Shorewood
City Council Meeting - May 28, 2019
City Council received the results from the firm the city hired to survey residents on their interest in government managed trash collection. The survey also asked questions about organics recycling and general recycling.
The survey results clearly show that citizens are happy with the current open market trash collection system where citizens get to choose their own hauler.
Citizens believe they are getting good value, and it is clear that they oppose the government picking a hauler for them.
In summary, the city council's pursuit of government managed trash collection, taking away your right to choose your own hauler, is being done in opposition to the overwhelming majority of citizens in the community.
98% of citizens rated their current trash service where residents choose their own hauler either excellent or good.
93% rated the cost as either excellent or good.
92% opposed change.
63% oppose or strongly oppose government picking a hauler for them.
14% said they did not know or refused to answer the question. In GHCC's experience, these 14% will oppose government's interference with their right to choose their own hauler once they are provided additional information.
Residents surveyed clearly stated that an open marked will give residents the best price and best customer service.
The city council did not indicate if they planned on moving forward to take away your right to choose your own hauler or if they will repeal the resolution they unanimously adopted last year directing that the city do this.
The city council must repeal their resolution in order to assure that citizens will continue to have the right to choose their own hauler.
The full survey results can be found here.
City Council Meeting - February 25, 2019
City Council made modifications to the citizen survey on trash and recycling and approved it for use. The exact dates the survey will be conducted was not known. 400 residents will be surveyed.
City Council Meeting - February 11, 2019
City Council held a meeting to discuss the proposed citizen survey. Council member Kristine Sundberg spoke to the need to have a survey that used terminology that the general public would understand, rather than legal terms used in Minnesota law. GHCC was supportive of her comments.
City Council Meeting - January 14, 2019
City Council held a meeting to discuss proposed citizen survey on trash and recycling issues. Peter Leatherman attended the meeting and received input from city council members.
Council member Kristine Sundberg claimed that "environmentalists" support government managed trash collection. This statement is untrue. Many environmentalists support the open market because they know that competition is the reason why the city has had organics collection years before it will be mandated, why garbage trucks run on CNG instead of old technology diesel, and why haulers have invested millions in technology to sort ordinary household trash for additional recyclables. One only has to look at the school bus industry, generally government controlled with few private operators, to understand why they are running old technology diesel vehicles.
City Council Meeting - October 22, 2018
City Council approves hiring Morris Leatherman, Inc. to conduct a scientific survey of Shorewood residents regarding their opinions about refuse collection in the city.
GHCC Public Information Requests - April, May, June, July August, 2018
For the past several months, GHCC has submitted multiple public information requests seeking information concerning the city's efforts to take over management of the city's current free market trash collection system.
After a discussion concerning the costs that would be incurred by the city for GHCC to prove that there is no public safety issues (by examining police department records), the City Administrator provided a written statement that there is no record of safety issues in the city with garbage trucks. GHCC notes that his statement contradicts his earlier staff report and a resolution passed by the City Council.
City Council Meeting - April 9, 2018
City council unanimously voted to take official action to start the process of the city taking over management of the trash system.
Mayor Zerby stated "the Council has been discussing this for a long time and this would keep the same haulers in the City but break them into territories with one hauler per area. This means that carriers may change, but he believes it will be better for the City, the roads, the environment, and peace of mind." -City Council meeting minutes of 4/9/18
Before any public notification, before any public input has been taken by residents of the community, before any public hearing, city council members have already staked out their positions on the issue and have voted to move forward.
City Council Meeting - March 12, 2018
The city council discussed various options on how to take over management of the city's trash system and take away resident's right to choose their own hauler.
After three months of discussion, the city still has provided no meaningful notice to the public.
Councilmember Siakel stated that she supported the city taking over billing and making people come to the city to sign up for service. She suggested that resident be given only two options, instead of the open market which could provide dozens of service options.
Councilmember Sundberg inquired as to whether there were any cities that had just one hauler. "Councilmember Sundberg stated that she meant that organized trash collection seemed to be the clear solution for the City." - City Council meeting minutes of 3/12/18
Mayor Zerby noted that there had been several comments related to garbage and recycling in the Comprehensive Plan survey. He stated that there is obviously interest among the residents. At the city council meeting of February 26, 2018, the staff report indicated that there were four comments.
Mayor Zerby stated that he lives on a cul-de-sac with just 10 homes on the street and they are all friends. He stated that he has pushed for the street to band together and have just one truck pick up from their street, but that has been unsuccessful because some people want to support the small business owner, and some want a better price, so they go with the bigger hauler. Some people make the choice because of service, such as going up to the house and grabbing their can if they forget to put it out at the road. He noted that other cities have simply put a cap on the number of haulers allowed within the City.
Mayor Zerby wishes to start the process to eliminate citizen's right to choose their own hauler so the city can do what he was unable to personally accomplish on his street.
Councilmember Sundberg noted that communication will be very important on this issue. Councilmember Johnson stated the importance of clear communication with the residents.
The city council suggested that staff print a small public notice in a newspaper.
City Council Meeting - February 26, 2018
The city council reviewed the findings of the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Survey. This survey did not contain questions about the trash collection system in the city.
Staff indicated that out of a city population of over 7,500 people, four people stated that they wanted one garbage hauler. Three people stated this in an online survey which was open to anyone in the world to participate. One person stated this at an open house.
Staff indicated that this was a sign that the public wanted the city to take over management of the trash system and eliminate free market open choice of residents.
City Council Meeting - January 31, 2018
City Attorney Keane presented options to the city as to how they could take over management of the city's open market trash collection system and restrict residents to one hauler of the city's choosing, with services set by the city, and prices set by the city.
The city council consensus was to direct staff to form a staff only committee to review the issue and report back to the city council.
