11/15/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ Manager noted for Council it would be helpful to have more experience with the new machines and process before making a total commitment e that the City would undertake picking up leaves on all streets. Don Allen, Public Works Director, said he would speak against a blanket pick-up just based on the premise that the City does not allow burning. He said many people dispose of the leaves other than dumping them in the gutters. He said no city has solved the problem of picking up leaves on unimproved streets. The best solution would be to have each property owner dispose of his own. He noted the problem of picking up more than just leaves, i.e., gravel, limbs, and other materials. He was rel uctant to expand the program, and questioned whether or not the City was obligated to pick up leaves. He said with the present staffing and equipment, it would be impossible to expand the service tommorrow. However, the City is in the business of picking up leaves now purely from a liability standpoint, i.e., the effect of leaves in the storm sewers. Currently, at the time for leaf pickup, the staff abondons all other work to pick up leaves. If Council wishes to expand the program, he requested it all ow staff time to present to Council a program that woul d be real istic, economical, and one which staff could handle. Mr. Haws felt the burden should be on the individual. He noted the use of the leaves for compost. He was not in favor of spending $20,000 for additional equipment. He would rather the money be used to educate the public on how to use the leaves on their own property. Mr. Delay did not agree with Mr. Williams that the City had the responsibility to pick up leaves everywhere because of a burning ban, e but more a responsibility based on the drainage problems. He sa i d while increased mechanism may allow expansion, it seems the City will not be able to serve all streets. He wondered if the additional equipment will enable the City to do a better job of maintenance on the bike paths. Mr. Allen said an experimental effort would be attempted with the additional two machines to see how effective they are. Then staff could present a program during the budgeting process. However, he noted staff could not do the leaf pickup program on the streets petitioned this year. However, there may be experimental pickup on those streets. The additional equipment may allow the City to do a better job of addressing the leaf pickup problem on a city-wide basis. He noted this would be a major budget item. Manager said the new equipment would save manpower, also. Mr. Obie wondered if it would be feasible to have a series of dump stations available. Mr. Allen said the program sounded simple but it is very hard to impl ement. It would require staff to police the dump stations as the public would be inclined to dump more than just leaves. He said the present leaf pickup program is about halfway completed and he would be reluctant to make any changes as it would disrupt the existing program and require shifting manpower. . 11/15/78--6 '~3