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Council reviews 2019 hybrid waste-hauler model; members ask for options on pickup days and competition
Summary
Staff reviewed the 2019 change to a zone-based hybrid waste-hauler system that reduced truck traffic but has produced complaints about missed pickups; council discussed whether to return to one-pickup-day-per-zone or keep the current two-day window and asked staff to explore options with haulers and pricing implications.
At the Dec. 8 work session staff reviewed Lakeville’s residential waste-hauler program, explaining the city’s 2019 shift to a hybrid model that divided the city into zones and reduced truck traffic by concentrating service days. Staff said the change reduced complaints about the number of trucks but that the city now receives more service-level complaints (missed pickups and no-pickup reports).
Council discussed whether the current two-day-per-zone window could be reduced to one service day per zone or otherwise reconfigured. Some councilmembers said a single weekly day would concentrate trucks and could increase competitive pressures, while others warned it could lead to large numbers of trucks in neighborhoods on one day and to higher prices if competition decreases.
Staff reported current licensing counts: five class A haulers (able to provide residential and commercial service) and two class B haulers, with one hauler holding both class A and class B licenses. Staff said one license might be open pending vendor response and that current renewal processes are underway.
Council requested more research: staff should analyze options for one-day vs. two-day models, consult haulers about operational feasibility and bring back potential maps and pricing/competition impacts before pursuing ordinance changes.
