Council approves billing change to pass full recycling service cost to University Heights residents

On May 19 the University Heights City Council approved Resolution 26-20, instructing Iowa City (which handles billing for University Heights) to bill residents the full monthly cost of residential refuse and recycling collection — $18.50 per unit — rather than the partial-subsidy arrangement previously in place.

Troy explained that the city currently contracts with LRS for collection and that Iowa City performs billing on University Heights' behalf. "It just says in the end that the full $18.50... will be billed to the residents," Troy said, explaining the simple effect of the drafted resolution. Troy noted there is no legal or intergovernmental-agreement barrier to changing the billed amount and that the city needs at least two weeks' notice to implement such a change.

Council members asked for clarity about how multi-unit buildings are handled and whether some addresses might be billed twice. Staff said rental-unit registration and address lists supplied to Iowa City generally support accurate billing and suggested that an audit of pickup containers could be used to verify counts if needed. Staff also pledged additional outreach, including a web posting and distribution of the resolution, to notify residents of the billing change.

Lisa moved to adopt Resolution 26-20; Tim seconded. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from Moore, Schroeder, Swells, McGuire and Her goal and the resolution carried 5–0. The transcript does not specify an implementation date; staff said Iowa City requests at least two weeks' notice and staff will provide outreach to residents before the new billed amount takes effect.

The change shifts the full monthly collection fee to residents so that University Heights would no longer subsidize the recycling portion of the service.