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171 Member Felice observed that if no other municipalities were offering such a <br />172 program, new residents may not be looking for such a service, or even thinking <br />173 about using the service based on past experience. <br />174 <br />175 Public Comment <br />176 Kathy Clink, 535 Ryan Avenue <br />177 As a current user, Ms. Clink spoke in support of the program, even though she <br />178 wasn't sure the City should spend $350,000 on the program to update equipment. <br />179 Ms. Clink stated that when she mentions the Roseville program to residents in <br />180 other communities, they're impressed with such a service being available. Ms. <br />181 Clink opined that, if you had a small property in Roseville, it probably wouldn't <br />182 be cost-effective to pay a fee to have the leaves picked up by the City, but for <br />183 those with larger lots choosing to use the program, it was appreciated. <br />184 <br />185 Chair Stenlund asked staff to determine if the primary users of the program were <br />186 Roseville's elderly residents; and if so, if there may be a way to offer the service <br />187 through a privatized service outside the City. Chair Stenlund further questioned if <br />188 there was perhaps a correlation between mulching mowers and decline in <br />189 participants, or if it was*the <br />'based on the cost to homeowners for the <br />190 previously no -cost prog <br />191 <br />192 Mr. Schwartz noted thaer y alternative options now available for <br />193 residents, including backyard composting, mulching mowers, free access to the <br />194 recycling center and/or Ramsey County yard waste sites, or curbside pickup by <br />195 private trash haulers, even though some haulers may charge a fee for that service. <br />196 <br />197 Member Felice suggested interesting civic or service organizations in providing a <br />198 leaf rakin service versus offerin car washes as a way to raise money. <br />199 IW <br />200 ember L nz suggested staff running e GIS program to determine ages of <br />201 ers; and if senior citizens were predominantly using the program, it may suggest <br />202 ferent approach since they would represent a different market and need and <br />203 eliminting the program may significantly impact their quality of life. <br />204 <br />205 Membe 'gler noted that 92% of residents were already using other options; and <br />206 his personal observation in his neighborhood was that only those with larger lots <br />207 used the program which he attributed to an economy of scale issue in the current <br />208 cost. <br />209 <br />210 At the request of Chair Stenlund to provide staff s recommendation, Mr. Schwartz <br />211 advised that the program had a high impact on existing resources of the <br />212 department, making it difficult to contract out a program of this magnitude, <br />213 particularly with the specialty equipment required. Given the alternatives <br />214 currently available for residents, Mr. Schwartz stated that staff s recommendation <br />215 would be to discontinue the program and reallocate staff resources in other areas <br />216 where additional time was needed. <br />Page 5 of 17 <br />