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Member Lenz opined the way the program was promoted did not serve to <br /> encourage interest its use, and suggested better promotion of the program if it was <br /> to continue. <br /> Member Cihacek questioned if better promotion would bring numbers up <br /> sufficiently to make the program viable; stating that he personally transported his <br /> leaves to the compost site and then returned in the spring to pick up compost, <br /> noting that he found that of value as well. <br /> Member Lenz suggested promotion of both the leaf pickup program and <br /> availability of compost for residents to help the environment either way. <br /> Mr. Schwartz briefly reviewed anticipated replacement equipment needs in 2015 <br /> and 2016 at a total of$350,000 specific to the leaf program itself, and not <br /> including extraneous equipment such as dump trucks and equipment used for <br /> other applications as well. Mr. Schwartz advised that, the reason staff was <br /> seeking input from the PWETC was due to the current equipment being at the end <br /> of its useful life, leaving no alternative but to replace it if the program was to <br /> continue. <br /> Specific to labor for the leaf program alone, Mr. Schwartz advised that in 2014, <br /> the City documented 1,026 crew hours for this program. Other Street Division <br /> activities at that time of year (e.g. tree trimming, tree storm damage removal, sign <br /> maintenance, patching, sweeping and other preventative maintenance) are put on <br /> hold. <br /> At the request of Member Cihacek, Mr. Schwartz confirmed that hours currently <br /> used for the leaf pickup program could be allocated to those other areas. Mr. <br /> Schwartz noted that, if trees were not consistently and properly trimmed, it <br /> created additional maintenance costs to the City when additional tree damage <br /> occurs during storms. <br /> At the request of Member Seigler, Mr. Schwartz advised that more users didn't <br /> necessarily mean a direct incremental cost to the City as the current smaller <br /> number of participants required more travel time between stops for the crew. <br /> While recognizing that promotion often impacted participation, in this case <br /> Member Wozniak opined that it wouldn't be highly evident. Personally, Member <br /> Wozniak opined that, while a nice service, the program was not worth the money <br /> required; and without a large population turnover in the community that might <br /> increase participation or indicate a newer demographic not aware of or alert to the <br /> program, he could see no major increases in the program through additional or <br /> more enticing promotion of it. <br /> Page 4 of 17 <br />