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Minutes - 06/16/1997 Workshop COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES June 16, 1997 TAPE READING 0001 DATE. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, CITY OF WOODBURN, COUNTY OF MARION, STATE OF OREGON, JUNE 16, 1997. 0003 CONVENED. The Council met in a workshop session on a yard waste recycling program at 7:43 p.m. with Mayor Kirksey presiding. ROLL CALL. Mayor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Kirksey Chadwick Figley Hagenauer Jennings Pugh Sifuentez Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present: City Administrator Childs, Public Works Manager Rohman, City Recorder Tennant Yard Debris Recycling Committee members: Henry Jaeger, Tom Waggoner, Preston Tack, Charlotte Hiller, Jack Donnelly, Dallas Figley 0059 Jim Sears, Marion County Solid Waste Director, requested the Council to support th/ curbside collection of yard waste. This is a county wide issue for a number of reasons, one of which is movement towards the statewide goal of 50% reduction at landfills (currently at about 29% county wide). All cities over 4,000 have the responsibility to help move the county towards the goal. Implementation of yard waste and mixed waste paper which is also proposed at this time. Secondly, the waste burner facility is close to capacity and by implementing yard waste collection and removal, the amount of waste can be reduced. Finally, recycling is a better use environmentally, namely through composting. He believes that the yard waste recycling program needs to be implemented and provide the opportunity for the residents to recycle by providing a container for that purpose. The difference between Salem's program and the proposed City program is that Salem did away with the 90 gallon rollcart. Their studies show that there is about a 30% reduction by weight when you do not include yard waste and mixed waste paper, therefore, the rollcart could be reduced to a 63 gallon cart and still provide adequate container space for other waste products. He is concerned that, in allowing for a 90 gallon rollcart, residents may decide to continue past practice and not use the yard waste recycling program. He urged the City to reconsider the proposed option of the 90 gallon rollcart. Page 1 - Council Workshop Meeting Minutes, June 16, 1997 r" - "-~_. -~,--_. "._'---"'''---'-''-'''>-'-"-'~''--'-------'~-''--- " I ~'~ TAPE READING 0177 0430 COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES June 16, 1997 Public Works Manager Rohman reviewed the Yard Debris Recycling Committee report which recommended that an automated pick-up system would be provided and all cans would be provided by United Disposal. The proposed container size designed specifically for yard waste is 65 gallon. The Task Force was intent on allowing the residents to select an option for size of a garbage container whether it be 95 gallons, 65 gallons, 35 gallons, or 20 gallons. One reason for the options is that in the winter time when yard waste is not filling the container, some residents still fill the 95 gallon container to the top with garbage. United Disposal Service will be requesting a rate adjustment due to the additional costs in implementing the yard waste recycling program. It was noted that the last increase granted to United Disposal was in 1992. If approved, the program would be implemented around March 1, 1998 since it will take some time for UDS to order the new equipment and March is generally the first month following winter in which residents would see a need for the yard waste container. An extensive publication program will be required to let residents know what will be happening and provide information on options that will be available to them. Sam Brentano, United Disposal Service, stated that his company does want to work toward meeting statewide recycling goals, providing an alternative to backyard burning, and to prolong the life of the waste-energy facility in Brooks. Full automation will also minimize the need for future rate increases since one of the large costs is labor. This program was started in Wilsonville and Tualatin about 5 years ago and, initially, residents were reluctant to accept a program which was forced upon them but within a few weeks they liked the program and found it of value. Once the program is in place, there will be a different vehicle used for each purpose - garbage, yard waste, and recycling of other debris. Under the proposed program, each household would be given a 60 gallon roll cart which should provide adequate space for yard debris, however, if it may require a customer to hold over some of their yard debris for a little longer in order to have it all recycled at no extra cost. Weekly service would be provided for yard debris recycling. For garbage collection, several rollcart sizes would be available with rates determined upon the size of the cart and the 90 gallon cart will not realize a discount in rates since the goal is to reduce waste and promote recycling. At this time, 14 items can be recycled by customers. It was noted that the yard waste recycling program would be made available to single family residents rather than to multi-family, commercial, or industrial customers. He did state that UDS would be willing to work with a apartmem complex to provide a drop box for yard waste recycling. During a brief discussion regarding rate increases, Charlotte Hiller stated that the residents will be paying for the service, however, recycling is an overall benefit to the community similar to other types of programs people pay for even though they may not use those programs. Page 2 - Council Workshop Meeting Minutes, June 16, 1997 COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES June 16, 1997 TAPE READING Mary Kanz, Mid-Valley Recycling, stated that one concern of residems is that they have limited space to store the second container. It was also noted that if statewide goals are not met, the choice as to whether or not recycling programs are put in place may be taken away from the customers. In regards to rates, the amounts listed in the staff report will be fairly close to the amounts submit to the City for consideration. Mr. Brentano stated that residential and drop box rates have been low and the adjustments take into consideration these shortages in order to make the rates more equitable to all customers. Preston Tack suggested that rate information be in the first part of any educational brochure so that customers know early on how much it will cost in relationship to the services provided. Mr. Brentano assured the Council and Committee that they will be spending a lot of money on trying to educate the customers on the new program so that the customers can make a choice on the size of garbage container. 1267 Jim Sears briefly answered questions regarding gases that are emitted from the burner facility and how often those repons are made available to the public. He stated that there are different schedules that are followed and those reports are submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality. He also stated that medical waste at the burner facility has dropped off and it is not expected to take any more medical waste. A County Advisory Council is now addressing these issues and, on August 12th, they will be having a panel to address the dioxin level. It was noted that the dioxin level emitted into the air from the burner facility is not as hazardous as the dioxin level emitted by diesel trucks traveling down I-5. Mayor Kirksey questioned if landfill rates would be reduced for pickup loads of yard debris if the emphasis is on recycling. Mr. Sears stated that rates would probably remain the same at the landfill site. Some discussion was held regarding potential inequity to customers who do not utilize the yard debris recycling container and yet they pay the same rate for garbage service. Public Works Manager Rohrnan stated that exemption programs had been tried in other cities but it ended up being difficult to administer and often times unfair to some of the customers. It is also hoped that customers will place their leaves in the container over a period of weeks which would reduce the amount of leaves that are raked out into the street and picked up by the City. The City would be encouraging residents to utilize the yard debris recycling program as much as possible. Mr. Brentano stated that his company will need about 6 months to implement the program once rates are adopted. Public Works Manager Rohman stated that the process will include a formal proposal Page 3 - Council Workshop Meeting Minutes, June 16, 1997 " , II COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES June 16, 1997 TAPE READING from United Disposal Service followed by staff review of the proposal, a public hearing, and adoption of the rates by the Council. Public education will be a major emphasis prior to the implementation of the program. Mary Kanz briefly described the educational aspect of the program which includes reminders once the program is in place. 1764 The workshop concluded at 8:37 p.m.. APPRPVED '{,.l-.NANC A. KlRKSE , ATTEST ~d- Mary Tenn t, Recorder City of Woodburn, Oregon Page 4 - Council Workshop Meeting Minutes, June 16, 1997 ---~.,. >.,,-_.._>_.~ --------~ '-'-"~._"""'--'---"" ~ . -....--.-