Temple proposes quarterly on-demand bulky/brush pickups, contractor sweep and fleet repairs to clear backlog

City staff presented proposed amendments to Chapter 15 of the Temple City Code and an operational plan to reduce long-standing brush-and-bulky collection backlogs and the number of nonconforming curbside piles.

Justin Brantley, Solid Waste Director, and Rafael Martinez, Assistant Public Works Director, told the council staff will: (1) move from static geographic collection zones to an on-demand scheduling system; (2) provide one free scheduled brush collection per household per quarter (up to 6 cubic yards) and the same for bulky items; (3) charge $65 for piles between 6 and 12 cubic yards; and (4) require roll-off containers for any pickup over 12 cubic yards.

Staff said residents will still be able to drive to the city—s solid-waste complex at 2611 E. Avenue H for free disposal, and the city will continue the existing monthly free pickup-load at the landfill tied to water-bill verification. The presentation added two additional annual free drop-off events at the complex (spring and fall) for larger cleanups.

Brantley said the city will not collect mixed or nonconforming piles (for example: construction/remodeling debris mixed with household trash, loose glass, or other hazards) as routine service. Customer Care will intake pickup requests, schedule a pickup window based on available fleet capacity and confirm collection with photo evidence after pickup. Brantley said the initial on-demand service start date is planned for Aug. 4 (customer scheduling to begin earlier); the city will hire a contractor to perform an initial citywide sweep beginning July 9 to reduce existing backlog.

Staff expects to require horizontal and vertical clearances at the curb to allow mechanized grapple collection without manual handling (rules would prohibit small, loose items intended for a normal trash container). The rules also preserve the current option for customers to pay for an extra container rather than use the bulky collection service repeatedly.

Fleet and operations briefing

Public Works and Fleet staff outlined a plan to return 8—10 grapple trucks to frontline service and to keep two as spares. Fleet managers reported parts lead times are a practical constraint (an example cited: a 70-day lead time for one power-take-off item). To address the immediate backlog and avoid continued overtime calls, staff asked council to approve a contract with a debris contractor (contractor name cited in the workshop as Saris) to perform a west-to-east citywide sweep; concurrently fleet and solid waste mechanics will accelerate repairs and operator training.

Expected outcomes and enforcement

Staff said expected outcomes include improved communications with residents, faster scheduled pickups for compliant piles, reduced wear on collection equipment, fewer unsightly long-duration curb piles and higher recycling capture. Code enforcement was flagged as necessary to deter repeated noncompliance; staff said customer-care will first attempt education and referrals to private vendors before escalating to enforcement.

Key ordinance and operational thresholds presented

- Brush: one scheduled free pickup per household, per calendar quarter, up to 6 cubic yards; 6—12 cubic yards charged $65; over 12 cubic yards requires a roll-off. - Bulk: same quarterly structure and fee thresholds as brush. - Two free city-sponsored drop-off events per year (spring/fall). - Solid Waste Complex drop-off remains free to residents at 2611 E. Avenue H. - Customer Care will schedule and limit weekly pickup slots to match available fleet capacity; initial service start date for on-demand collections: Aug. 4; contractor sweep begins July 9.

Council members asked about timing windows for placing piles at the curb and suggested education and neighbor-coordination strategies. Staff said the program will be managed conservatively at launch and that policy tweaks (for example specifying how long items may be left at the curb before an appointment) could follow after initial operation.

Ending

Council was briefed on the ordinance changes, the operational plan and a contractor sweep; staff asked council to approve the contract on the evening agenda so the sweep and the outreach campaign can begin ahead of the Aug. 4 on-demand start date.