2002-11-11 Regular Meeting and Workshop Meeting

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Prior City Councils have had mixed feelings about active enforcement of early placement of heavy trash. Staff has naturally been reluctant to move into the area of citation writing, and has tried to continually educate and accommodate citizens. There has been organized group activity to promote active enforcement of the Ordinance. There has also been an increased interest by the City Council to actively enforce. At the Direction of city management, the Public Works Department has investigated the steps needed to actively enforce the Ordinance. Not all citizens embrace the active enforcement of this Ordinance. Over the past several years, Public Works has been treated to various citizen reaction to the educational efforts described in the first portion of this report. Some citizen reaction is favorable. Many tell us that they were unaware of the provisions of the Ordinance, or that they had lost the heavy trash schedule. While the majority of citizens have reacted favorably, some are upset, and are not shy about letting us know. There are basically three examples of citizens that react unfavorably to educational efforts. It can be assumed that their reaction to a warning or citation will be at least equally unfavorable. The first involves the elderly. As an example, the 83 year old widow whose grandson came over last weekend and cleaned out the garage, or cut down the tree and placed it out for collection too early. This citizen, usually a long-term resident, asks how the City can give her a ticket when she is on a fixed income. What is she supposed to do with it? The second example involves the shift -worker. He is on long -change, and this is his only opportunity to trim his trees. He too places out for collection several days too early. When is he supposed to trim his trees? What is he to do with the debris? How can we give him a ticket — he is a volunteer fireman. The final example involves the individual, and they are out there, that does not care what the Ordinance says. He will put his trash out when he wants to, in any amount he wants to. He dares you to give him a ticket. All three examples are real. Some are a combination of two or more of these examples. All three types have loudly objected to the City's educational efforts. No warnings or citations have been issued to date. If and when active enforcement is implemented, citizen reaction is unknown. Enforcement of the Ordinance can take many forms. However, for the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that the enforcement of excessive heavy trash, trash at commercial and vacant lots or acreage, and maintenance of commercial container placement and surrounding area will continue as is outlined in the Ordinance. The enforcement of heavy trash placed too early seems to be the only area not currently strictly enforced. The following discussion will address this issue. 3