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FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -5- June 23, 2004 Interim report from the Solid Waste Commission on organized collection (continued) A larger number contacted the City or came to the public meetings to express their disapproval. "Choice" is a very important factor to these residents. (Reference: March 24 Public Hearing, May 20 Public Meeting and communications from individuals) • Many want "choice" so they can keep the hauler they have; they are concerned that a city contract would force them to have a hauler they don't want. • Many prefer a local hauler and do not want to give their business to a large, non-local corporation. • Some have the misconception that the Commission is ONLY supportive of a single hauler in the City. The goal explicitly states zoning and multiple haulers. • Some assume that acity-wide contract would mean that local haulers would not be considered and would be put out of business, although this is certainly not a goal of the Commission or a necessary outcome of the organized collection process. • Some residents say they like being able to change haulers whenever they want. • Some are opposed to government involvement in anything. Environment and City infrastructure are also very important issues to most residents (Reference: Public Hearing on March 24, Public Meeting on May 20 and communications from individual residents) • They do care about where refuse goes. • They do care about the impact of trucks on the street. • • They do care about how much trash is produced and want effort and education directed toward reduction. Hauler Meetings The two meetings on Apri120 and May 12 were generally positive and constructive. The haulers have provided a large amount of research material to the Commissioners. (See Research section.) Commissioners and haulers agree that most of the goals proposed by the Commission can be met under the current system (Reference: April 20 hauler meeting), provided: • All the residents of Falcon Heights make informed, wise and environmentally sound choices. • The haulers come through with adjustments and compromises they have informally offered. (See below) The following goals can be met by residents making wise use of service options available to them now (Reference: April 20 hauler meeting) • Competitive prices • Temporary suspension of service • Choice of bin size • Service options such as yard waste • Quarterly billing Haulers have expressed willingness to voluntarily impose adjustments that would mitigate the effects of trucks on the streets and alleys. To date only two haulers have acted on these expressions of concern. We have reservations about follow-through when all we have are verbalizations of concern. (Reference: April • 20 and May 12 hauler meetings) • Bring trucks into the City empty. /D