Monroe considers changing up Republic garbage contract

The Monroe City Council will consider a new solid waste collection contract with Republic Services the city hopes will provide ratepayers more efficient customer service, along with a 1 percent reduction in garbage rates.

Monroe Finance Director Dianne Nelson introduced the topic during the Monroe City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Under its current contract, Republic Services is responsible for garbage collection in the city of Monroe, while the city is responsible for customer service and billing. Any time there is a customer service issue, the city acts as the "middle man,GÇ¥ communicating first with the customer, then with Republic Services and then with the customer again.

The system can be labor-intensive and inefficient, Nelson said.

"It's not good customer service,GÇ¥ she said. "It's not good for the citizens. I think they will appreciate being able to go straight to the source.GÇ¥

The city has been in negotiations with Republic Services since this January, Nelson said. The new contract is currently being reviewed by the city attorney, after which the city hopes to bring it forward for final council approval.

If council votes to approve the new contract, customers would notice a change in billing, Nelson said.

"The garbage service would come off the city's utility bill, and the people would receive a separate bill from Republic Services for the garbage,GÇ¥ Nelson said.

The contract is tentatively slated to begin on Nov. 1, pending an affirmative vote by the council. The most significant difference is that Republic bills quarterly rather than monthly, said Republic Municipal Relationship Manager Janet Prichard. Should things move forward, customers would see their first bills during the first part of December, she said.

Because it's quarterly, the first bill would look larger, but include a 1 percent savings, she said.

In addition to the 1 percent retail rate reduction on both residential and commercial service, the new contract offers multiple benefits to the city and the customers. It includes Monroe's annual free clean-up day, which was previously a separate charge to the city of roughly $26,000, downtown litter receptacle collection and municipal collection at city hall, the police station, wastewater treatment plant and parks and public works building.

The rate reduction and increased level of services was made possible by eliminating costs associated with the city performing the billing and customer service, Prichard said. With Republic being a larger operation, there are increased efficiencies, Prichard said, which enabled them to review the previous rates and make adjustments.

"We were able to offer more for less,GÇ¥ Prichard said.

Customers will be able to interface directly with Republic anytime there is an issue, for faster and more efficient service. Nelson said Republic has greater resources when it comes to customer service, which will allow for swifter resolution anytime there is a problem.

Councilmember Jason Gamble asked about customers who prefer to pay their bills at Monroe City Hall, and requested clarification as to whether they still could. Many residents view the city not as a go-between but as an advocate, he said, and enjoy coming in and paying their bill in person.

"Quite frankly, we understand that the citizens are used to coming here, and so there will be a transition time where we're probably going to be attached at the hip,GÇ¥ Prichard said. "We also thought it would be a good idea to supply the city with a tablet (computer).GÇ¥

Republic Services has a robust website with online bill pay, she said, which is easily downloadable on any smartphone. With the tablet computer, Monroe city staff would be able to assist customers by directing them to the mobile app, helping them to download it and navigate the bill pay options.

Gamble cautioned there will be residents who won't want to use an app. He asked whether they would still be able to drop off a check.

"We will do whatever the citizens want, at first,GÇ¥ Nelson said. "We will advise them of what's happening and everything, and try to work with them, but we're going to see what happens.GÇ¥

Prichard said leaving a check at city hall would cause a delay in processing, as the city would need to forward it to Republic, causing issues if a person needed their payment processed right away. She said Republic anticipates working closely with the city to ensure a smooth transition.

"Sometimes when people pay in person, it's because it needs to be recorded right away, so we're trying to get things coordinated,GÇ¥ Prichard said. "We know that there's going to be a transition. Everybody has to think about things differently and that's always hard.GÇ¥

Should council vote to approve the new contract, there would be an impact on the city budget, plus a code amendment, Nelson said. There would be a one-time windfall of approximately $1 million from the Solid Waste Utility Fund, which would be dissolved. The dollars would transition over to the city's general fund, per Washington code.

Nelson said she felt strongly that the new contract will be beneficial to the city and its customers.

"I really feel like this is a good deal,GÇ¥ she said.