RFP process for long-term landfill capacity for the City of Sunnyvale and 4 other cities resulting in a 30- year contract with the Kirby Canyon Landfill owned and operated by Waste Management. She also initiated work on the design and construction of the City-owned SMaRT Station, a transfer station/MRF that began operation in 1993.
Ms. St. John joined EcoNomics in 1990 and served as Vice President through June 2008. She now serves as outside legal counsel to many of EcoNomics’ clients through the Law Office of Cerene St. John. She specializes in conducting procurements for solid waste and recycling collection services. She also assists cities and counties with negotiations for these services and with contract amendments, ordinance revisions, and review of proposed legislation.
As a former City Attorney and an active member of the State Bar of California, Ms. St. John prepares draft contract amendments, draft contracts, and RFP language for review by City Attorneys. Ms. St. John writes precise and thorough scopes of work for diversion programs and crafts contracts that protect the interest of the jurisdiction and its ratepayers. She serves as a “bridge” between the technical requirements in these contracts and the legal language needed to enforce them. This generally saves our client's time and expense, as the City Attorney can senior review her work rather than spending time crafting the legal language, and the technical scope of work for the contract.
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Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services Ms. St. John’s unique understanding of the legal underpinnings of the RFP process, the political and financial realities of cities, and her experience in negotiations with the solid waste industry allow her to create procurement processes and negotiations for contract amendments that are fair, public, and that anticipate potential pitfalls so problems can be avoided.
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Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services SECTION IV. REVISED SCOPE OF WORK FOR
SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES
TASK 1: CALRECYCLE CONFERENCE CALL AND ANNUAL VISIT
EcoNomics is familiar with the CalRecycle Local Assistance and Market Development (LAMD) representatives and how data gathered during the site visits and conference calls is used to assess a jurisdiction’s compliance. EcoNomics assisted the City in 2023 with its site visit and conference call and is currently working with the City’s LAMD CalRecycle representative this year. The City is likely going to be facing discussions with CalRecycle’s Jurisdiction and Agency Compliance and Enforcement (JACE) on its compliance status. EcoNomics has worked with other jurisdictions who were placed on compliance orders and needed plans to be designed and implemented so that the jurisdiction avoided fines. Depending on CalRecycle’s next discussion(s) with the City we can assist the City with JACE response as needed.
For the upcoming LAMD site visit, EcoNomics will facilitate tours of the City of San Marino residential and commercial sectors as needed for CalRecycle’s annual site visit in July or August 2025.
For reference, in addition to assisting the City of San Marino with its CalRecycle Conference Call and Site Visit, EcoNomics is currently also assisting the Cities of Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Santa Ana, Tustin, Mission Viejo and Anaheim.
TASK 2: CALRECYCLE ELECTRONIC ANNUAL REPORT (EAR)
CalRecycle requires the submittal of an Electronic Annual Report (EAR) and arranges jurisdiction site visits for verification and inspection purposes on an annual basis. The tasks below describe the services that EcoNomics will provide to assist staff in meeting their mandated reporting duties.
In addition to the City of San Marino’s EAR submittal for calendar year 2023, EcoNomics assisted the following seven cities with gathering data for and/or drafting the Electronic Annual Report (EAR) to CalRecycle: Anaheim, Buena Park, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, and Tustin. The annual reporting process is an important opportunity for the City to showcase its diversion programs and to demonstrate its compliance with state diversion mandates.
As part of its preparation of the annual report, EcoNomics takes the following actions and gathers the following data points to provide CalRecycle a holistic picture of the City’s diversion programs. EcoNomics will focus its efforts on AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383 compliance reporting assistance vis-à-vis the annual report.
• Analysis of SB 1383 compliance rate
• Narrative summary of all outreach efforts conducted to increase compliance • Contact the hauler and review City records to obtain information on outreach used to inform residents and businesses of recycling programs
• Coordination with local food banks to determine the weight of edible materials donated EcoNomics, Inc. | Page 15
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Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services Over the last decade, EcoNomics has established a database and a preparation schedule for assembling the necessary information for submittal of CalRecycle’s required Electronic Annual Report (EAR). As part of the procedure, a diverse set of tonnage data is collected and verified. This comprehensive database leads to a thorough annual report that provides CalRecycle with a clear narrative that strongly demonstrates the City’s compliance with diversion mandates.
