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

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Mounds View City Council March 11, 2024 Regular Meeting Page 7 Mayor Lindstrom indicated the haulers had access to both of these documents prior to the meeting. Due to the pricing being significantly higher than the averages being paid in nearby cities, the Council directed staff to reconvene the options committee so they could issue a report regarding their findings. The Council did not believe further negotiations were worth the investment in staff and attorney time for several reasons, including the large gap between the hauler proposal rates and other organized cities, and the fact the haulers did not submit a new proposal, even though they stated it was not their best price and that only one of the five haulers appeared the address the Council. Mayor Lindstrom stated Council told staff that the City Council was ready to move on from the contract negotiation. He indicated the Council’s efforts paint a very clear picture through 19 meetings with the haulers, 18 draft contracts and the Council has been discussing this matter for over a year. He noted the City has held every meeting requested by the haulers, even holding a meeting on a federal holiday and has repeatedly offered to accommodate their needs in any way. Mayor Lindstrom reported the haulers have provided the City with a proposal that they admitted should be better. He explained the City had negotiated in good faith. He commented on the companies that have chosen to align themselves with Haulers for Choice. According to Haulers for Choice’s website, Ace and Walter’s were participating haulers. Ace and Walters have aligned themselves with a group that has been involved in local politics and were party to intimidating potential candidates if they do not toe the hauler line. In addition, they were encouraging recruitment of anti-organization candidates to run against incumbents, send mailers to residents stating residents were being stripped of their rights and were directly involved in petitions to stop organized collection. He questioned how this was negotiating in good faith and how was the Council to believe these haulers care about the community. Mayor Lindstrom stated haulers have every right to express their opinion about the election, but their actions were showing they were not negotiating in good faith by giving Mounds View the best price. The haulers very publicly don’t want the negotiations to be successful and were not giving the City the best price. He indicated the City had to ask why this was occurring. He stated to quote their attorney, are they trying to just protect their book of business. He questioned if it was because the haulers care so deeply about the community they serve. That is what they were telling the City or were they protecting their profits. Mayor Lindstrom commented on the bill analysis that was conducted by the City stating one hauler charges one resident $40 per month for service and another $30 for the same service. He reported Ace charges one customer $46.92 and another customer $25.94. He indicated Republic charges one customer $58.75 and another customer $20.83, while Walters charges one customer $69.69 and another $42. He encouraged residents to keep in mind this was for the same tote service. Mayor Lindstrom reported St. Anthony just received a fresh contract in 2023 was paying $18.34 for a 65 gallon tote through organized collection. He stated these prices were the lowest when compared to any prices provided by Mounds View residents for the same 65 gallon tote. He asked Mounds View residents what this was about. He asked if it was about providing a service for a good price or for profits. He questioned residents were supportive of the haulers making maximum profits from Mounds View residents or did residents want to come together in order to be treated