03-13-2023 City Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 3 one is already in the car delivering the organics to a site, they could drive it to another area such 87 as City Hall. If the City has roughly 7,600 homes with only 500 of those utilizing the program, 88 perhaps there is a better site. Community Development Director Grochala explained that the City 89 evaluated other locations at City Hall and that it would be front-facing and still need garbage 90 access which would not work in the parking lot. Regarding the Rookery they did not want to 91 impact any future expansion at that site. Mr. Grochala said the site at Marshan Park is closer to 92 existing homes and playgrounds than they would be at Sunrise Park. The City believes fencing it 93 off and screening is consistent with Code requirements to keep it secluded around the corner of 94 the building with the playground across the parking lot (a couple hundred feet away). 95 96 Ms. Schmitt asked if they can include an organics enclosure in the planning of a new public 97 works facility. Mr. Grochala anticipated that if/when they build a public works facility they 98 would have an organics enclosure location there. 99 100 Councilmember Lyden is not for putting these in the parks. He suggested having one location for 101 people to bring their organics to, such as the oil-dumping site from years past. 102 103 Councilmember Cavegn inquired as to what the growth, in terms of participation, in the program 104 has been. Mr. Nelson noted that the City is not currently meeting the SCORE grant tonnage 105 target for organics, so this is the greatest opportunity for improvement in the City. 106 107 Councilmember Stoesz asked if there is opportunity for a public/private partnership with a 108 business in the area who might host the organics enclosure. 109 110 Councilmember Ruhland agreed and suggested reaching out to some businesses within the City. 111 112 Lori Houle, 6957 Sunrise Drive, asked why they can’t have the organics enclosure at a 113 composting site. Mr. Nelson explained it is a matter of what materials one can bring to those 114 compost sites (yard waste), as some cannot process food materials such as dairy, bones, and 115 meat. 116 117 Mr. Grochala clarified if City Council does not want this program, the City can scrap the 118 program and reject the grant. He noted it sounds like Sunrise Park is ruled out. Staff can look at 119 other options and if they do not have anything in the next couple of weeks they will return the 120 grant. 121 122 Item 3 — No Mow May — Environmental Coordinator Nelson gave a summary of his written 123 report and explained by not mowing one’s lawn in May it may provide benefit to pollinator 124 species. If there is support from the City Council, they would direct staff not to enforce the grass 125 and weed Ordinance for the month of May. 126 127 Mayor Rafferty asked whether there is an actual benefit to the pollinator species. 128 129 Mr. Nelson thinks the benefit is less than what was advertised from the group out of the United 130 Kingdom; however, it would help shift the aesthetic public perception more in favor of natural 131