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Council adopts new policy for semiannual bulk pickup: contractor collects, city pays then liens delinquent accounts
Summary
Council voted to replace the COVID-era unlimited bulk pickup practice with a system where Tiger Sanitation will pick up excess bulk for $25 per additional yard; the city will initially pay unpaid invoices and place liens on properties that fail to reimburse the cost.
The Leon Valley City Council on Nov. 4 approved a resolution changing the city’s semiannual bulk-pickup policy that had allowed unlimited pickup of bundled brush and bagged leaves during scheduled collection periods.
City staff and public works described the prior practice as a COVID-era accommodation that had been scheduled to end in 2024; the previous approach had relied on later contract adjustments that were not incorporated into the current Tiger Sanitation contract. Under the newly adopted policy, Tiger will be instructed to pick up items flagged as over the ordinance limit (eight cubic yards per account is the baseline), Tiger will invoice the homeowner for the excess pickup (Tiger’s published additional-yard charge is $25 per cubic yard), and if the homeowner fails to pay the city will pay Tiger and then place a lien on the property for the cost.
City Manager Dr. Caldera and Public Works Director Melinda Mortz told council staff costs rose when staff directly handled excess pickups; under the new resolution the city keeps enforcement limited to initiating liens rather than sending staff to do collection work.
Councilors debated enforcement and communications. Some council members said a change was appropriate because the prior policy was intended as a temporary COVID-era relief and because frequent, very large private piles impose staff time and disposal costs. Others urged robust community outreach and clear measurement guidance (the city discussed a 12-by-6-foot flat-lay area as a practical visual for residents to estimate an eight-cubic-yard pile) to reduce confusion and complaints when Tiger inspects piles.
The council voted to approve the resolution as presented. Staff said the city will update postcards, the Lion’s Roar and municipal communications for the next bulk-pickup cycle to note the policy change.
