The Jacksonville mayor’s office and Meridian Waste announced March 11 that they have reached deal on a contract amendment for trash pickup in North Jacksonville.
The agreement must be approved by City Council. Council President Randy White introduced Ordinance 2025-0207, the proposed contract amendment, as a one-cycle emergency bill March 11.
The agreement comes after Council voted in January to give Meridian a monthly payment at $22.39 per homeowner, a 29% increase, compared with the $18.29 from the city Rate Review Committee.
Mayor Donna Deegan vetoed the increase but was overridden by Council. However, the city attorney ruled the Council’s increase violated the separation of powers and was invalid.
That resulted in the trash company receiving no increase at all and threatening legal action.
The deal reached with Meridian gives it the increase Council requested. Here are the details according to the city:
• Establishes the fiscal year 2024-25 base rate at $22.39; however, defers payment of a portion of the base rate ($1.03/unit) for a 12-month period (Oct. 1, 2024 - Sept. 30, 2025) until October 31, 2025. This allows for proper budgeting for fiscal year 2025-26 and minimizes the impact to reserve funds withdrawals. Meridian Waste will receive a retroactive payment for services rendered from Oct. 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025, by April 30, 2025.
• Extends the term of the contract by six years, expiring Sept. 30, 2033, with a locked base rate and an annual Consumer Price Index adjustment capped at 5% for the remainder of the contract.
• Eliminates the rate review process in all following years. The release said that will “save hundreds of staff hours across multiple city departments and make way for a more efficient process in the future.”
The release said the deal was negotiated with the “long-term strategy for ensuring quality solid waste services for the Northside, minimizing the financial impact on the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget and reserve funds, avoiding lengthy and costly litigation for both parties, and streamlining the archaic and cumbersome rate review process moving forward.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Meridian Waste on a solution that works for the city and the company,” Deegan said in the news release.
“Together, we have made this process more efficient for future administrations and councils, delivered long-term financial stability for all parties, and ensured that Meridian Waste will continue providing the same high-quality service that our citizens have come to expect for many years to come.”
As part of the deal, Meridian will agree to provide an in-kind or cash “Community Partnership Investment” valued at $150,000 divided equally over the next three years, starting with the city’s fiscal year 2025-26 fiscal year, to benefit city economic development, health, human services, environmental and/or beautification initiatives.
“Meridian Waste has always approached this contract with the City of Jacksonville as a partnership, and we believe the proposed amendment achieves the overriding goals of the Mayor, the Council and the Company to ensure the long-term cleanliness and health of the Northside while being fiscally responsible to their constituents and our valued customers,” Dave Shepler, Meridian Waste’s Area President - Florida, said in the release.
The release said the deal will affect only the Northside residential solid waste contract.