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Council weighs paid leaf‑collection program and green‑site upgrades; staff recommends equipment purchase to replace fall cleanup
Summary
City staff presented options to replace the annual fall cleanup with a vacuum leaf‑collection program, estimated initial equipment cost ~$95,000–$110,000 (likely ~$97,000), and three green‑site improvement options; staff recommended Option 2 if the city adopts leaf collection, and said the stormwater fund could help cover equipment costs.
Public works staff member Jason Stordahl briefed the council on a staff study of a potential leaf‑collection program and related green‑site improvements.
Stordahl said the city’s annual fall cleanup currently costs about $40,000 a year (landfill fees, Countrywide sanitation pull charges, containers, and hazardous/electronic waste days). He said replacing fall cleanup with a leaf‑collection vacuum would require an initial capital purchase; staff estimated $95,000–$110,000 and said current quotes narrowed the likely cost closer to $97,000. Stordahl said used equipment could allow an earlier start but new equipment from state contract vendors may have a 12–18 month delivery window.
Operationally, Stordahl said leaf collection would typically use two to three staff (more on higher‑traffic streets) and reduce fall cleanup labor and truck/container costs over time. He suggested partially funding the purchase from the stormwater enterprise fund because the stormwater program benefits from leaves being removed from curblines and outfalls.
Stordahl presented three green‑site improvement options to address access, drainage and illegal dumping at the city green‑site. He said Option 2 — added concrete service area, drainage, roll‑off containers and reconfigured entrance/exit — would pair best with a city leaf‑collection program because city crews could haul containers themselves and reduce roll‑off fees. Stordahl said the city currently subsidizes the green‑site (the card system and gate have frequent maintenance problems) and that one scenario to break even would raise cardholder fees to $4 per month or incorporate the green‑site fee into a citywide refuse fee at about $2 per month for all accounts.
Council members generally supported exploring the leaf‑collection service and green‑site upgrades; Mayor Merkle Stitt and others encouraged staff to return with rate options and recommended Option 2 if the city adopts leaf collection. Staff said they will return with rate proposals and more detailed cost estimates in a future work session.
