HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/2005 Adjourned Meeting 72
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 22, 2005 - 7:30 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.
YAKIMA CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. Roll CaII
Present:
Council: Mary Place, Acting Mayor, presiding; Council Members Ron
Bonlender, Dave Edler, Bernard Sims, and Susan Whitman
Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager, Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works;
Nancy Fortier, Refuse and Recycling Manager; and City Clerk
Roberts
Absent: Mayor Paul George and Council Member Neil McClure (both
excused)
2. Study Session on litter and recycling issues
Chris Waarvick said that since the issue of litter abatement carne up last year, staff
has been meeting every two weeks looking at our Municipal Code and possibilities to
address the issue. Three council members have been attending the meetings
(minutes of meetings included in meeting packet). Nancy Fortier reported the
Committee has seen some progress. Legal counsel is working with them on the
potential of issuing an infraction or fine of some sort for violation of the ordinance.
Staff would prefer to do it on a voluntary basis. The Committee is looking at
everything from overfilled garbage cans to piles of litter.
• Current Ordinance reviewed
Nancy Fortier reviewed the regulations in the current ordinance:
➢ Scattering of refuse is prohibited
➢ Illegal dumping is prohibited
➢ Containers are required
➢ We have authority to increase service if someone is frequently overfilling the
container
➢ Containers should be moved to the curb on collection day and removed after
it is emptied.
➢ Regulations on how to dispose of ashes and dead animals
➢ Rummaging through other people's garbage cans is prohibited
Council Member Bonlender commented that if we set standards that would regulate
refuse, reduce litter, and institute a fine for violations, it would help clean up the city.
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FEBRUARY 22, 2005 — ADJOURNED MEETING
• Recycling is discussed
Ms. Fortier said that recycling was discussed last August. We were asked to do a
survey and come back after the drop sites had been gone for a time. Yakima Waste
has experienced an increase in accounts. Central Washington Recycling also
experienced an increase in customers. We noticed a small increase in the amount of
garbage being picked up. Wendy Mifflin, Yakima County Solid Waste Manager,
advised her that they had not noticed an increase in garbage being deposited at the
landfill. The people who want to recycle are finding ways to do so. Some community
organizations still have a few recycling bins located in the community.
Council Member Bonlender reported that the Kiwanis bin at Top Foods fills up faster
now. The philosophical question is do we want to do something besides voluntary
recycling. He is in favor of being progressive.and going beyond a voluntary program.
Ms. Fortier pointed out the information in the packet relating to Yakima County's
educational effort on recycling. They are planning a four -page insert in the phone
book providing information on recycling areas, garbage collection, and hazardous
waste disposal. If the City is interested in participating, we could insert information
about our ordinances. It would be distributed in 137,000 phone books and would
probably reduce the number of phone calls regarding the size of the can, etc. It could
be printed in English and Spanish. Council Member Sims commented that the
information from the County would be sufficient.
Mr. Waarvick stated that before staff takes any more aggressive steps, they would
like clear direction from Council on recycling efforts. We sent out information and
people are here who can tell Council what has happened since the drop sites were
removed. Council Member Place said she would like to delay giving direction to staff
until additional Council members are present.
Council Member Edler asked if being progressive equated to being in the recycling
business? Council Member Bonlender replied that we would study if that were
feasible or contract it out. He advocated a mandatory curb -side recycling system to
reduce waste at the landfill. Council Member Edler asked how many communities in
this state are doing that. Mr. Waarvick stated that staff would have to research it and
bring back information.
Council Member Sims asked why the County is not offering, or mandating, a
recycling program. Wendy Mifflin responded that cities are responsible for recycling.
Yakima County is taking a lead with the construction of a transfer station that would
give them the ability to sort out the recyclables. She commented that most recycling
is handled by privately owned businesses. Council Member Sims asked why the
City could not dump its refuse at the transfer station for sorting. Ms. Mifflin thought it
would cost more, but she could research it. Mr. Waarvick interjected that the low
tipping fees of $24.00 a ton at the landfill compared to the rest of the state with
tipping fees at $80 to $130 ton is not quite an incentive.
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FEBRUARY 22, 2005 - ADJOURNED MEETING
3. Audience Comments (8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.)
Scott Robertson, Yakima Waste, extended an invitation to tour their facility, which
has co- mingled recycling.
• Council direction to staff
It was the general consensus to have staff seek direction when all the council
members are present. Mr. Waarvick committed staff to obtaining information on the
cities that have mandatory recycling and to come back at a future council meeting for
direction.
4. Adjournment
EDLER MOVED AND WHITMAN SECONDED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING,. The
motion carried by unanimous voice vote; George and McClure absent. The meeting
adjourned at 8:21 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY Aer, /
COUNCIL d MBER /Acting mayor DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK - • I L MEMBER
Minutes prepared by Karen Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's
Office
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