The City has historically been one of the few cities that have included the cost of solid waste collection in the tax rate. Over the last few years, the cost of providing this sanitation service has continued to increase. Instead of raising taxes, the City Council chose to create the sanitation fee. They felt that a service fee is a better allocation method than tax money because taxes are based on property values, while service fees are based on the service provided. For example, if solid waste collection was based on taxes, someone who lives in an expensive house or condo would pay more for sanitation that someone who lives in a more modest house or condo, even though the solid waste collection service provided by the City was exactly the same in each case.
$15.00 per unit per month for curbside services (trash can pick-up) and $8.61 per unit per month for container service (multi-family units that use a dumpster). There are also charges if the City performs special services, i.e. opening and closing of enclosure doors or pulling out a container from the enclosure, which requires staff to exit their vehicle.
This is very comparable to the rates in the County and in neighboring communities, who are paying $13 to $20 per month for single family residential sanitation service.
For residential homeowners, it covers the collection of household solid waste twice per week, and once per week collection of recyclable materials, vegetative waste and bulk items.
The regulations and rates established by the City were based on the collection of all residential units in the City. The City remains available to collect all of the residential waste within the City.
Maybe. Of course, residents should honor any existing contract they may have. However, if there is not a contract or the contract expires, you could opt to use the City. Residents should talk to their existing service provider before taking any action..
