INFO-2024-3 : Information Item Updating City Council on Solid Waste & Recycling and Disposal Contract Negotiations

Transcript (~5 min @ 1:46:49)

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▶ 1:46:49 Speaker 3: Um, thank you Mr. Thank you.

▶ 1:46:52 Maya Jamaleddine: Um, and we have info 2024 dash three

▶ 1:46:56 Jen Grigoraitis: info item updating city Council on Solid Waste and Recycling and Disposal. Uh, contract negotiation. Madam Mayor. Good evening, Madam Chair. Good evening Counsel. Um, I had sent you all an email and just wanted to speak in the public domain that we, this is an order that was filed by the previous administration and I know was held and we're bumping up against the 45 day rule. And I just wanted to respectfully request that it be held a little bit longer so that I have some time to get acclimated and we can come before you. Um, my preference would be February 12th at obviously at the chair's discretion because we will have a companion order appearing on the full council agenda on February 5th that's related to a grant to help offset the purchase price of the new garbage cans. So we were hoping we could have a all things trash and recycling conversation with you all on February 12th, if that works for scheduling. And I would have Jim Troop and others with me. Um, I think as you all know, the contract has been signed by Mayor Broder. There is still, um, some decisions that I can make. What will be before you is purely informational. The decision about recycling and fees is, um, rests with the administration. But I wanna make sure you all are aware and we have your feedback. And we also have a survey that's gone out. We have had 1600 responses to date, which is great 'cause we, um, pick up trash and recycling for about 8,000 households. So, um, please feel free to share that with your networks. We've had really thoughtful and helpful feedback, including requests for YouTube videos. And I'm not sure we're gonna make a video, but we will at least have a photo of what the different toter sizes look like. So, and we're also working on an FAQ, so we will get that out to all of you in advance. But that would be my request for tonight for your consideration.

▶ 1:48:45 Speaker 3: Thank you. Uh, Madam Mayor, um, uh, counselor gpe. I was gonna

▶ 1:48:50 Speaker 1: Just make a motion to hold, hold us

▶ 1:48:53 Maya Jamaleddine: Second. Second. We have, uh, motion, uh, to hold made by counselor Gar, seconded by Counselor Stewart. Um, um, on discussion, Councillor Stewart.

▶ 1:49:08 Robb Stewart: Thank you Madam Chair and through the chair. Um, thank you Madam Mayor for being here this evening. Um, you've heard a lot of opinion about one week versus two week. Can you share some thoughts on that?

▶ 1:49:20 Jen Grigoraitis: My personal thoughts on that? Well, I think we're, I think it's a reduction in services if we don't continue with one week recycling. But I also think it's really important to hear from the community, which is why it was put out first on the trash cards and then broader to the community. Because as I think has been said, none of the decisions we make exist in a silo. So, um, this is an increase in costs for residents regardless of what we do. But it is also a recognition that, um, it has consequences on the city budget. And we know that there are many challenges before us. So I think that's part of what we wanna bring back to you all. Um, as we discuss what's gonna happen, I think the other conversation we have to have is that there are real points of opportunity for education. That the contract is related to hauling costs. What we pay for tonnage fluctuates based on the amount of waste that we're putting out and on how, um, pure our recycling stream is. So the more contaminated our recycling is, at some point we reach a threshold where we get build more for not providing recycling that really can be used. So I think we also want to talk about using these next six months before we switch contractors in July to helping people understand that, you know, our individual actions will have environmental impact, but we'll also have some impact on the city's bottom line. So I think there's an opportunity there, um, and we're hoping to certainly engage with all of you on that as well.

▶ 1:50:39 Robb Stewart: Great. Thank you for sharing that, Madam Mayor. Thank you Madam Chair.

▶ 1:50:42 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. And I also wanted to mention that, um, we have received a lot of calls and, um, questions from, um, constituents as well, but also as they call asking and sharing their concern, they're also sharing how much they appreciate the extra effort that is being made by your administration on, you know, getting all the information and details before you make that decision and before, um, in order for you to be able to share, um, um, you know, information with the public, um, as, um, this decision is being made. Um, so I do wanted to relay that and I appreciate your effort. Um, now we have, um, a motion, uh, to hold and I will, um, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. We will hold this, uh, order for when we have more details. Um, thank you

▶ 1:51:41 Robb Stewart: Madam Chair. I'd like to make a motion to, uh, attach those, uh, emails related to this issue to the, uh, the order. They

▶ 1:51:50 Speaker 1: Second. Okay. We have, They have been attached.

▶ 1:51:54 Speaker 2: They have, yes. I'll, I'll track my motion.

▶ 1:51:57 Speaker 1: Retract my Second. You're way ahead of me.