Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-05-1996 Public Forum-Refuse Collection MINUTES MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC FORUM ON ORGANIZED RESIDENTIAL REFUSE COLLECTION MONDAY, AUGUST 5,1996 5:00 P.M., COUNCIL CHAMBER, MAPLEWOOD CITY HALL I. Call to Order Mayor Gary Bastian called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. II. Ro11 Ca11 Mayor Gary Bastian Present Councilmember Sherry Allenspach Present Councilmember Dale Carlson Present Councilmember Marvin Koppen Present (arrived at 5:10 p.m.) Councilmember George Rossbach Present Also present were City Manager Michael McGuire, Assistant City Manager Craig Dawson, and Assistant City Attorney John Quarnstrom. III. Aonroval of the Agenda The following items were asked to be added to the agenda: Sa. Maplewood's Night Out (by Allenspach) Sb. Ramsey County park transfer (by Rossbach) Sc. Upcoming meetings (by McGuire) = Mayor Bastian moved that the agenda be .approved as amended. Councilmember Carlson seconded the motion and it was approved. Ayes: All IV. Public Forum on Organized Collection of Residential Solid Waste a) Staff Report• City Manager McGuire introduced the topic by explaining the Council's actions during the consideration process required by State law. Assistant City Manager Dawson presented the staff report. He reviewed goals identified by the Council for evaluating organized collection of residential solid waste, the proposals developed by the licensed refuse collectors participating in the statutory planning process, several findings from discussions at planning meetings and from research, and the options available to the Council at the time of the public forum. Minutes of Public Forum on Organized Collection August 5, 1996 Page Two b) Presentation by Licensed Refuse Collectors Michael Hinz of Gopher Disposal, Inc., presented a proposal prepazed by the collectors during the planning process. The proposal called for amendments to the City Code relating to refuse collection licenses, rather than to arrange for organized collection. Elements of the proposal included: 1) A minimum of three volume-based prices for service 2) Low-volume rate for seniors, including service charges by the bag 3) Yard waste collection upon customer request 4) Carts provided to customers upon request 5) Special pickups to be made within 24 hours of customer request 6) Special service collection arrangements for customers who need it (e.g., disabled, elderly) 7) Use of tandem axles or flotation tires to reduce axle weights of trucks 8) Load-sensitive streets to be on the beginning of routes 9) A separate residential refuse collection license to be established, with the City having the opportunity to collect several data from licensees c) Public Comment 1) Michael Green, 2321 Stillwater Road, had sent a letter in opposition to organized collection. 2) Jean Petrowski, 1947 Flandrau Street, had sent a letter in opposition to organized collection. 3) Kevin Berglund, 1929 Kingston Avenue, submitted a letter in opposition to organized collection. 4) Frank Merry, 2231 Radatz Avenue, spoke in opposition to organized collection. 5) Emily Winstead, 1831 Maryknoll Avenue, spoke in opposition to organized collection. She also expressed concern with the lack of cleanliness in collection by the current recycling collection contractor. 6) Dennis Kramer, 1231 East Skillman Avenue, spoke in opposition to organized collection. 7) Mark Winter, 1224 East Skillman Avenue, spoke in opposition to organized collection. If the City were to adopt organized collection, he wanted yard waste collection to be included in the services provided. 8) Bill Robbins, 2277 Stillwater Avenue, spoke in opposition to organized collection. He believed that the amount of garbage truck traffic on residential streets was not unreasonable. 9) Chris Reinhardt, 1041 East County Road C, and an owner of Evergreen Sanitation, spoke in opposition to organized collection. 10) Gui Rojas, 711 East Skillman Avenue, favored organized collection. He was concerned about wear and tear on City streets caused by garbage truck traffic, and about the hazards they created for childrens' safety. 11) A resident of 2313 11th Avenue spoke in opposition to organized collection. Minutes of Public Forum on Organized Collection August 5, 1996 Page Three 12) Bill McPherson, 2520 Southcrest Avenue, spoke in opposition to organized collection. 13) Don Misgen, 1367 Price Avenue, spoke in opposition to organized collection. With no one else in the audience wishing to speak, Mayor Bastian closed public comments at 5:35 p.m. Councilmember Rossbach appreciated the process the City had undertaken to consider organized collection. He expressed satisfaction that "bag service" was proposed by the haulers. Councilmember Carlson was disappointed with having only a few letters submitted and with the low turnout at this forum. He wished to work for improvements within the current system. Councilmember Koppen was pleased to see a betterment in the current system that was proposed by the haulers: He noted that these improvements could have been developed only through the statutory process to consider organized collection. Mayor Bastian spoke to the audience about the Council's reasons to commit time to this issue. He believed that the process had served what the Council wanted it to accomplish: better public awareness and education; and alegally-protected venue in which the haulers could meet, speak with each other, and develop alternatives. The City's role has been to listen and to facilitate community discussion. He appreciated the involvement of the haulers and residents in the process. Mayor Bastian questioned whether the organized collection planning phase should be extended so that the haulers would continue to have alegally-protected process to work with City staff on amendments to the City Code as proposed by the haulers. After some discussion, it was determined that this would not be necessary. MOTION: Councilmember Rossbach moved that the Citv terminate the statutory process to or¢anize the collection of residential solid waste. and that the staff be directed to prepare an ordinance to amend the City Code based on the proposal Rresented by the licensed refuse collectors. Councilmember Koppen seconded the motion and it was approved. Ayes: All V. Other Business a) Maplewood's Night Out Councilmember Allenspach noted that despite an omission in an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Maplewood's Night Out was scheduled for Tuesday, August 6. Minutes of Public Forum on Organized Collection August 5, 1996 Page Four b) Ramsey County Park Transfer Councilmember Rossbach noted a memorandum from City Manager McGuire about Ramsey County's process to enable the transfer of park land to the City. Rossbach had some concerns about easements which were listed. McGuire responded that staff and the City Attorney were analyzing them. c) Upcoming Meetings City Manager noted the following events and meetings: * Groundbreaking for the Ice Arena at Tartan High School--3:30 p.m., August 6. * Maplewood's Night Out--5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., August 6. * August 8Pre-Agenda meeting--cancelled due to lack of a quorum. * September Council/Manager Workshop--reschedule to Tuesday, September 3, as Monday, September 2 is Labor Day. VI. Adjournment Mayor Bastian moved; and Councilmember Carlson. seconded, to adjourn the public forum at 6:03 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.