Coon Rapids
February 25, 2024
City Council decides unanimously to discontinue discussion of government managed trash collection.
(From City Hall Press Release dated February 27, 2024)
At a work session on Feb. 26, the City Council discussed ways to improve waste hauling in the City without implementing an organized hauling system. Staff presented several alternative options that Councilmembers would like to consider.
At this time, the City will not pursue organized hauling. Instead, Council directed staff to develop new procedures to improve the current system.
The exploratory process is now concluded and no formal negotiations with haulers will occur. The City will continue to operate an open hauling system, which allows residents to select a waste company from a list of approved providers. During the next few months, staff will prepare proposed policy changes for the Council to formally consider later this year.
Alternatives may include:
Background
At the Sept. 5, 2023 City Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to begin an exploratory process to gather information about the benefits and challenges of organized hauling.
The City Council did NOT vote to adopt an organized hauling system. They only voted to formally begin an exploratory process to research organized hauling.
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 the City Council met with representatives from each of the five licensed haulers currently operating in the city. This "meet and confer" session is part of the state's statutory process. It provided an opportunity for the haulers and City to begin an open dialogue about organized hauling versus open hauling. The meeting was a productive early step in the process.
During the next several months, the City gathered feedback from residents through online surveys, direct communication with residents and phone hotlines. Feedback was split between support for organized hauling versus support for maintaining the current open hauling system.
The statutory process did not proceed. Staff researched other ways to improve the waste hauling system and presented these options to the City Council.
Revised 2/28/24
February 25, 2024
City Council decides unanimously to discontinue discussion of government managed trash collection.
(From City Hall Press Release dated February 27, 2024)
At a work session on Feb. 26, the City Council discussed ways to improve waste hauling in the City without implementing an organized hauling system. Staff presented several alternative options that Councilmembers would like to consider.
At this time, the City will not pursue organized hauling. Instead, Council directed staff to develop new procedures to improve the current system.
The exploratory process is now concluded and no formal negotiations with haulers will occur. The City will continue to operate an open hauling system, which allows residents to select a waste company from a list of approved providers. During the next few months, staff will prepare proposed policy changes for the Council to formally consider later this year.
Alternatives may include:
- Changes to City ordinance and policies.
- Future limits on the number of licensed haulers allowed in the City, which may reduce haulers, solicitation and truck traffic through attrition.
- A formal process to track complaints related to waste hauling.
- Additional licensing and solicitation requirements for haulers.
- Updated procedures to address haulers who are out of compliance.
- Public education programs to help residents voluntarily self-organize with neighbors.
Background
At the Sept. 5, 2023 City Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to begin an exploratory process to gather information about the benefits and challenges of organized hauling.
The City Council did NOT vote to adopt an organized hauling system. They only voted to formally begin an exploratory process to research organized hauling.
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 the City Council met with representatives from each of the five licensed haulers currently operating in the city. This "meet and confer" session is part of the state's statutory process. It provided an opportunity for the haulers and City to begin an open dialogue about organized hauling versus open hauling. The meeting was a productive early step in the process.
During the next several months, the City gathered feedback from residents through online surveys, direct communication with residents and phone hotlines. Feedback was split between support for organized hauling versus support for maintaining the current open hauling system.
The statutory process did not proceed. Staff researched other ways to improve the waste hauling system and presented these options to the City Council.
Revised 2/28/24