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Council hears explanation for trash-collection delays as staff cite multi-year truck replacement backlog
Summary
City staff told council that a shortage of replacement trucks and available drivers caused multi-day delays to some trash and bulk collections; staff said replacements can take two to three years and urged constituents to use 311 for updates.
City staff explained to the council that recent delays to trash and bulk collection were caused by a shortage of replacement trucks and limited driver availability.
Staff said the vehicle-replacement timelines can be long — "we've been trying to get replacement trucks for a while and ... they've been 2, three years before we can get replacements" — and that when vehicles are out for repair the city sometimes contracts outside vendors, which can cause route delays of a day or two. Residents were urged to call 311 or consult the city's social channels for updates on delayed collections.
Council members praised public works employees for their effort during service disruptions and urged patience from constituents. One council member noted they had received multiple constituent calls about missed pickups and asked staff to confirm whether truck repairs and replacements are included in the capital improvement plan.
City staff said they try to avoid overworking crews and will continue efforts to catch up on delayed routes. Officials described the press release as an effort to update residents quickly and said the public-facing 311 system remains the primary channel for status updates.
