(a) 
Disposal and collection of solid waste and recycling of recyclable materials and organic waste are services to be performed in the city in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The city council may, from time to time, issue one or more exclusive or semi-exclusive contracts or franchises to those persons or entities meeting the criteria of this chapter, and such other standards as may be established by resolution of the city council, regarding the collection of solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste from commercial, business, industrial and residential properties. So long as a contract or franchise remains in force, collection of material provided for herein may be made only in accordance with the terms and conditions of this chapter and the applicable contract or franchise. The fees and charges for such collection, removal, and disposal services shall be those which the city council may, from time to time, hereafter approve by resolution.
(b) 
Except as specified herein, no person shall collect, remove, or dispose of any solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste within the city, nor transport the same over any public Streets or rights-of-way, unless a contract or franchise to do so has first been approved from the city council. The contractor or franchisee shall at all times comply with the provisions of this chapter, and all other applicable regulations and laws. For purposes of this chapter, collection does not include the random picking up of loose litter from public places or places open to the public.
(c) 
Collection, removal, and disposal of hazardous solid waste is not subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(d) 
The city council shall not issue more than two Class I franchises or one Class II franchise, unless the city council finds that public convenience and necessity require additional franchises.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
The city council shall have the power to issue and determine the terms of any contract or franchise for the collection and disposal as provided for in this chapter. The city council may require as bond from a contractor or franchisee in an amount determined by the city council for the faithful performance of such franchise. Contracts or franchises may be exclusive or semi-exclusive as determined by the city council. Contracts or franchises may be issued with or without competitive bidding. In issuing contracts or franchises for solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste collection and disposal, the city council shall not be required to issue a contract or franchise based upon the offer of lower or lowest rates, but shall be free to issue contracts or franchises to the persons or entities deemed best suited to comply with the terms of this chapter and such other terms and conditions imposed by the city council. In addition to all other remedies for violation of this chapter or default by a contractor or franchisee, the city council may terminate a contract or revoke a franchise after a hearing called on 10 days' written notice to the contractor or franchisee.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
(a) 
The contractor or franchisee must guarantee a top quality of service by industry standards; competent, qualified, sober, identifiable, and uniformed personnel who serve the public in a courteous, helpful, and impartial manner.
(b) 
The city may, at its option, require fingerprinting of the contractor's or franchisee's employees whose service will cause them to enter onto or work in close proximity to private property.
(c) 
Any employee driving a contractor's or franchisee's vehicle(s) shall at all times have in their possession a valid and appropriate vehicle operator's license issued by the State of California.
(d) 
The contractor or franchisee and its employees shall be required to wear clean identifiable uniforms when engaged in refuse collection service on public streets.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
The city council may issue franchises based on the size and nature of the solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste collecting process as follows:
(a) 
Class I franchise. A Class I franchise may be issued to solid waste disposal operators who provide full-time residential and/or commercial collection services over established routes. Class I providers may also provide other solid waste collection services, such as the provision of temporary dump boxes, roll-off binds and temporary containers, but shall not provide Class II services unless a separate Class II franchise has been issued.
(b) 
Class II franchise. A Class II franchise may be issued for recycling operations. No person shall conduct recycling operations or be a recycling operator unless the person has been issued a Class II franchise.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
(a) 
As a condition of the city issuing a contract or franchise, the contractor or franchisee shall agree to appear and defend all actions against the city arising out of the exercise of the contract or franchise, and shall indemnify and hold the city, including its officers, employees and agents harmless of and from all claims, demands, actions, or causes of action of every kind and description resulting directly or indirectly, arising out of, or in any way connected with the exercise of the services under the contract or franchise, including, but not by way of limitation, any act or omission of any officer, employee, or agent of contractor or franchisee.
(b) 
The contractor or franchisee shall obtain and keep in force, during the term of the franchise, public liability and bodily injury insurance in an amount not less than five million ($5,000,000.00) dollars for the injuries or death to more than one person arising out of any one accident or occurrence, unless a lesser amount is permitted by the city council; and workers' compensation insurance covering all employees of the contract or franchise holder. Copies of such policies, or certificates evidencing such policies, shall be filed with the city manager. The city shall be named an additional insured on all policies. All policies shall contain a provision requiring a 90 day notice to be given to the city prior to cancellation, modification or reduction of limits. The amounts of public liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage shall be subject to review and adjustment by the city council.
(c) 
The contractor's or franchisee's trucks, trailers, or other vehicles must comply with the regulations as set forth in the California Motor Vehicle Code, all other applicable California codes, and this chapter.
(d) 
The contractor or franchisee must agree to perform the terms of the contract or franchise in such a manner as to comply with all valid and applicable local and state laws and regulations pertaining to the collection, storage and transportation of solid waste, recyclable material, and organic waste. The contractor or franchisee shall also comply with all other ordinances and regulations of the city and applicable laws and regulations of the County of San Diego and the State of California, and shall obtain and keep in force all required franchises and business licenses.
(e) 
Additional requirements for franchisees.
(1) 
Bulk items. Class I franchisees shall be required to collect and dispose of large bulk items on a 24 hour notice with a maximum charge and any limitations to be set by city council resolution.
(2) 
Community cleanup. Class I franchisees shall undertake an annual community cleanup in accordance with criteria established by the city.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
(a) 
The city manager shall investigate the information contained in the contract or franchise application and prepare a report to the city council as to whether the applicant is capable of complying with the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations of the city. After the completion of the investigation, the city manager shall schedule the matter for a public hearing before the city council. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.
(b) 
The city council may by resolution authorize the city manager or the city manager's designee to execute a contract or franchise agreement after the required public hearing.
