Loomis looks to join Auburn, Colfax in Recology JPA

Despite the lowest rates in the region, Loomis officials agreed Tuesday to pursue a trash pickup joint powers agreement with the cities of Auburn and Colfax. Loomis entered into a contract with Recology Auburn-Placer in 2001 for the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste. The term was extended to Sept. 30, 2024. Recology offers Loomis residential, multi-family, commercial, bulky waste and universal waste collection, and "special collection." Recology also provides street sweeping services to Loomis Town. Loomis staff said the Town will need to either extend the Recology agreement or initiate competitive bids from similar services. While the staff of all three jurisdictions recommend the JPA, some Loomis locals are skeptical. "I don't want Auburn running anything that has to do with Loomis. So I think we should leave it as it is," said Loomis resident Dave Dalli. "This JPA is detrimental for the people of Loomis. We currently have the lowest rate, and we have the best service," said former Mayor Miguel Ukovich. "The rates won't remain low as they currently are whether we form a JPA or not," said Town Manager Wes Heathcock. Heathcock explained how jurisdictions throughout California are struggling to comply with costly state mandates like Senate Bill 1383, which aims to divert organic waste from landfills. Another problem on the horizon is the electrification of Recology rigs, another cost usually passed down to customers. "A typical garbage truck is now $550,000 to provide service. An electric vehicle is $1.2 million. It can only run for four hours, so you have to have multiples to do the route, " he said. Because of these requirements, multiple jurisdictions working together may be more efficient than individual towns pursuing it on their own, staff said. "It's economy of scale," said the Town Manager. "The larger the service model, the more customers, the more negotiating leverage you have." Loomis is also exempt from mandated curbside organic collection because the population is below 7,500 residents. "I think we all know in the room that in the next year or two, we're going to exceed that threshold," said Heathcock. While Auburn has twice the Loomis population of 6,800 or so, Colfax has only 2,000 residents. All three jurisdictions are considered small by solid waste standards. "As individual jurisdictions, we're all 'Mom and Pops,' " Heathcock said. Because the JPA can't be formed before September, the Town Manager said Loomis will likely extend the current agreement with Recology another year. Mayor Stephanie Youngblood was concerned that council members Amanda Cortez and Danny Cartwright were absent, but the remaining members voted 3-0 to approve staff recommendations to continue the JPA study.

Loomis to seek JPA with Auburn, Colfax