Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stillwater adopts revised solid-waste rates and new downtown dumpster fee; increases phased through 2030
Summary
City council and utility authorities adopted a resolution to revise solid-waste collection rates, add a downtown dumpster fee and change roll‑off billing; the plan phases increases from 2026 through 2030 to close an operating shortfall identified in an external study.
The Stillwater City Council on Sept. 8 adopted a resolution revising the city's solid‑waste collection rate schedule and establishing a new downtown dumpster fee and a redesigned roll‑off disposal charge structure. Staff and consultant NewGen Strategies presented a five‑year rate plan intended to close an under‑recovery in the waste management fund and preserve fund balances while covering rising disposal, equipment and labor costs.
NewGen’s cost‑of‑service analysis modeled residential, commercial, roll‑off and street‑sweeper customer classes and projected under‑recovery in the near term. City staff said the recommended changes include percentage increases phased beginning Jan. 1, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2030, and the addition of a disposal pass‑through fee for roll‑off services. The downtown corridor will move from a shared‑dumpster cost model to a specific downtown dumpster fee intended to support more frequent service in the core historic/commercial corridor; staff estimated the net customer impact could vary, with some downtown accounts seeing decreases and others increases of up to about $10 depending on service frequency.
City staff and consultant cited rising industry costs—equipment prices (for example, automated loaders up 16% annually in recent metrics), fuel and steel volatility, and staffing pressures such as competition for CDL drivers—as drivers of the revenue shortfall. Staff said collection‑center fees that have not changed since the center opened were updated to cover disposal expenses. The resolution passed 4‑0 at both the council meeting and the Stillwater Utilities Authority meeting later the same evening (SUA Resolution SUA‑2025‑7), per staff recommendations.
Officials said rate revenue from the adjustments would restore fund balances under the consultant’s forecast and allow for necessary capital purchases without drawing down reserves. Staff noted that some purchases beyond planned items would require additional approvals and that the five‑year forecast assumes no unplanned capital expenditures. Staff also said funds to implement downtown wayfinding and branding projects are separate from waste‑rate revenues; the council separately approved a contract for city branding at the meeting.
Councilors discussed implementation and stressed the need for a phased, funded implementation plan so the city does not adopt a brand or service change without realistic funding to apply it across assets in subsequent years. Staff recommended adoption of the resolution and the council and SUA approved the rate schedule changes and the new fee structure by unanimous votes.
