03-11-2024 CC (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council March 11, 2024 Regular Meeting Page 6 Wednesday. He stated it was staff’s recommendation to terminate negotiations at this time and to restart the options committee. Mayor Lindstrom discussed the history of organized collection in Mounds View. He stated the Council first approached this topic in 2015 and at that time Haulers for Choice asked residents to oppose the negotiations. He explained in subsequent weeks, the Council directed staff to stop looking into the issue. Since that time, a previous Council wanted to bring back this topic for further discussion. He stated in March of 2023, this Council directed staff to research and plan for an organized collection system and the City notified its intention to organize collection in April of 2023. Surveys were sent to residents and in June of 2023 a meeting was held with haulers. He indicated the City and haulers met on January 4, 2024 and haulers were to provide a final and best proposal by January 11, 2024. It became clear that the haulers were not prepared to make a proposal by January 11 and therefore the City notified them that it would establish an organized collection option committee. Mayor Lindstrom reported this committee would look at the issue of organized collection and if the City’s collections services should go out for RFP. He commented on January 8, 2024 the Council established an organized collection option committee and this group met on January 17, 24 and 31, 2024. He noted the City met with the haulers on January 8 to negotiate and the haulers asked for more time. The City extended the deadline with the haulers until January 31. Mayor Lindstrom explained on January 19, 2024 the City was served with a lawsuit by Ace and Walters. He indicated on January 29, subsequent to the January 31 deadline, the City was served with a temporary restraining order. After a hearing on the restraining order, the judge denied four out of the five claims and issued an order on the remaining item to continue to negotiate in good faith. The City continued to negotiate on February 5, 8, 12, 19, 26, 27 and March 5, 2024. All in all, the City produced 18 drafts of the residential solid waste contract with all parties coming to an agreement on the written contract on February 26, 2024. Only then would the haulers provide a price. The haulers said the City had to wait for a price until all of the details were worked out. Mayor Lindstrom stated when the pricing was provided, the City asked if this was the best and final proposal. Even though the haulers waited until all of the details were agreed to before providing a price, but then said they could do better. The City told the haulers that a proposal would be brought to the Council on March 5, 2024 and explained the City was looking for a best and final offer. He noted the haulers offered no amended prices. He indicated the March 5 City Council meeting had to be rescheduled to March 6 because the Council could not meet on an election day. Mayor Lindstrom reported notice was sent to all haulers encouraging them to attend the March 6 meeting and explained this would be an opportunity to address the City Council directly. He stated on March 6 the Council held a work session to discuss the contract to which only one hauler showed up. He noted the City did not hear from any other haulers. When asked, the hauler in attendance stated the City had acted in good faith. The Council reviewed a spreadsheet created by City staff that listed rates being paid by current Mounds View residents along with a spreadsheet of rates being paid by other organized cities in Ramsey County.