(c) 
A contract or franchise may be issued for any period of time up to 10 years. A contract or franchise may be renewed pursuant to the procedures set forth in the contract or franchise agreement. In the case of a franchise, the franchisee shall pay an annual franchise fee in an amount established by the franchise agreement.
(d) 
No assignment or transfer of a contract or franchise pursuant to this chapter, or any right occurring under such contract or franchise, shall be made in whole or in part by the contractor or franchisee without the prior express consent of the city council. In the event any assignment or transfer is authorized by the city council, the assignee shall assume the liability and all other obligations of the contractor or franchisee. The city council may approve or deny the transfer at its sole discretion.
(e) 
A contract or franchise may be revoked:
(1) 
At the option of the city council, in the event there is a change of ownership of any kind or nature of the operating company, unless approval therefor has been obtained in writing from the city council; or
(2) 
If it is determined by the city manager that the contractor or franchisee has not complied with the provisions of this chapter and all other applicable statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, the city manager shall notify the contractor or franchisee in writing of noncompliance and shall order compliance within 30 days. If noncompliance is not corrected, the city council, after a hearing, shall be empowered to cancel the contract or franchise or take such other action as the city council shall determine.
(f) 
When considering whether to issue a contract or franchise under this chapter, the city council may take into consideration the service performance of the existing solid waste, recyclable material, and organic waste disposal operator or operators, or recycling operator or operators, and may give preference to existing providers.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
(a) 
When issuing an initial or renewed contract or franchise, the city council shall approve the charges for services. After approval of the charge by the city council, a charge for the collection of refuse shall be imposed by the contractor or franchisee on the owner or person in control of each residential, commercial, or individual property, or other entity subscribing to solid waste, recyclable material, and organic waste collection service. The amount of such charges may be fixed and changed from time to time by the contractor or franchisee after approval by the city council.
(b) 
All revisions in the rate or charge schedule must be submitted to the city council for review, and action must be approved by the city council. The application for rate adjustment shall be made by the contractor or franchisee 90 days prior to the date of the proposed increase. The city shall act thereon within the 90 day period. Any new rate adjustment will have a maximum increase based on 100% of the Consumer Price Index and any unusual extraordinary cost resulting in an increase to the contractor or franchisee in the cost of providing service since the last rate increase or establishment. Rates shall not be adjusted more than once annually, except to accommodate unforeseen circumstances justifying an increase.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
In emergencies such as the breakdown of equipment or other unforeseen or unpreventable circumstances, or where in the judgment of the city manager the particular situation justifies such action, the city manager may issue limited or temporary contracts or franchises to private persons or entities to perform any of the services covered by this chapter, subject to such reasonable fees, charges and conditions as the circumstances may warrant and as the parties involved may agree upon; provided, that such fees and charges received from, or paid to, any private persons or corporations under this section for any period exceeding 15 days' duration shall be approved by the city council.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
The contractor or franchisee shall not collect solid waste, recyclable material, and organic waste within a residential area between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. the next day. With prior written permission of the city manager, this time may be changed.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
The contractor or franchisee shall exercise all reasonable care and diligence in collecting solid waste, recyclable material, and organic waste so as to prevent spilling, scattering or dropping refuse, and shall immediately, at the time of occurrence, clean up any spillage.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
Any persons who desire to operate privately owned solid waste, recyclable material, and organic waste collection vehicles under the provisions of this chapter shall provide that their vehicles are metallic-lined, watertight, and are provided with a tight cover. The city manager shall require the contractor or franchise holder to remove from service or repair those vehicles that allow or permit offensive odors to escape and/or refuse to be blown, dropped, or spilled therefrom. The city council may, when issuing a franchise for a recycling operator, establish requirements based upon the different nature and type of the materials collected.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
Each vehicle of the contractor or franchisee shall at all times have in the cab the registration of the truck, certificate of insurance card, and an identification card with the name of whom to telephone in case of an accident. Each vehicle shall also be equipped with a five pound fire extinguisher certified by the California State Fire Marshall.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
All of the contractor's or franchisee's equipment shall be inspected at the discretion of the city manager or any other appropriate agency at the point of operation as specified in the contractor or franchise.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
(a) 
Unless otherwise specifically provided in the contract or franchise agreement, all vehicles used for solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste collection within the city shall:
(1) 
Be completely enclosed with a rigid, nonabsorbent cover while transporting solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste in or through the city. "Completely enclosed with a rigid, nonabsorbent cover" means that solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste shall not be visible from the street nor shall any of the substance be permitted to leak, spill or become deposited along the public streets.
(2) 
All trucks or vehicles used in the course of solid waste, recyclable material, or organic waste collection shall be painted the same colors as approved by the city manager, and identified by truck numerals and company logo. The equipment used shall be kept clean and in good repair at all times.
(b) 
Notwithstanding subsection A above, the specifications of vehicles used by recycling operators may be separately established by the city council and specified in the contract or franchise agreement.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
The Class I franchisees shall provide an office with a full-time manager with toll-free telephone service from the entire city. Telephones will be attended by competent personnel from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on regular workdays, and an answering service provided after hours, weekends and holidays.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)
Contractor or franchisee shall keep and preserve during the term of the contract or franchise agreement full, complete, and accurate records of:
(a) 
Customer accounts in a manner that clearly identifies the number of customers within the city and subject to the contract or franchise fee. These records are subject to review by the city manager at any reasonable time.
(b) 
Specific cost items, such as disposal fees, fuel and similar items that may provide the basis for future rate increases due to unusual circumstances. These records are subject to review by the city manager at any time city staff has been asked to review special rate increase requests.
(Ord. No. 2021-15, § 3, 12-15-21)