Council reviews transfer station grant application and sanitation rate proposals; gate removed pending future contract

City sanitation staff reported applying for an $800,000 grant for a transfer station; they said the city had passed the grant’s initial screening and expected notification in December. Staff described the grant scope as covering permitting, design and construction; recycling cans were not included in the grant application.

If the grant is not awarded, staff said the city would consider revenue bonds supported by sanitation department revenues, and that council would have the option to act at midyear if necessary. As a transitional measure staff removed a proposed gate purchase from the current budget (the gate was taken out of the baseline proposal); the gate had been intended to secure the future transfer station pad during off hours.

On rates, staff proposed a $1.40 per month increase for residential collection (bringing the monthly charge to $15.40 in the example presented) and also proposed a $15 per ton increase in landfill tipping fees (from $85 to $100 per ton) for commercial haulers and contractors. Staff noted residential collection fees had not been adjusted since October 2015 and said comparable nearby communities typically charge more.

Staff said they will publish an RFQ for transfer‑station hauling/transport services to determine future operating costs, and confirmed that if the city pursued curbside recycling the contract specification and can distribution would need separate council approval. The council did not take a formal vote at the workshop; staff said a midyear budget amendment would be used to incorporate grant awards or bond proceeds if necessary.