Council hears proposal to add street/brush services funded by $10 monthly solid‑waste surcharge
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Summary
City staff outlined costs of leaf and brush collection, chipping and equipment, and presented an option to charge residential solid‑waste customers $10 per month to fund expanded brush/leaf services and equipment; the council asked for more analysis and did not adopt the charge at the workshop.
Public works and street department staff described current brush and leaf collection operations, existing equipment usage and the labor and equipment costs associated with increased collection frequency. Staff estimated labor and equipment costs for brush and leaf operations at several hundred thousand dollars annually and said capital equipment (chipper truck, loader, dump trucks) would add additional one‑time costs.
Council followed up on a staff scenario presented at the August workshop that would add a $9–$10 monthly surcharge to residential solid‑waste bills. Staff said a $10 per month surcharge on residential solid‑waste customers could generate approximately $637,200 to $708,000 annually (figures presented were illustrative and depend on the number of customers included). Staff emphasized the surcharge would support ongoing operations and equipment costs and would be reflected in enterprise and interfund transfers as appropriate.
No formal rate action was taken at the workshop. Staff said it would return with refined estimates, contract terms for any outsourced hauling, and details about whether an opt‑out would be allowed. The council discussed equity and routing considerations for hauling and asked staff to include options in future materials.