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Work
Session Minutes of the Town of Present:
Mayor Ernie McAlister, Council Members Marla Dorrel, Michael Joyce,
Jennifer Robinson, and Julie Robison. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Smith Mayor
McAlister called the work session to order at Absent:
Council Members Nels Roseland and Jennifer Robinson Public
Works Director Mike Bajorek reviewed the implementation process for the
curbside pickup program. (A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation is
attached to and incorporated in these minutes as Exhibit
A.) Mr.
Bajorek said that it will take eight weeks to deliver carts beginning Mr.
Bajorek stated that 31-34 full time employee positions will be eliminated
within the next year. He said that staff has been working with the
employees ensure they are aware of situation and to give them the
opportunity to find another position within the Town or somewhere else. Mrs.
Robison asked if the first round of employment shift positions will be
phased out as the three different phases of the progam are implemented.
Mr. Bajorek responded yes, 28 positions will be lost within this year: 18
positions with the first phase cart delivery and 10 positions when the new
trucks are received. Mrs.
Robison asked if maps are available to show the roll out schedule. Mr.
Bajorek stated that maps will be available with the next phase. Staff is
concentrating on the delivery of the carts to make the program run
smoothly and the next phase is to develop the routes to be switched over,
one third of which will be done this fiscal year. He said that everyone
will get a roll out cart in the same time period; it takes about 8 weeks
to deliver 33,000 carts. Everyone will go to curbside pickup at the same
time no matter when the carts arrive.
Mayor
McAlister asked about the temporary positions, stating that the true job
loss on the first phase is significantly less than the 33 full time
employees. Mr. Bajorek said they are not creating any new positions, but
are trying to hire within as entry level positions open up within the
department. Mrs.
Robision asked how many of the 33 employees will be hired into other jobs
within the town. Mr. Bajorek said he is somewhat confident that the first
18 will be accommodated; he is unsure about the 10 in the spring, but
staff will keep council informed. Mr.
Bajorek stated that the hardest part of going to curbside pickup is
getting information to citizens so that will read and understand it.
Public Information Officer Susan Moran has provided all types of the media
to get people’s attention. Mr. Bajorek said that the week before
receiving the roll out cart citizens will receive a hanger on their
garbage can explaining that they will be receiving a cart and what to
expect; the following week staff will provide a plastic bag full of
material with a brochure explaining how to use cart. Mayor
Pro Tem Smith asked if there is a plan to pick up old trash can. Mr.
Bajorek replied that some people will want to repurpose their old trash
cans for yard waste or other things. However, after the cart delivery
staff will collect unwanted cans during the regular garbage pickup. Mr.
Bajorek said that a contractor will deliver the 95 gallon carts the last
day of the backyard garbage collection. Using a contractor for this
delivery is the very cost efficient. He said this delivering the 95 gallon
carts first will give each household a chance to see if that size meets
their needs. If after a few weeks citizens fell that a smaller cart will
meet their needs they should call the public works department and the
larger cart will be exchanged for a 65 gallon can. This is no cost for
this first substitution. However, if someone decides to switch back to the
95 gallon cart there will be a $10 service charge. Ms.
Dorrel said citizens have expressed concerns about the cart being too big
for current methods used to shield their garbage cans, which is a
requirement in some restrictive covenants—the 65 gallon is an
alternative to that. Mr. Bajorek said that staff will recommend an
ordinance change designating where the carts are to be stored—they need
to go behind the front face of the house or in an enclosure so that they
cannot be seen from the street—however, if they so choose, homeowners
associations can be more restrictive. Mr.
Joyce asked if the cart can be stored behind a shrub. Mr. Bajorek said
yes, the idea is that the cart needs to be screened. Mr.
Bajorek said that a 35 gallon cart does exist; however, the diameter of
the cart is too small for an automated collection. Staff recommends
against using the 35 gallon cart because it removes productivity issues
address by the curbside pickup. If resident decide that a second cart is
needed they will have to pay a little extra. The price differential is for
the difference in the cost of the waste. Mr.
Joyce asked about the cost for yard waste special collection pick up. Mr.
Bajorek said if done outside of the normal trash pick up day it will cost
$35 extra. Anything longer than the routine 10 minutes will cost an
extra $12. Ms.
Dorrel asked about the timeframe for garbage cans remaining on street. Mr.
Bajorek said if cans remain on the street citizens should call the Public
Works Department. For the first offense a hanger will be left on the cart
and staff will pull the cart up behind the plane of the house—the idea
is to correct the problem and educate citizens. He said if there is a
second office within a 12 month period, in addition to the above, staff
will take a picture of the cart in front of the house, date stamp it and a
$10 roll in fee will be added to the utility bill. Mr.
