After hours of debate and public testimony, council passes $10/month environmental fee on first reading with annual review

City staff detailed the rationale for an environmental fee after state tax changes that staff said threaten municipal revenues. The presentation estimated the city's solid‑waste costs at about $2.9 million and proposed a phased approach to recover costs: initial monthly charges rising over three years in the original draft but several council members proposed alternatives. "There would be a fee for trash and recycling services, $17.06 starting in 2027," staff said in the presentation while outlining the full proposed per‑household monthly cost with brush and center access (SEG 1084–1096).

Public comment emphasized the fee's connection to public safety and staffing: Matt Whitford, who identified himself as a Goshen Fire Department member, said the department has lost staff and that stable revenue is needed to retain firefighters (SEG 1511–1516). Other commenters, including Marilyn Boddess, urged the council to act to preserve city services and said residents understood tradeoffs from state tax changes (SEG 1579–1609). Council debate focused on alternatives: a $10 flat monthly fee, a two‑year phased approach, or keeping the three‑year escalation. An amendment to set the fee at $10 per month with an annual review and provisions to design hardship relief passed in the amendment vote; the first reading was then recorded with roll call (amendment vote recorded 5–2; subsequent roll call to record first‑reading votes was taken and read aloud) (SEG 3122–3124; SEG 3236–3243). The council directed staff to return with additional modeled scenarios and a hardship/relief framework before the second reading.