DISCUSSION:
The Blight Abatement Strategy identified the Bulky Item Pickup Program as one area that the City could enhance existing programs to better serve residents and prevent blight. The Bulky Item Pickup Program currently provides residential single-family dwelling customers up to two collections annually of items too large to dispose of in their garbage container. Bulky items include indoor and outdoor furniture, appliances, mattresses, exercise equipment, water heaters, air conditioners, and other large items.2 The City also expanded this program to include self-haul in 2020, wherein residents can request a voucher and transport their own bulky items to a transfer station without waiting for an appointment. The residential program is funded by an allocation in the residential garbage base rate that covers the cost of bulky items and illegal dumping.
Under the current program, residents who live in multifamily housing such as apartment complexes and duplexes that have solid waste service with dumpsters do not receive a Bulky Item Pickup. Dumpster service is charged as a commercial account for solid waste services and thus, does not include the bulky item and illegal dumping allocation on residential accounts.
Since 2019, the City has received feedback from members of the public, community organizations, and the Blight Abatement Advisory Committee that the Bulky Item Pickup Program should be expanded to include multifamily dwellings. By making it easier for more people to dispose of bulky items legally and efficiently, the City hopes to decrease incidence of illegal dumping near multifamily dwellings and in common dumping spots in the public right of way.
City staff solicited input from community members, property owners, property managers, tenants, solid waste haulers, and research on other cities’ programs through surveys, direct calls, and inperson and virtual workshops. With this input, City staff developed the following guidelines for a pilot Multifamily Dwelling Bulky Item Pickup Program:
Appointments must be made by account holder- tenants can contact their property owners or property managers to request an appointment, but only the account holder can contact solid waste haulers to set appointment
Bulky items must be placed in the street adjacent to the property after 6pm the day before appointment- property owners can contact the City if they deem that location unsafe, but collection will only occur on private property with an allowance from the City Property owner is responsible for adherence with the program- including, acceptable and unacceptable items, time and location of placement, and illegal dumping as a result of improper use of the program
Multifamily Dwelling Bulky Item Pickup Program appointments will be scheduled the first week of the month- to accommodate turn over from apartment complexes and to separate the cost of this expanded program from residential collection, multifamily appointments will only be made during the first week of the month
Following the adoption of this program, the City will launch a coordinated and multilingual outreach and education program to publicize it. Outreach and education efforts will include:
Flyers that detail the Multifamily Dwelling Bulky Item Pickup Program, including how to schedule appointments and what are acceptable items
2 A full list of items acceptable and unacceptable items for the Bulky Item Pickup Program is located here:
https://www.modestogov.com/373
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City Council, January 24, 2023
Multifamily Dwelling Bulky Item Pickup Pilot Program
Door hangers and flyers specifically concerning bulky item programs and fines for illegal dumping
In-person outreach at properties where residents can ask questions and receive more personalized information
Visit properties that make appointments for the first year to ensure compliance FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this program is fully funded by a $180,000 allocation from ARPA under Resolution 2022-327. ARPA funds cover the information gathering that the City has already done to develop the program and the outreach and education that will occur during the one-year pilot. The cost of collection and disposal is also included in this previous allocation.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
This pilot program was presented to Finance Committee on December 14, 2022. The Committee approved the pilot program and recommended forwarding to Council for approval.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Staff Recommendations:
Resolution approving the Multifamily Dwelling Bulky Item Pickup Program as a pilot for a term of one year.
Approved by:
Bill Sandhu, Public Works Director
Joseph P. Lopez, City Manager
Attachments:
1. Resolution
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MODESTO CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MULTIFAMILY DWELLING BULKY ITEM
PICKUP PROGRAM AS A PILOT FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR
WHEREAS, in 2019, the City of Modesto conducted citywide community surveys that identified blight as one of the most pressing issues for residents; and WHEREAS, in 2020, the Council adopted the 2020-2025 Blight Abatement Strategy, developed through collaboration with community members, local partnerships, other agencies, and internal City departments to outline initiatives for blight abatement on public and private property, encourage public and private partnerships, and further action to minimize and mitigate blight; and WHEREAS, the City of Modesto identified illegal dumping originating in multifamily dwellings as a significant source of blight and an area to expand access to government services; and
WHEREAS, on July 12, 2022, by Resolution 2022-327, Council approved the development and implementation of a Bulky Item Pickup Program to serve multifamily dwellings under an allocation from the America Rescue Plan Act; and WHEREAS, the City developed a pilot program with input from property owners and managers, tenants, City departments, and solid waste haulers that allows for collection of bulky items, including furniture, appliances, and large items that do not fit into waste containers, by appointment from the public right of way on the first week of the month; and
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WHEREAS, City staff will evaluate the utilization and success of this pilot over a term of one year and return to Council with recommendations on a permanent program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Modesto that it hereby approves the Multifamily Dwelling Bulky Item Pickup Program as a pilot for a term of one year.
The foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Modesto held on the 24th day of January, 2023, by Councilmember? who moved its adoption, which motion being duly seconded by Councilmember? was upon roll call carried and the resolution adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
ATTEST: __________________________
DIANE NAYARES-PEREZ, CMC, City Clerk
(SEAL)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
BY: _______________________________
JOSE M. SANCHEZ, City Attorney
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1/24/2023 3:15:00 PM
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
Please take notice that a special Closed Session meeting of the Council of the City of Modesto has been called pursuant to Section 2-1.02 of the Modesto Municipal Code to be convened on
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023 at 3:15 PM
and after the regularly scheduled meeting in the Tenth Street Place, Chambers Conference Room, Basement Level, 1010 Tenth Street, Modesto, California.
Any and all of the following agenda items are subject to action being taken by the Modesto City Council.
The business to be considered at said City Council meeting shall consist of a Closed Session concerning the following:
CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
One Case (Pursuant to Section 54956.9(d)(1) of the Government Code) Name of Case: Jesse Montelongo, et al., v. City of Modesto, et al.
United States District Court, Eastern District of California Case No.: 1:15-CV-01605—BAM
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
(Pursuant to Section 54957 Government Code)
Title: City Auditor
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR:
(Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code) – MCEA Negotiator: Christina Alger
Employee Organization: Modesto City Employees Association CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR:
(Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code) – MCMA Negotiator: Christina Alger
Employee Organization: Modesto Confidential & Management Association CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR:
(Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code) – MPOA Negotiator: Christina Alger
Employee Organization: Modesto Police Officers’ Association #24..
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1/24/2023 3:15:00 PM
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR:
(Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code) – MPNSA Negotiator: Christina Alger
Employee Organization: Modesto Police Non-Sworn Association CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR:
(Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code) –MPMA Negotiator: Christina Alger
Employee Organization: Modesto Police Management Association CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR:
(Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code) – MCFFA Negotiator: Christina Alger
Employee Organization: Modesto City Firefighters Association CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR:
(Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code) – Unrepresented Negotiator: Christina Alger
Employee Organization: Unrepresented Management and Confidential Employees
BY ORDER OF THE CHAIR
January 20, 2023 /S
Diane Nayares-Perez, City Clerk
Posted pursuant to Government Code Section 54956 on the bulletin board at Tenth Street Place on at by
date time signature
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