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Council extends review of Sisters Recycling Center, asks staff to return with split-rate option
Summary
Council heard staff analysis and a 433‑response survey on the future of the Sisters Recycling Center, agreed to continue operations on an interim basis while county recycling changes roll out, and directed staff to return with Option 3 (shared residential/commercial rate increase) and detailed rates in January.
The Sisters City Council devoted substantial discussion on Dec. 10 to the future of the Sisters Recycling Center after staff summarized survey results and financial options.
City Manager Jordan Wheeler and staff described a public survey (433 responses) that showed residents value the convenience of the local recycling drop‑off and that many respondents opposed sending all materials to the regional transfer station. Staff and Republic Services provided cost information and recommended an interim approach: renew the existing agreement for one year and monitor county rollout of commingled recycling under the Recycling Modernization Act. Staff noted the center costs roughly $100,000 annually to operate, with Deschutes County subsidizing about $40,000 of that cost.
Council debated three possible rate approaches to keep the center open: a universal residential increase (Option 1), a commercial/residential split (Options 2 or 3) and a middle-ground (Option 3) that apportions costs between business and residents. Several councilors expressed concern about asking all residents to carry the full cost and pointed to the sizable commercial use (cardboard and glass) by local businesses. Council asked staff to return to the January meeting with a detailed Option 3 proposal and more granular rate information and to bring line-item clarity for customers on their utility bills.
Council direction: staff will pursue a one‑year renewal with Republic Services while preparing a rate proposal that shares the cost between residential and commercial accounts and will monitor county program rollouts for the spring.
