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City proposes $2 increase in sanitation fee to cover higher disposal and equipment costs; council asks for resident notification plan
Summary
City Manager Miller presented a proposal to raise residential sanitation fees by $2 per can ($24 per year) to offset a county transfer station price increase and to fund equipment replacement; council members asked staff to prepare communication options to notify residents ahead of the change.
At the May 20 meeting City Manager Miller briefed the council on a proposed increase to the city sanitation service fee: an increase of $2 per trash can per month (equivalent to $24 per year) to address rising disposal costs and equipment needs.
Why the increase is proposed
Miller explained the county transfer station fee rose from $33 to $43.75 per ton, and the city’s illustrative monthly disposal volume (800 tons) yields roughly a $100,000 annual increase in disposal cost. Miller also said the sanitation fund needs replacement equipment, including a rear‑end loader estimated at roughly $230,000, and noted the sanitation fee had not been increased since approximately 2003.
Council discussion and communication
Councilmembers asked staff how residents would be notified. A councilmember suggested mailing notices; staff noted a full direct mail to every household could be costly (an historical mailing was cited as costing about $56,000) and suggested using the city website and social media and a press release as lower‑cost options. Council directed staff to return to the next meeting with cost estimates and communication alternatives for notifying residents.
Next steps
The fee change appears as Ordinance 12‑27 (first reading) on the tentative agenda; staff will provide cost estimates for direct mail and other outreach methods and will include the sanitation fee proposal in the formal budget/fee ordinance process. Any final change to assessments will be adopted via ordinance consistent with municipal procedures.
