The City Council may or may not vote tonight on the administration’s recommendation to switch garbage haulers during tonight’s City Council meeting, but they will hear a second presentation on the recommendation during tonight’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

Last week, during the Committee of the Whole, staff recommended a change to Republic Services from Waste Management after 26 years with the latter company.

Both companies submitted proposals well below the current contract with Waste Management. But despite WM coming in at the lowest bid, officials recommended Republic based on “qualitative” issues, such as customer service and a perceived ability to better handle a switch to a contractor-based billing system.

City officials said in making their decision, they thoroughly reviewed all of the proposals, did interviews with the companies involved and conducted in-depth reference checks with other cities.

They also said Republic’s proposal exceeded the “Best & Final” standards set forth by the city when making a decision, including extended customer service hours, missed collection recovery issues, a local billing office and a robust mobile platform.

During last week’s meeting, the council seemed to indicate a decision on carrier would be made tonight, because next week is a Council Holiday in honor of Presidents’ Day, but the matter is not on the current agenda. Last week, staff said there was no rush to make this decision.

The Council will, however, hear a second presentation during tonight’s Committee of the Whole meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers and may or may not add the item to tonight’s agenda following that report.

The Council will conduct its regular meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in the Council Chambers at City Hall.