TASK 3: CALRECYCLE IMPLEMENTATION RECORD
Cities must maintain all records required by the SB 1383 regulation in an Implementation Record (14 CCR Section 18995.2). In preparation for the City’s CalRecycle Conference Call on December 9, 2024, EcoNomics worked with City staff to gather the existing documentation of the current incomplete implementation. The Implementation Record will be expanded in tandem with any compliance actions as directed by CalRecycle’s JACE division.
In preparation for the City’s upcoming CalRecycle Conference Call, EcoNomics will update the City’s Implementation Record to include all City documents and data generated to date applicable to the Implementation Record.
For reference, EcoNomics has assisted and/or currently assists with gathering data, compilation and maintenance of the Implementation Records for the Cities of Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Mission Viejo and Tustin.
TASK 4: PROPOSITION 218 ASSISTANCE
The City’s previous hauler’s rates had been approved through a Proposition 218 (Prop 218) process. Due to the compressed timeframe to conduct the RFP process and select a hauler, the City’s new contract with Valley Vista Services includes the previous hauler’s rates for the first four months of the contract, from May 31 through September 30, 2025. These rates are included as Attachment D-1 to the contract.
Increases in solid waste and recycling rates require the City to conduct a Prop 218 process including preparation of a Prop 218 notice, mailing the notice to all parcel owners 45 days in advance of the Prop 218 hearing, and conducting a Prop 218 public hearing.
Utilizing the rates in Attachment D-1 allows the City the time needed to conduct a Prop 218 process for Valley Vista’s new rates which are included as Attachments D-2 and D-3 to the contract. Attachment D-2 are the rates for Valley Vista’s two-stream collection system which include utilizing Valley Vista’s Grand Central Recycling and Transfer Station, a CalRecycle designated High Diversion Organic Waste Processing Facility (HDOWPF). Attachment D-3 are the rates for Valley Vista’s three-stream collection system which would automatically go into effect if Valley Vista’s Grand Central Recycling and Transfer Station loses its HDOWPF CalRecycle designation. Both Attachments D-2 and D-3 will be included in the City’s Prop 218 process.
To assist with the City’s Prop 218 process, EcoNomics will prepare a draft of the Prop 218 notice for review and finalization by the City Attorney, as well as a drafts of documents to be posted on the City’s website during the Prop 218 process including the Attachment D-2 and Attachment D-3 rate sheets, and the administrative process for rate adjustments. EcoNomics will also prepare a draft Prop 218 hearing staff report for review and finalization by City staff and the City Attorney.
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services EcoNomics has assisted the Cities of Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, and Tustin with the Prop 218 process in recent years.
TASK 5: UPDATE CONTRACT ATTACHMENTS B AND N, AND OTHER RELATED
ATTACHMENTS
EcoNomics prepared the City’s new SB 1383-aligned contract for the City’s Request for Proposals for Solid Waste and Recycling Services. The City received four proposals in response to its RFP. In order for the contract to fulfill the requirements of SB 1383, the contract included a three-stream collection system.
The City received a proposal from Valley Vista Services which included a two-stream collection system as Valley Vista’s Optimal Collection System. For most jurisdictions, CalRecycle requires a three-stream collection system for SB 1383, however a jurisdiction may implement a two-stream collection system if the collected materials are brought to a CalRecycle designated High Diversion Organic Waste Processing Facility (HDOWPF). The City Council approved a two-stream collection system with all collected materials from San Marino being transported to Valley Vista’s Grand Central Recycling and Transfer Station, a CalRecycle designated HDOWPF, for processing.
When drafting the contract and issuing the RFP, it was not envisioned that a proposal would be received and approved for two-stream collection and processing. Therefore, Attachment B (Scope of Work), Attachment N (Characterizations of Divertible Materials and MSW) and other attachments to the contract need to be updated to include a two-stream collection system. EcoNomics drafted Attachment B and Attachment N when drafting the contract. EcoNomics will update Attachments B and N, as well as other related attachments, to include the parameters and requirements for Valley Vista’s implementation of a two-stream collection system in San Marino through the use of the City-directed change in scope provisions in the agreement.
