Arvada City Council Meeting, April 28 2026

The City of Arvada held a special meeting and workshop on April 28, 2026, primarily focused on solid waste and recycling program updates and fee adjustments. The council discussed the proposed increase of the city program fee by $0.05 per month to cover program administration and large item and leaf recycling events, as well as maintaining the enterprise fee at $1.06 per customer per month to comply with fiscal reserve policies. A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to exploring options for introducing curbside composting services, including subscription-based opt-in, mandatory opt-out with fees, establishing drop-off composting sites as an interim solution, or relying on private composting providers. Council members debated the timing, costs, and community engagement needed for composting implementation, with staff recommending a phased approach starting with drop-off sites and later integrating curbside composting in the 2028 hauler contract. The council also reviewed updates on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program application, which could reimburse residents for recycling costs and potentially offset composting fees. No formal votes on fee changes or composting options were recorded during this meeting, but council members expressed support for staff recommendations and emphasized the need for transparent communication and careful rollout of new services.