07/11/2023 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final July 11, 2023 Solid Waste Disposal District Managing Director Himanshu Mehta utilized a PowerPoint presentation to update the Board on the County's Solid Waste and Recyclables Collection Service. It was time to begin the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to ensure competitive procurement and maintain service quality. The Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD) aimed to increase efficiency and recycling rates while managing costs, remaining one of the lowest -priced options in the Treasure Coast region. This process followed the Franchise Agreement Ordinance and would result in the best possible outcome for the community. Mr. Mehta stated that Waste Management had an exclusive subscription service for garbage and yard waste pickup and commercial service in unincorporated areas of Indian River County, except for Municipalities. Over 70% of unincorporated area residents subscribed to Waste Management (WM) services. The City of Fellsmere was using the piggyback clause and was waiting for the Board's decision, while the City of Sebastian recently signed a new franchise agreement with WM. Vero Beach had its own solid waste collection service, and the Town of Indian River Shores and the Town of Orchid were interested in participating in the RFP. Mr. Mehta highlighted the new potential services included in the RFP. He gave an overview of the Universal Garbage Collection to the RFP. He outlined requirements for vendors bidding on exclusive residential and commercial franchise areas in unincorporated Indian River County, which included single -stream recycling for the entire County and Government facilities. Mr. Mehta reviewed four (4) residential service options, the evaluation criteria, and the timeline. He emphasized that the County's procurement documents included the Cone of Silence, which would be implemented when the RFP was issued, with which staff and Board members must comply. Vendors must direct questions through the County purchasing department. He suggested enacting the Cone of Silence immediately. Vice Chairman Adams stated that the Board would face challenging decisions during this year's RFP process and discussed the difficulty of the process. She stated that rushing the process would not benefit the residents, and the Board needed to allow staff and vendors ample time to provide comprehensive packages for evaluation. Further, the Board may not be able to please everyone, but following the proper process would equip them to make a well-informed decision. With Indian River Shores and the Town of Orchid's interest in joining the endeavor, it would attract more customers for vendors submitting their RFPs. The City of Fellsmere had participated in the past through the piggyback option Indian River County Florida Page 26