One of the 10 requirements tied to a proposed sales tax increase in San Diego was already completed well before the City Council voted in early August to make it a condition for collecting the tax.

Proposition D, which would increase the sales tax by a half-cent on the dollar if approved by voters on Nov. 2, requires 10 changes promoted as reforms of City Hall.

One of them requires the city to ask private companies to submit their qualifications for taking over operations at the city’s Miramar Landfill.

Mayor Jerry Sanders had already announced in July that he was doing just that. Sixteen firms showed interest and an undisclosed number provided their credentials. No further action is necessary for the city to declare “mission accomplished” on the condition.

Some of Proposition D’s biggest supporters, including City Councilman Todd Gloria, have already shown reticence toward selling the landfill. The lack of any guaranteed follow-through on a potential sale has rankled critics of the ballot measure.

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The Mayor’s Office is expected to check the qualifications of bidders over the next few weeks and request several to submit a formal, binding bid by November or December. The city could then either accept the bid or negotiate for better terms.

The goal is to have the new operator in place by July 1.

On the landfill plan

Jay Goldstone, city chief operating officer: “Everything’s negotiable. And rest assured, we will be looking to protect the city’s interest the best we can.”

City Councilman Todd Gloria: “My concern is our recent history of making some poor contracting decisions. I don’t want to repeat those.”

Murtaza Baxamusa, research and policy director at Center on Policy Initiatives: “It’s a bad plan. It’s shortsighted and it’s not moving forward in a way that would benefit the public interest.”

City Councilman Kevin Faulconer: “The issue of the landfill is probably one of the best examples of how Proposition D does not actually require results. It only requires process. There is no guarantee of dollar savings.”

City Councilman Carl DeMaio: “The original ordinance said, ‘If it would save money, then outsource it.’ The current ordinance that was put on the ballot says, ‘Issue requests for qualifications.’ That means no proposals, no contracts have to be awarded.”

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