Council approves first reading of sanitation ordinance creating citation process for yard waste
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Summary
Ordinance 2025-27, creating a $20 first-instance and $45 second-instance citation program for certain cleanliness and yard-waste violations with a warnings-first approach and a Waste Management pilot, passed first reading 7–0; council members asked staff to review pilot results before setting a final fine level.
The West Melbourne City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025-27, which establishes a citation program to address cleanliness and sanitation violations (yard waste and similar premises issues) and amends city code sections 26-104 and 26-105.
City staff (Mr. Carey) explained the ordinance grew from a prior workshop and is intended to give the city a faster tool than the longer code-enforcement-board process. Carey said the program would begin with warnings and escalate to a $20 citation for a first instance and a $45 citation for a second instance if the repeat violation occurs within five years; continued noncompliance could be referred to the code-enforcement board, which can impose daily fines until a property is cleaned.
Council discussion focused on two parallel efforts: a pilot with Waste Management to identify and pick up nonstandard yard-waste piles on a trial basis and the city's proposed citation regime. Staff described a November pilot on eight streets in older-growth areas in which the contractor will place notices on improper piles and, when feasible, pick up piles near the truck to test routing and load impacts. Councilmembers said they prefer to evaluate pilot results before finalizing citation amounts.
During debate, Councilmember Adams raised concerns that a $20 fine might be a hardship for residents on fixed incomes and suggested considering a lower initial amount. Councilmember McGuire clarified the intended enforcement flow: first a warning and instruction to call Waste Management (whose pickup is free) or place debris in proper containers; only a reoccurrence would lead to citation. Councilmember Bentley moved to approve the ordinance on first reading; the motion passed unanimously. Staff noted this was the first reading and that the ordinance could be adjusted before second reading based on pilot data and council direction.
Next steps: staff and Waste Management will complete the pilot and report results to the council; the council may revisit the citation amounts and ordinance language before second reading.
