Phoenix Committee Explored Waste Fee Hikes Before Proposed Resident Charge | The Locally Times
Phoenix Public Works convened an advisory committee to review solid waste funding months before the city issued a public notice for a residential fee increase.
The City of Phoenix Public Works Department initiated discussions about potential solid waste fee increases in October 2025, several months before the city issued a formal public notice regarding a residential solid waste fee hike. The Public Works Department convened the Solid Waste Rate Advisory Committee on October 20, 2025, to examine the Public Works Solid Waste fund. The committee's stated purpose included evaluating and recommending solutions to maintain current services, specifically mentioning a potential service fee increase. The committee meeting took place at Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., on the 12th floor, commencing at 1:00 p.m., according to a Public Notice: Tax and Fee Changes document dated October 2, 2025. This notice also referenced earlier information related to a proposed fee under an August 20, 2025, notice date, though details of that earlier information are not publicly available in the provided records. Jessica Gutierrez, a Public Works Operations Manager, served as a contact for additional information regarding the committee's review. ## Residential Fee Increase Follows Committee Review Following the advisory committee's meeting, the City of Phoenix issued a 60-day notice of its intent to consider and approve an increase to the residential Solid Waste fee. This notice, dated February 10, 2026, indicated a proposed effective date of July 1, 2026. The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to consider this proposed residential fee increase at a formal council meeting on or after April 22, 2026. The meeting will occur at the Phoenix Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson Street, with virtual viewing options available via Phoenix.gov/phxtv. The February 10, 2026, public notice listed Carla Kahn, a Public Works Department Solid Waste Division Management Assistant II, as a contact for more information. This notice also referred to additional details regarding the proposed rate adjustment available at Phoenix.gov/swrate2026, but the contents of that specific web page are not included in the provided documents. The sequence of these events shows the Public Works Department's advisory committee exploring fee adjustments before the city formally announced its intent to raise residential solid waste charges. ## Unanswered Questions Remain for Residents While city records confirm the advisory committee's review and the subsequent public notice for a residential fee increase, several details remain unaddressed in the available documentation. The specific recommendations or outcomes of the Solid Waste Rate Advisory Committee's October 20, 2025, meeting are not publicly detailed in the provided notices. Records do not specify the proposed dollar amount or percentage of the residential Solid Waste fee increase. The financial data or operating expenses that justify the necessity of this increase also lack specific public disclosure in the provided materials. Furthermore, the composition of the Solid Waste Rate Advisory Committee and the perspectives its members represent are not outlined in the public notices. The records also do not specify what alternatives to a fee increase the committee or the Public Works Department considered. The lack of specific information about the committee's findings and the precise nature of the proposed fee increase leaves residents without a full understanding of the process and its potential impact. The city's public notices adhere to Arizona Revised Statutes Sec. 9-499.15, which governs proposed adoptions of, or changes to, municipal taxes or fees. Residents can attend the Phoenix City Council meeting on or after April 22, 2026, to observe the consideration of the proposed fee increase. However, the records do not detail opportunities for public input before the council's final decision.