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,-)A 37 The Council has requested additional discussion of costs and impacts of offering this service on 38 a no charge basis to residents. It is difficult to estimate how participation might be affected if a 39 no charge service were again offered to residents. Participation was at approximately 50 percent 4 ('-) of residential properties when a no fee program was offered in the mid 90's. The cost of 4 1 providing the service to 4500 properties is estimated to be $,140,000-150,000. The schedule 42 would need to be expanded to 20-24 days with existing resources. This would be difficult to 43 manage and complete given the short window of time when the leaves are off the trees to the 44 potential for a significant snow event. The trees are more mature than 10 years ago and volumes 45 may be such that some leaves would need to be hauled to another yard waste site with additional 46 associated costs. 47 48 Demands for staff time have also significantly increased over the past ten years. We now have 49 additional storm water requirements,, streetscape and grounds maintenance needs, and other aging infrastructure competing for these resources. Additional staff, equipment,, and temporary 'i labor would need to be contracted to meet an expanded program in a time frame acceptable to 52 the users. 53 POLICY OBJECTIVE 54 To provide an effective, comprehensive, cost efficient leaf disposal service resulting in 55 reasonable costs to all residents and to minimize environmental and/or drainage impacts to the 6 storm water drainage systems. 57 FINANCIAL IMPACTS 58 This program is funded from the City's storm water utility. Funding is included within the 2008 59 Storm Water budget for this fee for service program at current participation levels. The 2008 6�,,:-) budget assumes charging a $,25 user fee for the service which was approved by the Council in 6 i December. If an expanded program were offered at no costs to users,, approximately $, 100,000 in 62 additional funding would be necessary or an equivalent reduction in other services or 63 maintenance. 64 6�` We have also had some difficulty collecting the fee for the program. Since this is a Storm Utility 66 supported program, minor code changes would need to be implemented to have the ability to 67 certify unpaid charges to property taxes. If the Council wants to continue with a fee for service 64, leaf collection program staff recommends the code changes to allow for certification to taxes for 69 unpaid fees. r°0 STAFF RECOMMENDATION '7 1 Staff recommendation is for the Council consider whether the resources needed for providing '72 leaf collection be redirected to other unmet needs in meeting storm water regulations, aging '7 3 infrastructure,, and maintenance of boulevard trees and streetscapes. Staff recommends no change '74 to the operation of the Leaf Recycling Center. 75 REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION Provide staff direction for future Leaf Collection Program changes. Page 2 of 3