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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. 73 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. 2 7,: 4 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: 7 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 3