TASK 6: ASSIST WITH CONTRACT TRANSITION
Transitioning to a new hauler agreement requires considerable review and monitoring of the hauler’s contractual obligations to ensure that the transition is occurring as required by the City and with the least amount of disruption to the residents and businesses as possible. In order to assist the City of San Marino with the transition to the new contract, EcoNomics has included the tasks below.
As EcoNomics drafted the City’s new contract with Valley Vista Services, EcoNomics has an in-depth understanding of the various contractual mechanisms contained in the contract that can assist the City of San Marino in overseeing implementation of the City’s new contract during the transition period from June 1 through September 30, 2025. EcoNomics will assist in ensuring as smooth as possible transition to the new contract, evaluating progress and monitoring the hauler’s implementation plan for the transition period, evaluating development of outreach materials, and developing of a potential plan for early rollout of residential carts.
A summary of anticipated contract management tasks to be performed during the transition include, but are not limited to:
• Review and monitor Valley Vista’s progress with implementation plan for the transition period
• Troubleshoot operational concerns during the transition EcoNomics, Inc. | Page 17
City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services • Assist with contract interpretation
• Review and monitor public outreach efforts, with special attention paid notices for new services, any added costs for customers, changes in types of service to ensure that adequate notice and explanation is provided to the affected customers • Review of format of reports to be submitted by the hauler as required by the new contract • Monitor customer service and assist in resolving any issues related to customer service • Monitor routing and assist in resolving any issues related to routing • Review schedule for submittal of hauler reports to City regarding the transition to the new contract
• Review hauler reports submitted to City regarding the transition to the new contract • Develop potential plan for early roll-out of residential carts with Valley Vista • Addressing any proposals by the hauler that materially impact costs or timing of program implementation
Further, we have assisted several cities with implementing a new contract transition in the post-SB 1383 landscape, including Tustin, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana. The weekly, bi-weekly and monthly meetings with the City, the hauler, and EcoNomics are important in keeping an open line of communication between all parties and to clearly communicate the City’s expectations. To track time sensitive contractual obligations, EcoNomics will develop a tracking document that has aggregated these items in a spreadsheet allowing for quick reference of pending deliverables. This tracking document is helpful when developing agendas for meetings with the Cities and the hauler to ensure all parties are aware of upcoming deliverables.
TASK 7: PROGRESS MEETINGS WITH CITY AND TRANSITION MEETINGS WITH
CITY AND HAULER
EcoNomics will schedule progress meetings as needed with the City regarding the CalRecycle EAR, conference call and site visit and implementation record. These meetings serve to provide updates and review status of the deliverables, and the work effort completed and in progress.
In order to ensure the new contract transition goes as smooth as possible, EcoNomics recommends two meetings per month in June, July, August and September with the City, Valley Vista, and EcoNomics.
EcoNomics will prepare and distribute agendas in advance of meetings, and distribute notes and action items after the meetings. EcoNomics will also create a tracking spreadsheet to ensure the contract requirements are being met and the tasks included in the implementation plan for the transition period are being accomplished. When appropriate, EcoNomics will hold an internal meeting with city staff to discuss and strategize about sensitive agenda items before meeting with the hauler.
The meetings listed above ensure that there is constant and open communication between the hauler and the City. The City’s expectations of the hauler will be clearly communicated in writing on the agenda and orally during the meetings to assist in ensuring as smooth of a transition as possible. In addition, the meetings allow the hauler and/or the City to raise any issues or concerns as they occur, and to work together to resolve these issues effectively and in a timely manner. That way, there are not surprises or misunderstandings on either party’s side, the City or the hauler.
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services SECTION V. COST PROPOSAL
STAFF HOURLY RATES
Name Position Hourly Rate
William O’Toole President $235
Cerene St. John JD Attorney $290
Trevor Blythe Vice President $195
Linda Furbee JD Director $165
Lisa Robles MS Director $165
Sara Aubery Manager $145
Ian Bevan MBA Coordinator $115
Valeria Ferrufino Coordinator $115
Clarisa Gomez Coordinator $115
Bella Sullins Coordinator $115
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services PROPOSED BUDGET – REVISED SCOPE OF WORK
*Staff hours may be moved between tasks upon City approval.
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City of San Marino
Revised Scope of Work for Solid Waste and Recycling Consulting Services SECTION VI. REFERENCES