Bajorek asked how aggressive council wants staff to be with the fines,
stating that staff can manipulate the 12 month period through a work order
system to track. He said that staff does not intend to patrol
neighborhoods for violators. Mayor McAlister said he has heard a number of
concerns about this particular issue and the proposed system is a great
way to address the problem. He said staff should be fairly aggressive. Mrs.
Robinson asked about other municipalities and the trends for receiving
complaints, lack of compliance of removing the carts from the curb, and
what policies are in place. Mr. Bajorek replied that the City of Mr.
Bajorek stated that the post office expressed concerns about the carts
blocking mailboxes. He said that Ms. Moran has created educational
materials to help remind citizens where to place the carts. Mr.
Joyce asked if graphics or sketches were available in the educational
materials. Ms. Moran said there is a short video. Staff does not want to
not overwhelm citizens with information, but educate and work with them.
She will ensure that graphics are in the materials. Mr.
Coleman asked about staff’s experience with calls from citizens who
forget to put out their trash. Mr. Bajorek said the Town receives very few
calls. He said with recycling, which is a different situation, staff
probably receives less than 10 calls a week. Mr.
Joyce asked about using dumpster for new developments. Mr. Bajorek
responded that staff is working with developers to create places for carts
to be enclosed. Mr. Joyce said that multi-family units can go with a
dumpster approach and hire a private contractor. Mr. Bajorek agreed that
was a good approach. Mr.
Joyce asked if the Town currently collects waste from businesses. Mr.
Bajorek replied yes, stating that the Town currently collects for 243
business as long as they have four or less cans. Mr.
Bajorek will speak to homeowners association and any groups who make
requests for information about the curbside program. Mayor
Pro Tem Smith asked if staff did an analysis before deciding to use the 95
gallon can. Mr. Bajorek said from he spoke with several cart vendors
about what communities provide and he was told 95 percent of the people
receive the 95 gallon cart. He said that the 65 gallon cart is the same as
using two trash cans. He said that the 95 gallon cart gives a safety net
so that citizens do not have overflow waste. Mayor
Pro Tem Smith asked if the lid has to be completely closed or trash can be
stacked leaving the lid open. Mr. Bajorek replied that there is some room
for the lid to be propped open, but the possibility of garbage blowing out
exists. He said that the dimensions between the 65 gallon and 95 gallon
carts are very similar. Mayor
McAlister asked about the cost for each of the carts. Mr. Bajorek stated
that the 95 gallon cost $40 and the 65 gallon cost $36. Mrs. Robison asked
about the cost of having two carts. Mr. Bajorek said citizens
requesting a second cart will be charged an additional $3.50 fee on their
utility bill. That charge pays for leasing the cart, plus the additional
operation and maintenance of another pick up, and additional volume. The
color of the carts is Mr.
Joyce asked about the cost of putting the Town seal on the carts. Mr.
Bajorek said that there is no cost difference for using the seal. Mrs.
Robison asked about changes in recyclables. Mr. Bajorek said staff
presented an option to go with a different type of collection vehicle in
this year’s budget. At the September operations committee staff will
present a recommendation for going to a dual stream or single stream
collection piece of equipment, which would change the goals of recycling
program and substantially reduce the costs associated with collection.
However, that change would also reduce the revenue the Town receives for
the materials. The trucks will allow the Town to collect a larger variety
of material. Mayor
McAlister asked council about comments they have received from citizens
about the program. Mr.
Joyce asked if a doctor’s note is necessary for those unable to roll the
carts to the curb. Mr. Bajorek responded yes, stating it ensures that
only citizens who truly need assistance are making those requests. Mr.
Joyce asked how much an empty cart weighs. Mr. Bajorek stated
approximately 10 pounds. The
majority of council members received comments about the size of the carts
and the affect it will have on their covenant restrictions. Mrs.
Robison said that some homeowner associations have policed and enforced
covenants regarding the placement of trash cans. She is concerned that the
95 gallon can is too big for existing structures and that the Town will
start to receive complaints from citizens about incurring costs to rebuild
garbage houses. Mr. Hecht said that has not been a problem with the
backyard pickup and that an ordinance will need to be added. Ms.
Robison asked if property management companies have been notified about
the program. Mr. Bajorek said that letters have gone out letting them know
about the program and that staff would be happy discuss it with them. Ms.
Dorrel said most issues she hears about are appearance related, most
frequent one is about people leaving them out too long creating visual
clutter. Mayor
McAlister thanked staff for the presentation and said council will look
forward to a successful roll out. The
work session adjourned at |