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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-08-076 - Leaf Program Update1 R Community Services REPORT Report To: Community Services Committee Date of Meeting: September 8, 2008 Submitted By: Jim Witmer Director of Operations Prepared By: Jim Witmer Director of Operations Wards) Involved: All Date of Report: August 25, 2008 Report No.: CSD-08-076 Subject: LEAF PROGRAM UPDATE RECOMMENDATION: That the leaf collection program drop off locations for the 2008 season, be modified in accordance with the revised list of sites outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-08-076; and, That the leaf program and revised leaf drop off sites identified in report CSD-08-076 be communicated to the public; and further, That staff complete a review of the leaf collection program in 2009 and report back to the Community Services Committee with recommendations prior to September 2009. BACKGROUND: The leaf collection program for the City of Kitchener has undergone a variety of changes based on discussions with Council over the last several years. Prior to 2003, there were two levels of service for residents in the City. Residents in the "inner City" had the option of raking their leaves to the curb for pickup or bagging the leaves for pickup by the Region under the yard waste program. All other residents had only the option of bagged leaf pick up under the Regional program at no direct cost to the municipality. Early in 2003, Council directed that because of safety concerns, the previous leaf program should not continue and instructed staff to investigate options including asking the Region to include leaves in their Yard Waste Program. It was felt that by using a very aggressive public education program that asks residents to no longer rake leaves onto the road, encouraging residents to bring their leaves to dump sites provided by the City or mulchinglcomposting this material on their property, it would be effective in the long run and was intended to improve road safety. It also anticipated that full benefits to the program may take several years to achieve. In the fall of 2003, Council affirmed its decision to discontinue raking of leaves to the street, and approved the implementation of a fall collection program that advised residents not to rake their Report No: CSD-08-076 2 leaves to the curb, with the alternatives of taking their leaves to dump sites located throughout the City, composting/mulching the material on their property, and bagging leaves for pick up with the Region of Waterloo's Yard Waste Program. Notwithstanding the above, staff still responded to the anticipated leaf drop by scheduling resources to designated areas where the streets were prone to heavy leaf accumulations that would cause safety concerns. This confusing service level was dropped in favour of a consistent City wide program which provided all residents with a variety of options for leaf disposal. The last change was the Region's decision to remove bagged leaf pickup from the Region's annual yard waste program as the City had revised their service level, which discouraged raking leaves to the curb and encouraged residents to use other options which included bagged leaf pickup. The Region then responded informing the City there would be a cost associated with the bagged leaf pickup program as part of the annual yard waste program. In 2004, Council directed staff to: 1. Continue providing street level pickup of leaves using conventional methods while aggressively communicating to area residents their options for leaf disposal. 2. Engage in discussions with the Region to ensure leaves bagged in Kraft paper bags are part of the annual yard waste program and are picked up in a cost effective manner. 3. Not change the leaf pickup program from 2003 and to communicate this to the residents. During the 2005, staff informed Council that recommendations 2 and 3 noted above proved to be successful in allowing residents several options for leaf disposal. Through multiple media communications with residents the options of leaf drop off sites, (12), mulching or composting, curbside pickup of leaves in Kraft bags for the Region's biweekly collection of yard waste and raking leaves to the curb. A review was proposed for 2006 to determine the effectiveness of the program based on the data collected over the previous years. It was also proposed to evaluate the program and compare our methods with those of other municipalities. The review was completed in 2006 and report (CSD-06-076) which compared us with Cambridge and Waterloo (Program Length, Leaf Disposal Options and Communication) indicated our current leaf program was both effective and efficient, offering residents a wide variety of options to address the fall leaf drop. 2006 was a very successful leaf collection season and the program seemed to be working. In November 2007, a Leaf Collection Update (CSD-07-108) reported that we very having a very late leaf drop with 25% of the leaves still on the trees. Typically the program was running from mid October to the end of November. Staff resources would be assigned to collection activity as required into December and beyond if necessary to address the hazard that loose leaves can present if left unaddressed on roadways. It was confirmed that the Region's bi-weekly collection of yard waste would end at the end of November. However, we would continue to collect leaves through utilizing the 12 leaf drop off sites into December as necessary. We would try to have everything completed by the second week of December. The report also noted that due to the lateness of the program there was a potential for conflict if it snowed prior to all the leaves being collected. If it occurred, we would attempt to plow the snow and still leave the leaves on the road adjacent to the curb for pick up if weather permitted, or a melt before the accumulation of snow required the windrow to be plowed up onto the boulevard for safety and road maintenance standard compliance. Communication through this period about the two options left available was done with the assistance of staff from the Mayor's office and on the website. Unfortunately, the snow came early and heavy in November and December which, despite staff's efforts, created a significant problem for staff which necessitated plowing the snow onto Report No: CSD-08-076 3 the boulevard. We undertook to complete the pickup in January at the first thaw event and then later this spring. REPORT: The current leaf collection program provides three options for city residents: Option 1 -Leaf drop-off sites -There are 10 locations around Kitchener where residents can drop off their leaves. No special bags are required as leaves are piled loose in these locations for collection. In order to save time and money, we request that residents debag the leaves at the site. Option 2- On-site mulching or composting -Both have benefits to the gardens -the City website has helpful tips and additional information about the benefits of mulching and composting. Option 3 -Loose-leaf curbside collection -The City understands in some cases for some residents it is not feasible to use the other collection options. As such loose leaf collection is also available in heavy areas of the City. While leaves that are raked to the roads do cause safety concerns, City staff will be cleaning Kitchener's streets on a regular basis to ensure roadways remain safe and clear of leaves. Also, the Region of Waterloo continues to offer bi-weekly collection of yard waste in Kraft paper bags until the end of November. Based on the historical usage of our leaf drop off sites, it has been determined that the following sites should be utilized again for 2008; these sites will be opened at the beginning of October: 1. Schaeffer Park (Bloomingdale Rd.) 2. Breithaupt Park (Kinsman Park -off Union St.) 3. Kitchener Auditorium (Ottawa St. N. entrance) 4. Meinzinger Park Soccer Fields (Homer Watson Blvd.) 5. 75 Ardelt PI. 6. Lions Arena (Rittenhouse Rd.) 7. Optimist Sports Field (Pioneer Dr.) 8. Cherry Park (Strange St.) 9. Victoria St. S. at Eastforest Trail (Eastforest Trail parking lot) The following sites are proposed to be taken out of service due to lack of use or change in location: 1. Highland Courts Park (Wentworth Ave.) 2. Victoria Park (Dill St.) 3. Chicopee Ski Hill (South Lot across from Morrison Park) The following is a "new" location: 1. Hofstetter Park (40 Hofstetter Ave.) Staff is proposing a full review of the current city wide program in 2009 to determine whether the leaf collection program is still appropriate, cost effective, fair or even warranted. Further, this Report No: CSD-08-076 4 timing allows us another year to assess the improvements that were put in place in 2006, under normal weather conditions. FINANCIAL: The cost of leaf collection has risen on an annual basis. In 2006 the cost to provide the service was $455,000. In 2007 it rose to $467,000. We already have expenditures of $135,000 against this years' program budget of $412,000, for the cleanup which occurred in January and this spring to complete the work from 2007. COMMUNICATION: Staff has initiated preparation of the annual communication plan with our Communications Division. Jim Witmer Director of Operations