Council adopts scrap‑tire ordinance to close storage and public‑health gap

The Commerce City Council passed a scrap‑tire ordinance on second reading to regulate how businesses store, screen and remove used tires to reduce fire, mosquito and rodent risks and to fill gaps left by state thresholds for larger tire generators.

Mr. Harper, who presented the ordinance, said the regulation sets standards for on‑site storage and calls for businesses to remove scrap tires from the ground within 30 days of the ordinance's passage. "The scrap tire ordinance… is proposed to regulate businesses on how they store their scrap tires after they come off the vehicles," Harper said, emphasizing the public‑health rationale.

Staff said state law addresses large tire generators but leaves a thresholds gap that allows smaller local operations to fall outside state regulation; the city ordinance is intended to close that local loophole.

Council opened and closed the public hearing without public speakers and then approved the ordinance on second reading by oral voice vote. Because the vacant‑building registration item was tabled, the council also tabled a separate amendment to the fee schedule that would have established fees tied to the vacant‑building and tire programs. Staff said tire‑drop‑off fees under discussion would include a modest per‑tire charge for citizens and a square‑footage based tire‑business license fee structure for businesses.

Next steps: staff will finalize ordinance implementation details, publish rules and schedule follow‑up enforcement guidance, and return fee proposals when linked regulatory ordinances are finalized.