Ride with pride

Westernaires unveil fun routines at annual Western Heritage Day shows

price increases are to be triggered by market conditions including comparisons to other local trash haulers and in ation.

“At the end of years 2-6 of this Agreement, Contractor (Republic) shall have the ability to increase the charges for residential collection service,” the contract states. “During the option periods, the City will consider an adjustment to the pricing structure…Any price adjustments shall not exceed the amount being passed on and shall also not exceed 3.5% annually… subject to approval by City Council Resolution.”

Because of the language of the contract, Councilmember David Jones decided to vote yes, he said.

“I think that if we could go back and renegotiate, then my vote would be di erent,” Jones said before the vote. “But because I don’t believe we can go back and renegotiate at this point, I don’t want to hamper the team and their ability to move forward.”

Fifer echoed Jones’ sentiment, but added that he would like to renegotiate the contract before next year to exclude the minimum service fee from future increases.

“We do have an obligation and it’s not for us to debate the existing contract,” Fifer said after the meeting. “I want to stress to city sta the importance of the minimum service fee and let them know there are still people on council who want to see that fee not be included on increases.

“Before next year, I would like to renegotiate the contract,” Fifer continued. “I agree with where John (Marriott) was coming from; we can’t renegotiate on the dias but we need to make a best e ort to get that removed out of the increases.” e contract stipulated that after two years, rates could be raised to account for in ation, but we thankfully included a cap of 3.5% to any raise.

Lauren Simpson also voted yes, and explained that she did so primarily because of in ation. Simpson stated that the 3.5% increase cap kept the price hike from being a greater burden on residents since in ation has outpaced 3.5% recently.

“ is vote was quite simply a part of the contract to account for in ation,” Simpson said. “ e city team negotiated the rates back in 2019, and those were locked in for the rst two years of the program (July 2021- July 2023.)

“We couldn’t have known it back in 2019, but including that cap now seems a brilliant foresight… is capped raise is far below what actual in ation has been,” Simpson continued. “I’m thrilled Arvadans will continue to save money because of the thoughtful negotiations led by our city team.”

In June 2020, Council approved a single-hauler trash service contract with Republic Services by a tightly contested 4-3 vote; current councilmembers Lauren Simpson and Bob Fifer voted yes, along with former city councilmembers Nancy Ford and Dot Miller. Councilmembers David Jones, John Marriott and Marc Williams voted against the contract at the time.

Following the vote, a recall attempt was made to remove the assenting majority from o ce; the recall attempt failed due to the organizer’s inability to secure enough signatures by the ling deadline.

Simpson and Marriott are both vying for a chance to be mayor in November’s election as Williams is term-limited. Fifer is seeking re-election to city council as well. Lisa Feret and Randy Moorman have two more years on their terms, and Jones is not seeking re-election.