Number
180481
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. STAMPER
Title
Resolution directing the Department of Public Works to develop a plan for responding to complaints about garbage.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Public Works to develop a plan for implementing a dedicated solid waste removal service to respond to complaints about garbage and to immediately remove illegally-dumped solid waste and bulky waste from streets, alleys and other public right-of-ways, and from City-owned properties. The plan shall provide for immediate removal of solid waste notwithstanding any notice prerequisites necessary to assess a charge to an adjacent property owner for the removal. The plan shall include cost estimates and identify funding sources, and shall be submitted to the Common Council within 90 days.
Body
Whereas, Garbage left in the open on city streets and alleys is an eyesore, leads to a negative impression of the surrounding neighborhood and may be a health hazard; and
Whereas, City officials have received numerous complaints from residents regarding garbage left in streets and alleys, as well as on City-owned vacant lots and in rem properties; and
Whereas, The Department of Public Works is responsible for removing certain illegally-dumped solid waste from streets, alleys and other public right-of-ways, and from City-owned vacant lots and in rem properties, as well as for removing certain bulky waste as part of the City’s solid waste sanitation services; and
Whereas, Not infrequently, garbage left in the open may remain in place for a significant period of time before the Department receives a complaint or pick-up request from a resident, a City official, or other source, or before the garbage is observed and reported by a Department employee; and
Whereas, When the Department does receive notification about garbage left in the public right-of-way, various processes are initiated to determine the type and quantity of garbage, and whether the Department or other party is responsible for removing the garbage, following which the Department may initiate removal or issue a notice to an adjacent property owner informing the owner of the City’s intent to charge a fee for removing solid waste if the owner does not do so within a certain timeframe; and
Whereas, These processes may be further extended by coordinating removal with the Department’s regular solid waste collection schedule; and
Whereas, The Common Council desires that garbage left in the open, including illegally-dumped solid waste and bulky waste, be removed in a more timely manner; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Public Works is directed to develop a plan for implementing a dedicated service to respond to complaints about garbage and to immediately remove illegally-dumped solid waste and bulky waste from streets, alleys and other public right-of-ways, and from City-owned properties; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this plan shall at a minimum include the use of two or more garbage trucks with necessary staffing, simultaneously deployed on different sides of the city; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the plan shall provide for immediate removal of solid waste notwithstanding any notice prerequisites necessary to assess a charge to an adjacent property owner for the removal; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the plan shall include cost estimates and identify potential funding sources, including the Department’s overtime budget; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department is directed to submit the plan to the Common Council within 90 days of adoption of the file.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB171345-1
Dana J. Zelazny
June 21, 2018