Introduction of an Ordinance Amending the Pasco County Code of Ordinances Chapter 90, Article II, Solid Waste Collection and Disposal and Article III, Disposal Fees and Charges – No Funding Required

24:20Good morning. Uh Justin Ressler, Assistant Solid Waste Director. Can everybody hear me? Yes, sir. All right, R two is an introduction of an ordinance amending the Pasco County Code of Ordinances, Chapter ninety, Article Two, Solid Waste Collection and Disposal, and Article Three, Disposal Fees and Charges. There's no funding required. Um is there a PowerPoint up you're able to see?

24:58Maybe it's the R one item you can can move ahead.

25:04Okay, so what what we've done with this ordinance change is we've tried to more clearly define the service standards for our waste hauler as well as provide a a couple additional uh responsibilities for property owners. And really we've done that through uh establishing a violation section that outlines specific penalties related to uh waste collection and and and public and private waste management. I am and really the genesis for this was the feedback that we've gotten from a a number of commission members over the years as well as the the outreach from our citizens about the the issues that they can have trouble with from from

25:34time to time. Um another component of this ordinance update is that we we've made it mandatory for haulers to provide commercial recycling. We do have an open market in Pasco and so in most places everybody is able to get commercial recycling if you're a business, but there are some areas. where maybe one or two haulers serve a specific location. And so we've just we've come out and and made that um you know, requirement of an ordinance. It's not mandatory for the businesses to recycle, but it's mandatory for the haulers to provide it. Um if they aren't already Um

26:05and again this is really just to help uh tighten up ordinance and and address some of the uh challenges we've had uh with waste collection. Um one thing I do want to stress is that our approach and working with our private waste haulers is you know open dialogue and communication. I I think that we've had a good relationship um over the past years, uh especially with the the coronavirus. Everybody has done a good job of making sure that we we continue to get the waste out of everybody's homes in in those tough conditions. But uh You know, we feel that uh we can tighten up the

26:35framework and make this work a little bit better for everybody. Uh next slide, please. Um so what have we done specifically? Um relating to the kind of the public component of this, we have added some language in there really that it makes it a requirement to have a garbage can, have your waste stored in that garbage can and have the garbage can be lidd And we've heard that, you know, piling up of trash outside of houses has been an issue that that people have raised in the past. And then we've addressed some of the waste hauler customer service requirements. Really

27:06that deals with recurring complaints for the same issue, provided that it is a valid issue. I'm a requirement for the private haulers to track those complaints and and submit that those records to the county. And then a requirement for the haulers to resolve any complaints in a reasonable timeframe. Next slide, please. Um another thing that we've added is equipment maintenance. Um and so over the years there's a lot of issues that we've run into with leaking trucks, whether that's leaking hydraulic fluid or or leaking garbage juice out of the trucks. And we've added

27:36in some language where if there's damage to a road, they have to go out and and and repair those roads and also provide um clean and non leaking dumpsters to commercial businesses. And then finally, we've expanded the definition of a license hauler. There are several small utilities who will subcontract with a license hauler. We're expanding those requirements to make those licensed utilities subject to the same rules and regulations of our waste haulers. We do have a meeting with the waste haulers on January fifteenth to present the ordinance

28:06direction and and get feedback from them. You know, and I I think generally everybody's understanding of the the reason to do this and and and and they I think they feel comfortable working with us, um, and and so I I think everybody can understand the need. Uh With that, this concludes the presentation. Uh our department's recommendation is to introduce the ordinance and to set a public hearing for July 14th.

28:29Um questions. Any questions?

28:32Mr. Chairman Mariano?

28:34Yes, sir. Yes, sir, Commissioner Mariano.

28:35Our uh condominiums that we have out there, are they considered commercial? Yes,

28:40sir.

28:41So they're gonna be then required to put out a container if rif if requested for recycling as well?

28:48So what this would require is that the would have to provide them service if requested. It does not require them to put out a container, it just requires the hauler to be able to provide them with one.

28:59If if requested by the association.

29:03Okay, thank you.

29:05Thank you, Commissioner Mariano. Any other questions? Commissioner Starkey.

29:10Well, um I I just wanna say uh, you know, I had hoped we could go to uh some sort of uh franchise system. uh what's at the end of the day I think serves the citizens best. But we don't we of course don't wanna hurt anyone's business in Pasco County. So I think this is the the best solution and and will help certainly help

29:33move forward, I think being a more um

29:38Uh I don't even know what the word is. I I hope this will help the citizens of especially my district deal with uh neighbors who leave their garbage unattended around their house. So I'll remove approval of R two.

29:52I have a motion by Commissioner Starkey for approval.

29:58Okay. Commissioner Oakley second. Uh Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

30:03District One, Commissioner Oakley.

30:05Aye.

30:05District three, Commissioner Starkey. District 4, Commissioner Weightman. Aye. District 5, Commissioner Mariano.

30:13Aye.

30:14District two, Chairman More.