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CITY OF HOUSTON - CITY COUNCIL

Meeting Date: 7/30/2019
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Item Creation Date: 6/28/2019

ARA-Gruene Waste Services LP SWF

Agenda Item#: 29.


 
                               
Summary:

O 2019-558 ORDINANCE No. 2019-0558, passed first reading July 24, 2019

ORDINANCE granting to GRUENE WASTE SERVICES LP, a Texas Limited Partnership, the right, privilege, and franchise to collect, haul, and transport solid waste and industrial waste from commercial properties located within the City of Houston, Texas, pursuant to Chapter 39, Code of Ordinances, Houston, Texas; providing for related terms and conditions; and making certain findings related thereto - SECOND READING

Background:

The Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance granting a commercial solid waste operator franchise to Gruene Waste Services LP. Article VII of Chapter 39 of the City Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful for any commercial solid waste operator to collect, haul or transport solid waste or industrial waste from commercial properties located within the City without first having obtained a franchise for that purpose upon the consent of the City Council.

 

ARA’s Franchise Administration Division collects franchise fees from commercial solid waste transporters, coordinates audits and compliance reviews and actively monitors state/federal legislation and administrative proceedings that impact these fees. The City currently has 268 solid waste operator franchises. For FY 2019, the total solid waste franchise revenue to the City is projected to be $8,173,973.

 

The proposed ordinance grants the franchisee the right to use the City’s public ways for the purpose of collecting, hauling or transporting solid or industrial waste from commercial properties located within the City of Houston. In consideration for this grant, each franchisee agrees to pay to the City an annual franchise fee equal to four percent of their annual gross revenue, payable quarterly. To verify franchisee compliance with the franchise, the franchisee company has the duty to maintain required customer records, which the City has the right to inspect during regular business hours. The franchise agreement contains the City’s standard release and indemnification, default and termination, liquidated damages and force majeure provisions. The proposed franchise term is 10 years from the effective date.

 

Departmental Approval Authority:

 

 

 

_______________________________________ __________________________________________

Tina Paez, Director Other Authorization

Administration & Regulatory

Affairs Department

Contact Information:

Lara Cottingham - 832-393-8503

Naelah Yahya - 832-393-8530