Bonney Lake committee backs moving trash-enforcement changes to full council, lowers immediate fines

The Bonney Lake City Community Development Committee on Jan. 21, 2025 reviewed AB 25-03, an amendment to the city's garbage and solid-waste enforcement code that would replace a class 1 civil infraction with the city's code enforcement process and a graduated fine schedule.

Public Services Director Jason Sullivan told the committee the city has required trash service since 1973 and that recent state law changes prevent code enforcement officers from issuing civil infraction citations, which prompted the proposed amendment. "Since 1973, the city has mandated that people have trash service within the city of Bonney Lake," Sullivan said during his presentation.

Under the amendment the city would begin enforcement with outreach and notice, then escalate civil penalties rather than issuing an immediate $250 civil infraction. The draft schedule sets a $100 penalty for a first violation within a rolling 12-month period, $200 for a second, and $250 for subsequent violations, capping at the current maximum civil-infraction amount but staged to encourage voluntary compliance.

Committee members discussed enforcement mechanics, including a typical 30-day period between warning and first citation and options for unresolved penalties. Sullivan said the city may record a lien against property for unpaid civil penalties and that unresolved violations often get addressed when a property is sold because title companies require clearance. He noted the city does not proactively maintain a roster of addresses without service and generally identifies the issue after a complaint or other code-enforcement investigation.

Committee members also discussed the city's contract requirement with the local hauler (referred to in the packet as Murray's), which obliges the city to mandate service so the contractor can secure a stable customer base and maintain lower rates. "It is part of the contract with Murray's though that we are required to mandate trash service," one member said.

Members asked for more information about how many addresses lack service and whether the change would increase or reduce administrative burdens. Sullivan said the city does not currently have a list and would need to request that information from the contractor.

The committee agreed to forward AB 25-03 to the full council for consideration. No formal roll-call vote was recorded in the committee transcript; members spoke in favor of forwarding the item for council action.

The measure will next appear on a full-council agenda, where councilmembers will decide whether to adopt the ordinance amendment, request modifications, or return it for further review.