City Council Debates Trash and Decreasing Unkept Yard Fees

SAN ANGELO, TX – The City Council met yesterday morning to discuss several new important agenda items. A major point of discussion was San Angelo’s relatively new waste collecting system. Another item that was brought before the Council was a possible amendment to an already standing city ordinance that would lower the city’s fees for an abatement from $150 to $90.  More street construction was also debated during yesterday’s meeting. Finally, the Council was given an update on the new Data Monitoring System for the City fleet.

In August 2014, the city of San Angelo decided to enter into a new waste collection contract with Republic Services. This new contract created a new automated curbside system, collecting waste from the citizens of San Angelo. However, since its implementation, residents have voiced concern over the efficiency of Republic Services’ automated curbside waste collection system.

Jeremy Miller, Solid Waste Contract Manager, reported the results of a waste collection survey sent to San Angelo residents with their August water bill, and he also reported on the outcome of two public forums where residents had expressed their concerns with the current waste collection system. They had demanded that the system be changed. The survey and the forums were initiated following a discussion that had taken place at the June 7, 2016 City Council meeting. 

In that meeting, council members had asked for more feedback on the waste collection issue, so the city could make a decision that would be in the best interest of San Angelo residents. In yesterday’s meeting, the topic was discussed further, and Jeremy Miller said he would categorize the residents’ complaints and the concerns of the council members. Miller promised the Council he would work with Republic Services LTD to “try to move forward with any contract changes.” This topic will be discussed again in an upcoming City Council meeting.

During yesterday’s meeting, the council discussed the first public hearing and a consideration of an ordinance amending the $150 “garbage, weeds, junk, and unsanitary conditions abatement fees” to $90. This issue was brought to the council because many citizens are concerned that the $150 fee is too high and unfairly punishes those who are of low income, elderly and/or disabled.  The Mayor believes that the “$150 fee is punitive.” The City has implemented the $150 fee to cover various costs, listed in the Report to Mayor & Members of City Council, as being “derived by adding the cost to the city for multiple property inspections by Code Enforcement Officers, administrative actions to set up and track files, cost of mailing, and billing actions.” The fee also serves as a deterrent against future violations.

Bob Salas, Neighborhood Services Director, presented this report to the council. Salas also stated that the recommended change from $150 to $90 per abatement would entail an estimated decrease of $30,000 in the city budget. All council members were in agreement that those who are elderly and/or disabled should not have to pay a fine of any kind. However, there was some debate on who should pay the said fine and how much it should be. Council member Harry Thomas voiced his opinion, and said, “I want to leave this fee at $150 for those […] people who just don’t do anything because they expect the city to come over and take care of it.”

Council member Charlotte Farmer agreed with Thomas stating, “Habitual offenders need to pay, and I don’t have a problem with $150 being attached to them.”

Council members even proposed contracting with local landscapers to give them more business and residents more options. After much debate, the council voted on re-introducing a first reading of this ordinance amendment in another City Council meeting.

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Street improvement to Twin Mountain Drive between April Street and Tarin Street became the Council’s most recent debate on one of the many road construction projects happening throughout the city of San Angelo. The street improvement would cost an estimated $75,400. However, due to legal issues between the property owner of the adjacent lot, city employees and the current property owner of the adjacent lot, must go to a December 6 hearing to discuss issues of reimbursement (when and/if the said property will be platted for the future). 

At the end of yesterday’s meeting, Ryan Kramer, Fleet Services Superintendent, gave the City Council members a status update on the newly installed Data Monitoring System for the city fleet. Fleet Services began installing data monitoring devices on city vehicles and equipment in February 2016. This was done to establish a benchmark for future assessments regarding driver behavior, fuel usage and maintenance, and utilization. Kramer believes that by March 2017, all of the city fleet will be equipped with this new system. He plans on returning back to the Council in May or June of 2017 with a full comprehensive report of the system’s findings.

The next City Council meeting, held on Nov. 15, will show if any resolutions have been made.