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REQUEST FOR CQUNCIL ACTIQN DATE: 02/2710b ITEM: 11. Ap�roval: Manager Reviewed: Agenda �ection: Item Deseription: Autl�orize Purchase of Compost Tu��r Attachment Background: The city has operated a c�mpast site at County Road C and Dale Street since 1970 as a service to its residents. In the early years, the leaves were amassed in large piles and left to decompose into compost. This process took nearly three years and generated nutnerous coanaplaints due to odars at ihe sit� as these large piles were moved. In the early 90's, we changed how we manage the site to control adars and speed the process, as we were also out of roorn to store campost. We began windrowing the leaves and aerating them freq�zently to speed the process and minimize odors. The city has hired a contractor to aerate the leaipiies at the corr�post si�e far the past fifteen years. We are abie ta produce finisk�ed conapost in one season using this pracess. This compost is then rnade available to Roseville residents and is a longstandin�;, popular service for our residents. The contractor that had performed this service for us through 2002 is no longer available. We contaracted with anoiher firm in 2003 but were only able to aerate three times during the sumr�er season due to his availability. In 2Q04, the contractor aerated ihe rows four times and was only able to provide this service two times in 2005. This resulted in decreased quality of the com�ost and additianal odors at the site due to arlaerobic conditions in the windrows. Ideally, the piles wo�ld be aerated five to six times at minimum to keep the odar at bay and to produce excellent quality compost. Staff is co�cez�ec� about the implications of nat managing the site correctiy and not having a reliable con�ractor to provide aeration services. Policy Objeetives: To produce quality compost irorn the leaves of Ros�ville residents and to be a gaaci neighbar by keeping odor to a nainzmum, staff proposed $95,000 in the 2006 budget proce�s to purchase an attachmen� for our front end loader that is designed to aerate leaves collected and drnpped aff during our annual leaf program, producing useabl� campost material. The proposed unit will replace contracting out this maintenance, eliminating the unpredictability ar�d incansistency that occurs wh�n contracting this unique service. It will also aliow staff more flexihiliiy in aerating the leaf piles and enable our managing the lrmited space mare efficiently. At this time we do not nave a reliable contractor or the equipmen� to cantinue to manage t�e City's ca�npost �i�e. Finaneial ImpIieations: Each year the Ciry aerates its leaf co�npost four to five tirnes each season. The 2006 City storm utility budget contains $11,000 for this service. The new Compost Aeration attachtn�ent is budgeted in the Storm Utility fund at $95,000 and wiil pay for itseliover a period of 12 �0 15 years, with savings reaIized by not contracting. T1�is wi11 reduce the arulual eontract maintenance budget by $11,000.