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Mounds View City Council January 8, 2024 Regular Meeting Page 4 2 City Administrator Zikmund explained if the City was unable to come to an agreement with the 3 current collectors, it was the City's intent to issue an RFP for organized collection. Before this 4 could occur, the City Council must establish an organized collections options committee to identify 5 and examine various methods of collection and appoint members of the committee. This would 6 ensure the process of organized collection moves forward per State Statute. Staff recommended 7 the Council move forward with the creation of an organized collections options committee, which 8 shall be made up of two Councilmembers and two or three staff members. It was noted a 9 recommendation from this committee will be brought back to the City Council based on their 10 research and findings no later than February 1, 2024. He commented on how negotiations and 11 discussions with the haulers has been stalled even with staff asking them repeatedly what 12 information they need from the City. He stated the priority at this time would be to create the 13 options committee with the goal of having a contract from the haulers to the City for discussion at 14 the February 5 Council worksession meeting. If a contract was not provided by the haulers, the 15 options committee will have a final report and the ability to issue an RFP. 16 17 City Attorney Riggs explained the City was beyond the 60 days that were required. He indicated 18 the reality was the City has given the haulers ample time to work through the negotiations process. 19 20 Council Member Meehlhause asked if the timeframe required by statute was for the haulers to 21 come forward with a contractual offering. City Attorney Riggs reported this was the case. 22 23 Mayor Lindstrom explained the City has received a few letters from the haulers. City 24 Administrator Zikmund reported Walters, Ace and Curbside have sent letters to the Council and 25 staff from their legal firms. He noted Republic and Waste Management have not. He stated he 26 understood the negotiations were difficult, but this was a process that had to be followed per State 27 Statute. 28 29 Mayor Lindstrom questioned if the City could move forward with the committee. City Attorney 30 Riggs reported the City has followed all proper procedure and was allowed to move forward with 31 the process, noting the City had provided double the amount of time that was necessary for the 32 haulers. 33 34 Julie Clark, 8005 Woodlawn Drive, noted she misunderstood what was being approved this 35 evening. She explained she was concerned with the fact the haulers were upset the City was not 36 negotiating in good faith given the fact there was an outstanding ballot question that could undo 37 all of the work the City was conducting at this time. She was of the opinion organized trash 38 collection would help some residents, but would hurt others. She noted she would like to have the 39 opportunity to choose her own trash hauler, but recommended the number of licensed haulers be 40 reduced. 41 42 City Administrator Zikmund explained the City had no involvement in the ballot question that was 43 brought forward. He noted this was initiated by a group, Haulers for Choice. He reported the lack 44 of getting a contract, does not allow the City to have the price. For this reason, the City would be 45 pursuing an RFP. 46