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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#05 - Garbage Collection Start Time STAFF REPORT DATE: June 10, 2025 WORKSHOP TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Nicole Miller, City Administrator AGENDA ITEM: Request to modify trash collection hours CORE STRATEGIES: ☐ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☒ Efficient, reliable, innovative services ☒ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future ☐ Managed Growth ☐ Resilient Infrastructure BACKGROUND: Staff received the attached request from Willie Tennis of Tennis Sanitation to adjust our permitted start time for haulers from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Tennis is one of eight of our licensed haulers in the city. Our city code prohibits haulers from operating in a residential district after 7:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. on any day, and no hauler shall operate in a residential district on Sunday. Our city code allows the same hours in relation to noise for construction equipment. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Does the City Council wish to have staff research this topic and bring back a recommendation? ATTACHMENTS: Tennis request to modify trash collection hours 720 4th St., St. Paul Park, MN 55071 Tel (651) 459-1887 Fax (651) 459-7412 Support@tennissanitation.com www.tennissanitation.com June 3, 2025 Nicole Miller City Administrator City of Lake Elmo 3880 Laverne Avenue North Lake Elmo, MN 55042 Dear Ms. Miller and Members of the Lake Elmo City Council, On behalf of Tennis Sanitation, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the opportunity to serve the residents of Lake Elmo. As your community continues to grow and thrive, we remain committed to providing safe, timely, and efficient trash and recycling services to meet the evolving needs of your neighborhoods. We respectfully request your consideration to adjust our permitted route start time from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., and we hope this request may be reviewed during the upcoming City Council workshop. We believe this adjustment would result in notable benefits for the city, our drivers, and most importantly, your residents. Our routes are thoughtfully designed to prioritize safety and efficiency. Starting an hour earlier would help reduce traffic congestion, enhance safety, and allow us to complete service before school release times and peak outdoor activity Additionally, as Lake Elmo continues to experience rapid residential development, earlier service becomes even more crucial. Navigating around contractor vehicles and equipment, which typically begin work at 7:00 a.m., presents significant logistical and safety challenges for our drivers and the contractors themselves. An earlier start time would allow us to service these developing areas more safely and efficiently. We are incredibly proud to be a favored choice for waste and recycling services among Lake Elmo residents. A 6:00 a.m. start would greatly assist us in continuing to provide timely and dependable service across your expanding community. This approach is also consistent with neighboring cities of similar size and growth, including Woodbury, Maplewood, Cottage Grove, and Stillwater, where a 6:00 a.m. start time is standard practice. We’ve connected with another local hauler, Maroney’s Sanitation, who agrees that 720 4th St., St. Paul Park, MN 55071 Tel (651) 459-1887 Fax (651) 459-7412 Support@tennissanitation.com www.tennissanitation.com this adjustment would significantly improve service delivery and is common in comparable municipalities. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition, should the earlier start time be approved. For all existing customers, we would send out notification letters by mail at least two weeks in advance of implementation. Given the number of new residents moving into Lake Elmo, many will not be familiar with a 7:00 a.m. start time and therefore would not experience any disruption from this change. We deeply value our partnership with the City of Lake Elmo and take pride in serving its residents. With your support, we are confident that this modest adjustment will result in enhanced service delivery, improved safety, and greater operational efficiency. We sincerely appreciate your time and consideration of this request and welcome any questions you may have. Sincerely, Willie Tennis Willie and Greg Tennis, Owners Tennis Sanitation, LLC