City public-works and sanitation staff told commissioners on Sept. 3 that the city’s solid-waste fleet is aging and that immediate replacements are needed to avoid service shortfalls.

Why it matters: Sanitation service runs daily and is visible to residents; failing vehicles can force expensive rentals and route interruptions. Staff said a rear-loader backup truck (Unit 30, a 2005 model) lacks available parts and is unsafe to operate.

What staff said: Public Works Director and sanitation manager explained that Unit 30 is effectively out of regular service and that the department proposed a $300,000 replacement for a new rear-loader in the sanitation capital budget. Staff warned that rental equipment costs can start near $10,000 per week when a truck is out of service, and that lacking backup trucks leads to route delays and overtime. The department also reported difficulty finding temporary labor with proper insurance and cited recent vendor changes that created gaps in staffing.

Growth and development impact: Staff said planned and recently approved apartment projects will add units; developers sometimes choose individual curbside service rather than cluster dumpsters, which increases route counts. The sanitation manager said some new multifamily projects chose individual cans rather than shared dumpsters, increasing demands on collection routes and the need for future trucks and personnel.

Operational detail and next steps: Staff said the department is pursuing replacements in the five-year capital plan and that financing could be considered similarly to other large capital items. Commissioners asked that staff include lifecycle and replacement plans in the CIP and evaluate whether financed purchase or out-right purchase is best to avoid repeated emergency rentals.

Ending: Staff asked commissioners to consider the capital request and staffing needs when finalizing the budget; no purchase authorization was taken at the Sept. 3 workshop.