Agenda Packets - 2015/08/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC • 3 March 2014 The City Council held a discussion about solid waste management at its Study Session meeting on September 24, 2012. City staff presented a summary of background information about organized collection including: recent results from other studies completed for the State of Minnesota; and the recent experience of Maplewood, Minnesota in changing to organized trash collection. The City Council set the tone for the development of the Solid Waste Management Plan at their meeting on May 20, 2013. In their discussions, they commented on the feedback they had received from residents and businesses on this issue. Topics discussed at this City Council meeting included: ♦ The increasing amount of blowing litter from garbage trucks in the City ♦ The effect of heavy garbage trucks on pavement ♦ The potential to reduce pollution and otherwise help the environment ♦ Opportunities for residents to save money under organized collection systems At the May 20, 2013 Council Meeting, the Council received additional background information from City staff about the amendment to Minnesota Statutes relating to organized collection (M.S. 115A.94). The City Council decided to contract with an expert consultant for assistance with development of a comprehensive solid waste plan, to be followed in the summer of 2014 with Council discussion of a preferred approach to solid waste management. The Council, understanding the high potential for controversy, directed that there should be extensive community engagement in the development of the Solid Waste Management Plan. City Council meetings since then on this Plan have included: ♦ September 9, 2013 to accept the proposal from Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC and award the contract to Foth for consulting services. ♦ November 4, 2013 to receive an introduction to the process, schedule and content outline of the City’s first comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. ♦ December 19, 2013 orientation for new City Council members about the process and schedule for the new Plan. There have been several City Manager Informational packets sent to City Council to keep them updated on the progress of the Plan. 3 National Citizen Survey The City of Bloomington participates in the National Citizen SurveyTM 1, coordinated by the International City Managers Association and partially funded by the State of Minnesota. Through the National Citizen SurveyTM, Bloomington annually surveys its citizens about their satisfaction with City services. Resident opinions about trash and recycling services are included in the survey as part of the Survey’s measures of environmental sustainability in a community.