Councilperson Cook asks Council to consider city leaf vacuum program; staff outlines $400K–$500K annual cost

Councilperson Cook asked the Mentor City Council at its June 16 work session to consider adopting a vacuum‑truck leaf collection program that would allow residents to place raked leaves on the tree lawn rather than bagging them for curbside pickup. “Tonight, I am asking Council to consider adopting a vacuum truck leaf removal program for the residents within the city of Mentor,” Cook said.

City staff presented equipment options and timing. Mr. Flippiak said most municipal programs run about six to eight weeks, generally from mid‑October through mid‑December, and recommended pull‑behind vacuum trailer boxes as the preferred option. “We would absolutely be looking … at the pull‑behind vacuum trailer boxes. They run about $85,000,” he said.

Staff sketched likely scale and costs. Using Strongsville as a local model, staff said an eight‑unit program would operate with roughly eight crews (three persons each), about 24 personnel dedicated during the season, and would require a capital outlay of roughly $680,000 for eight pull‑behind units. Annual operating costs were estimated at $400,000–$500,000, which staff said includes approximately $200,000 in contracted services to cover work that would otherwise be performed during that period and about $35,000 in disposal fees at the Heisley Road facility.

Staff also flagged operational constraints. Mr. Flippiak said the public works department has about 47 positions, with roughly 32 available for field work at full staffing, so assigning 24 crew members to a leaf program for eight weeks would consume most seasonal capacity and could displace routine fall work such as crack sealing and patching.

Council members raised practical and equity concerns. Some members argued residents would welcome the amenity and noted the program’s sticker price equates to a modest per‑resident cost in broad terms; others warned that schedules (zones and posted pickup days) would not suit all shift workers, that early snow or weather delays could require spring makeup work, and that once adopted the service might be politically difficult to end. Councilmember Krieger asked whether the program simply shifts the city’s current bagged collection costs and reminded colleagues that residents would still need to rake leaves to the tree lawn for pickup.

Staff offered cost‑reduction options. Mr. Vernon said some cities use municipal composting to reduce disposal costs and that if the city had a compost site it could potentially cut the $35,000 disposal estimate. Staff also suggested exploring whether Waste Management or other refuse contractors would adjust rates if the city removed leaves during the peak weeks.

Next steps. Staff said equipment purchases, route and zone planning, and staffing analyses would be required before any program launch, and indicated 2027 would likely be the earliest feasible start date if Council directs staff to proceed. No motions or votes on adopting a program were recorded at the session.