Updated 6/8/19
City Council Meeting - May 28, 2019
City Council received the results from the firm the city hired to survey residents on their interest in government managed trash collection. The survey also asked questions about organics recycling and general recycling.
The survey results clearly show that citizens are happy with the current open market trash collection system where citizens get to choose their own hauler.
Citizens believe they are getting good value, and it is clear that they oppose the government picking a hauler for them.
In summary, the city council's pursuit of government managed trash collection, taking away your right to choose your own hauler, is being done in opposition to the overwhelming majority of citizens in the community.
98% of citizens rated their current trash service where residents choose their own hauler either excellent or good.
93% rated the cost as either excellent or good.
92% opposed change.
63% oppose or strongly oppose government picking a hauler for them.
14% said they did not know or refused to answer the question. In GHCC's experience, these 14% will oppose government's interference with their right to choose their own hauler once they are provided additional information.
Residents surveyed clearly stated that an open marked will give residents the best price and best customer service.
The city council did not indicate if they planned on moving forward to take away your right to choose your own hauler or if they will repeal the resolution they unanimously adopted last year directing that the city do this.
The city council must repeal their resolution in order to assure that citizens will continue to have the right to choose their own hauler.
The full survey results can be found here.
City Council Meeting - February 25, 2019
City Council made modifications to the citizen survey on trash and recycling and approved it for use. The exact dates the survey will be conducted was not known. 400 residents will be surveyed.
City Council Meeting - February 11, 2019
City Council held a meeting to discuss the proposed citizen survey. Council member Kristine Sundberg spoke to the need to have a survey that used terminology that the general public would understand, rather than legal terms used in Minnesota law. GHCC was supportive of her comments.
City Council Meeting - January 14, 2019
City Council held a meeting to discuss proposed citizen survey on trash and recycling issues. Peter Leatherman attended the meeting and received input from city council members.
Council member Kristine Sundberg claimed that "environmentalists" support government managed trash collection. This statement is untrue. Many environmentalists support the open market because they know that competition is the reason why the city has had organics collection years before it will be mandated, why garbage trucks run on CNG instead of old technology diesel, and why haulers have invested millions in technology to sort ordinary household trash for additional recyclables. One only has to look at the school bus industry, generally government controlled with few private operators, to understand why they are running old technology diesel vehicles.
City Council Meeting - October 22, 2018
City Council approves hiring Morris Leatherman, Inc. to conduct a scientific survey of Shorewood residents regarding their opinions about refuse collection in the city.
GHCC Public Information Requests - April, May, June, July August, 2018
For the past several months, GHCC has submitted multiple public information requests seeking information concerning the city's efforts to take over management of the city's current free market trash collection system.
After a discussion concerning the costs that would be incurred by the city for GHCC to prove that there is no public safety issues (by examining police department records), the City Administrator provided a written statement that there is no record of safety issues in the city with garbage trucks. GHCC notes that his statement contradicts his earlier staff report and a resolution passed by the City Council.
City Council Meeting - April 9, 2018
City council unanimously voted to take official action to start the process of the city taking over management of the trash system.
Mayor Zerby stated "the Council has been discussing this for a long time and this would keep the same haulers in the City but break them into territories with one hauler per area. This means that carriers may change, but he believes it will be better for the City, the roads, the environment, and peace of mind." -City Council meeting minutes of 4/9/18
Before any public notification, before any public input has been taken by residents of the community, before any public hearing, city council members have already staked out their positions on the issue and have voted to move forward.
City Council Meeting - March 12, 2018
The city council discussed various options on how to take over management of the city's trash system and take away resident's right to choose their own hauler.
After three months of discussion, the city still has provided no meaningful notice to the public.
Councilmember Siakel stated that she supported the city taking over billing and making people come to the city to sign up for service. She suggested that resident be given only two options, instead of the open market which could provide dozens of service options.
Councilmember Sundberg inquired as to whether there were any cities that had just one hauler. "Councilmember Sundberg stated that she meant that organized trash collection seemed to be the clear solution for the City." - City Council meeting minutes of 3/12/18
Mayor Zerby noted that there had been several comments related to garbage and recycling in the Comprehensive Plan survey. He stated that there is obviously interest among the residents. At the city council meeting of February 26, 2018, the staff report indicated that there were four comments.
Mayor Zerby stated that he lives on a cul-de-sac with just 10 homes on the street and they are all friends. He stated that he has pushed for the street to band together and have just one truck pick up from their street, but that has been unsuccessful because some people want to support the small business owner, and some want a better price, so they go with the bigger hauler. Some people make the choice because of service, such as going up to the house and grabbing their can if they forget to put it out at the road. He noted that other cities have simply put a cap on the number of haulers allowed within the City.
Mayor Zerby wishes to start the process to eliminate citizen's right to choose their own hauler so the city can do what he was unable to personally accomplish on his street.
Councilmember Sundberg noted that communication will be very important on this issue. Councilmember Johnson stated the importance of clear communication with the residents.
The city council suggested that staff print a small public notice in a newspaper.
City Council Meeting - February 26, 2018
The city council reviewed the findings of the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Survey. This survey did not contain questions about the trash collection system in the city.
Staff indicated that out of a city population of over 7,500 people, four people stated that they wanted one garbage hauler. Three people stated this in an online survey which was open to anyone in the world to participate. One person stated this at an open house.
Staff indicated that this was a sign that the public wanted the city to take over management of the trash system and eliminate free market open choice of residents.
City Council Meeting - January 31, 2018
City Attorney Keane presented options to the city as to how they could take over management of the city's open market trash collection system and restrict residents to one hauler of the city's choosing, with services set by the city, and prices set by the city.
The city council consensus was to direct staff to form a staff only committee to review the issue and report back to the city council.
Updated 6/8/19