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CC - CONSENT ITEM: (1) Approval of a Three-Year General Services Agreement with McLaughlin Waste Equipment for Metal Container Repair Services for the City’s Refuse Container Inventory in an Annual Amount Not-to-Exceed $100,000; (2) Authorization to the City Manager to Approve Two Additional One-Year Terms in an Additional Amount Not-to-Exceed $100,000 Annually; and (3) FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval of a Related Budget Amendment Appropriating $100,000 from the Refuse Fund to Account No. 20260400.732120.
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Meeting Date: January 26, 2026
Contact/Dept.: Sean Singletary/Public Works Department/EPO
Phone Number: (310) 253-6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: E-Mail: Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/22/2026)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (12/08/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council (1) approve a three-year general services agreement with McLaughlin Waste Equipment for metal container repair of the City’s refuse container inventory in an amount not-to-exceed $100,000 annually; (2) authorize the City Manager to approve two additional one-year terms in an additional amount not-to-exceed $100,000 annually; and (3) approve a related budget amendment appropriating $100,000 from Refuse Fund to 20260400-732120 (Refuse Collection Administration - Department Special Equipment) (four-fifths vote required).
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Culver City’s Environmental Programs & Operations (EPO) Division of the Public Works Department provides solid waste and recycling services to approximately 8,000 residential accounts, 1,500 business accounts, and approximately 100 active temporary accounts, funded entirely by user charges through the City’s Enterprise Refuse Disposal Fund (Fund 202). In addition, the Division services approximately 2,500 refuse, recycling, and organics containers throughout the community for multifamily and commercial customers. EPO operates nineteen collection routes and manages the City-owned Transfer Station with a daily permitted capacity of 500 tons.
To maintain safe, reliable, and compliant service delivery, EPO must ensure the City’s metal waste and recycling container inventory remains in functional condition and consistent with State-mandated Senate Bill (SB) 1383 color-standardization requirements. SB 1383 requires containers to meet statewide color requirements-gray/black for landfill, blue for recycling, and green for organics-necessitating repainting of existing inventory as part of statewide compliance. Additionally, repairing existing containers is in alignment with the City’s sustainability goals of reusing and repairing assets before replacement.
On September 25, 2025, EPO released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for metal waste and recycling container repair services. The scope of work included welding, structural repair, lid and caster replacement, repainting, and full SB 1383 colorization compliance for the City’s metal container fleet. Proposals were due November 6, 2025, and the City received three responses.
Staff evaluated proposals based on responsiveness to the RFP requirements, demonstrated experience, capacity to service a municipal fleet of this scale, and proposed pricing. After thorough review, McLaughlin Waste Equipment was identified as the most responsive and cost-effective proposer.
McLaughlin Waste Equipment has more than 30 years of experience manufacturing, refurbishing, and repairing commercial metal waste and recycling containers for municipalities and private haulers throughout Southern California. Their services include welding, structural repair, lid and caster replacement, sandblasting, rust remediation, and full-container repainting for SB 1383 compliance.
The company has demonstrated the capacity to service municipal fleets exceeding 5,000 containers and currently provides repair services to several regional jurisdictions and private haulers. Their proposal included competitive pricing, clear turnaround timelines, and the operational ability to complete repairs at their repair facility.
Based on responsiveness, technical qualifications, capacity, and favorable pricing, McLaughlin Waste Equipment ranked as the highest-scoring proposer among the three responses received. Repairing and repainting existing containers under this contract will extend equipment life, reduce the need for new container purchases, and support compliance with SB 1383. Staff recommends entering into an agreement with McLaughlin Waste Equipment to provide container repair and restoration services.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 does not include sufficient funding for the proposed agreement. Staff recommends that the City Council approve a budget amendment to appropriate $100,000 from the Refuse Fund (Fund 202) to Account No. 20260400.732120 (Refuse Collection Administration - Department Special Equipment) to pay for the first year of the agreement. (requires a four-fifths vote) Funding for the remainder of the agreement term will be included in future fiscal year budgets.
Council Policy 5002 Financial Policies sets the target reserve for the Refuse Fund at 25% of the annual operating budget of the Refuse Enterprise Fund. The operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is $24,977,871 and the 25% target reserve is $6,244,468. The Estimated Refuse Fund Balance is estimated to be $7,372,524 as of July 1, 2025. At the time of budget preparation, it was projected that the Refuse Fund would end the year with $4,238,981, which is appropriately 17% of the current operating budget. Staff is requesting to use $100,000 of the fund balance reserve for the proposed amendment.
The Public Works Environmental Programs & Operations Division has been working on a refuse rate study to update the City’s refuse rates. The goal of the study is to establish a rate system to adequately cover the costs of operations and gradually rebuild the reserve. Staff is planning to bring an item to Council to review the refuse rate study in February and hold a public hearing on the rates in April so that the new rates can go into effect for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
1. Approve a three-year general services agreement with McLaughlin Waste Equipment for metal container repair services, in an annual amount not-to-exceed $100,000;
2. Authorize the City Manager to approve two additional one-year terms, in an additional amount not-to-exceed $100,000 annually;
3. Approve a related budget amendment appropriating $100,000 from Refuse Fund (Fund 202) to Account No. 20260400.732120 (requires a four-fifths vote);
4. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.