HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/10/94COUNCIL WORK SESSION
October 10, 1994
4:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Krizek, Mollenhoff, Anders, Murphy,
Getty.
Members absent: Jordan, Collier.
Moved by Mollenhoff, seconded by Krizek that the Agenda, as
amended, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Jordan, Collier.
Motion carried.
Moved by Mollenhoff, seconded by Krizek that Item No. 1 entitled
"Discussion of INSPIRE Mentor Program", be deleted from the agenda.
Ayes: Five. Absent: Jordan, Collier. Motion carried.
Councilperson Krizek suggested the Council address the issue of
volume based garbage by creating a timeline for establishing a
resolution to the issue.
Councilperson Getty described the method of yard waste disposal
that the City of Des Moines uses. He explained that all yard waste
is dumped into a tub grinder which costs approximately $150,000,
the waste is ground, then spread and turned. This results in a
product which is used by citizens and nurseries as fill for gardens
and landscaping. The product is given away to citizens free or
available for purchase by commercial users at a cost of $20.00 per
ton. The City of Des Moines collects the waste through the use of
leaf bags which resale for fifty cents this fee covers the twenty-
three cents cost of the bag and the estimated cost to compost of
twenty-five cents per bag.
Mayor Rooff offered four major issues that the Council should
address during establishment of volume based garbage. The need for
a utility crew, free leaf pickup, curbside recycling and
reorganization of the Sanitation Department.
Councilperson Anders recommended that the Council use the 1992
Final Report for Recycling recommendations which parallel the Des
Moines operation. Councilperson Mollenhoff suggested that the
Council study a comparable recycling operation as a model.
Maquoketa is a recommended site as it provides a shelter workshop
facility for the county which should provide insight into curbside
recycling program efforts.
Street department personnel informed the Council that the actual
cost of a yard waste bag is twenty-three cents plus nine cents for
handling to Goodwill and then the retailers are allowed to markup
the product in the stores. The City would have a difficult time
regulating the price of the bags at the retailers.
Staff recommended that the Council close the entrance to the
previous brush dump site and offer free leaf pickup only. Dates
for the free leaf pickup were set for October 21st through November
10, 1994. No brush or limbs would be picked up during this period
and open containers of leaves should be set curbside for pickup on
the regular garbage collection day.
Discussion was heard on the Operation Pride program. Councilperson
Getty raised concerns regarding the amount of bookkeeping needed to
offer year round pickup rather than scheduled clean up weeks
throughout the City. Mark Linda, Black Hawk County Health
Department, stated that more tenants abused this service than
regular residential owners. There may be less complaints with
year-round scheduled pickups. This may alleviate the dumping in
ditches that has increased since this service was stopped. The
Council agreed to provide the Operation Pride large item pickup to
each residence, three times a year. It would be required that the
pickups are scheduled in advance and a list of items for pickup be
Council Work Session
October 10, 1994
Page 2
provided to the crew. The hiring schedule for the utility crew was
discussed and it was agreed that the large item pickup would start
after January 1, 1995 so that a crew could be hired. Mark Linda,
Black Hawk County Health Department informed the Council that the
new litter ordinance is ready to be enforced after the appointment
of a Hearing Committee and the printing of placards for posting.
Curbside recycling was discussed with the establishment of the
added services for a monthly fee of $10.00. Gary Wilcox, Black
Hawk County Solid Waste Commission, stated that the City of
Waterloo doesn't need to establish a volume based garbage system to
meet the 50% reduction guidelines. The total impact of the
Waterloo garbage collection system is less than 10% of the waste
stream at the Black Hawk County Landfill. Residential recycling
won't provide a large reduction in this waste stream as it would
impact it less than 5% overall.
It was suggested that the Council set a limit of five bags per
household. Councilperson Anders raised concerns about keeping the
City clean while enforcing a bag limit. Mark Linda, Black Hawk
County Health Department, stated that a five bag limit shouldn't
impact clean up or the incidence of littering.
The need for an educational program in the schools was discussed.
Gary Wilcox, Black Hawk County Solid Waste Commission, stated that
the Commission has funded a position in the schools for education
and would be happy to cooperate in this program. Partners in
Education was discussed as a possible forum for this effort.
Council members agreed to review and investigate recycling programs
in nearby communities before committing to a recycling program for
the City of Waterloo.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by
Murphy, seconded by Mollenhoff that the meeting be adjourned at
6:05 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Jordan, Collier. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk