6. City cleanup opportunities
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: October 2, 2019
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk
Re: Discussion on Citywide Cleanup
Background: A discussion began at the September 4th Work Session on having the City provide
assistance with cleaning up designated neighborhoods. An excerpt of the meeting minutes is
below:
The Mayor proposed a citywide cleanup event in which dumpsters are provided in denser
neighborhoods to assist in cleaning up problematic properties. Public Works Director Hawkinson
said there are companies that sponsor these events in which other communities are invited to
participate where people can bring trash to a central location for about $1,200. Councilmember
Cusick questioned the spending of taxpayer money to clean up private properties and enable
code violators. There is also a question as to who would monitor what gets put in a dumpster. No
action was taken by the Council.
The Mayor asked that discussion continue at the next work session.
Proposal Details: New Scandia Township/City of Scandia had traditionally sponsored “Heavy
Metal Day” in the spring and/or fall as collection events located in the Community Center
parking lot. Costs to the City were based on the amount collected, and ranged from $400 --
$1,400 from 2009-2013 for years the figures were available. In 2014, the participation declined
to the point that the provider recommended residents transport their trash and debris to the
SRC site in Wyoming and they would receive a 20% discount on collection costs for one week in
the spring. This program, “Scandia Cleanup Week” is still held each spring. There is no cost to
the City for this program with SRC.
Public Works Director Hawkinson contacted Green Lights Recycling based in Blaine, on
providing a service for a one-day collection event, estimated to cost $1,500 including the costs
of city staffing for the event, with the reply below:
“As far as special Saturday recycling events, we have a number of different size events we
currently help some other cities with. For some, we might be only taking lamps and mercury
articles, while others we will take lamps, e-waste, and appliances. Some of the larger ones we’ll
even add items like tires, carpet rolls, and more; or even subcontract a metals recycle r to bring
out a dumpster to have on site and a shredder truck to accept paper. A few examples of items
we do not accept would be yard waste, construction debris, upholstery, organics, and plastics. “
It’s anticipated that SRC could also provide the service for a one-day collection event, as they
have done in past years.
Other opportunities for residents to dispose of electronic and hazardous household waste at no
cost exist with Washington County, which hosts collection events in Forest Lake and Hugo in the
fall and spring, with a year-round collection facility at the Environmental Center in Woodbury.
If the Council chooses to provide a dumpster to problematic neighborhoods, Public Works
Director Hawkinson provided the following quotes on the costs of dumpsters:
Shafer Roll-Off: 20 yd. $535.00 – appliances, electronics, tires extra $$ – only fill to top edge of
dumpster.
SRC: 20 yd. $447.00 - appliances, electronics, tires extra $$ – only fill to top edge of dumpster.
Croix Valley: 20 yd. $415.00 - appliances, electronics, tires extra $$ – only fill to top edge of
dumpster.
Issue: The Council should provide staff with direction on what, if any, cleanup programs could
be pursued.