2025 Integrated Solid Waste Rates, Discarded Materials Franchise Agreement, and Ordinance Amendment
Summary
SCH Number
2025040126
Public Agency
City of San Luis Obispo
Document Title
2025 Integrated Solid Waste Rates, Discarded Materials Franchise Agreement, and Ordinance Amendment
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/2/2025
Document Description
The project consists of 1) the establishment of 2025 Integrated Solid Waste Rates and 2) restatement of the City's existing solid waste, recycling, and organics franchise agreements with San Luis Garbage, and consolidation of the franchise agreements into a Discarded Materials Agreement (Agreement) that combines all services under one contract with a unified expiration date of 2038 and introduces service improvements, including: a discounted rate for qualified low income residential customers; and an annual no cost residential cart swap; and a few no cost bulky/large item collections for residential customers; and no-cost collection of intact holiday trees after Christmas day. The Agreement also replaces an outdated Rate Setting Manual with a new rate adjustment methodology. The 2025 solid waste rate adjustment utilizes the new methodology, which aims to bring greater transparency, predictability, and fairness to future rate adjustments and would increase solid waste rates to maintain healthy and safe collection and disposal services for solid waste, recycling,
and organic material to the community. The project also includes amendment of Municipal Code Section 8.04.070 to reduce the frequency of collecting delinquent solid waste accounts.
Contact Information
Name
Meg Buckingham
Agency Name
City of San Luis Obispo
Job Title
Solid Waste and Recycling Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Luis Obispo
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Citywide
State Highways
1, 101
Railways
UPRR
Airports
San Luis Obispo Airport
Schools
San Luis Coastal School District, Private Schools
Waterways
San Luis Obispo Creek and tributaries
Other Location Info
Citywide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15308 - Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment
Reasons for Exemption
Adoption of solid waste rates, restatement of the franchise agreements and adoption of a consolidated Agreement, and the proposed municipal code amendment are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) and 15061 (b)(3) (common sense exemption). The collection and disposal of solid waste is an essential service for public health, safety, and welfare. The Agreement with San Luis Garbage Company includes mandates for compliance with state law for the disposal of multiple waste streams in a manner that ensures the protection of the environment. In addition to the protection of the environment, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the adoption of solid waste rates would have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, the actions would meet the standard for the "common sense exemption". Similarly, adoption of the ordinance to amend Section 8.04 .070 of the municipal code is exempt from CEQA because such action creates no potential for causing significant effects on the environment (Section 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption).)
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
General Rule (Common Sense) Exemption (Sec. 15061 (b)(3))
Reasons for Exemption
Adoption of solid waste rates, restatement of the franchise agreements and adoption of a consolidated Agreement, and the proposed municipal code amendment are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) and 15061 (b)(3) (common sense exemption). The collection and disposal of solid waste is an essential service for public
health, safety, and welfare. The Agreement with San Luis Garbage Company includes mandates for compliance with state law for the disposal of multiple waste streams in a manner that ensures the protection of the environment. In addition to the protection of the environment, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the adoption of solid waste rates would have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, the actions would meet the standard for the "common sense exemption". Similarly, adoption of the ordinance to amend Section 8.04 .070 of the municipal code is exempt from CEQA because such action creates no potential for causing significant effects on the environment (Section 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption).)
County Clerk
San Luis Obispo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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