Minutes 03/28/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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055 ~arch 28~ 1995 Since 1992, the city hasii!charged monthly fees of $3.50 for residential and $7.00 for commercial customers. These interim rates have not:been sufficient to provide the~necessary funding for compliance with federal mandates. Effective July 1, 1995, I am recommending a single rate of $3.50 per equivalent residential unit (ERU) for both residential and commercial customers. An ERU is equal to 1,877 square feet of impervious area. Impervious areas are surfaces which contribute to storm water run-off such as buildings and pavement. All residential customers will be billed for one ERU and will experience no change in the current fee amount. Commercial customers will be billed based on their number of ERU's. The maximum impervious area to be assessed is 250,000 square feet. Approximately 84% of commercial properties will be assessed a fee between $3.50 and $10.00 per month, with the remaining 16% assessed between $50 and $466 monthly. WASTE MANAGEMENT - SPSA As a result of the United States Supreme Court's decision on waste flow control, the power of localities to control the flow of refuse within their communities has been eliminated. The Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) has seen a steady decline in waste hauled to its disposal facilities by private waste haulers. This has reduced SPSA's tipping fee revenues while operational costs have remained constant. Due to these impacts, it is projected that our disposal fee will increase by more than $500,000 for FY 96. SPSA is projecting that the tipping fee will go from $34 per ton to more than $48 per ton. I am recommending an increase of $2.00 per month in the city's waste management charge for FY 96 and an additional $1.00 in FY 97. As costs will continue to escalate, adjustments to this fee will be required. CODE COMPLIANCE In response to City Council's increasing concern over code enforcement issues, the Department~of Environmental Services has already made some code and policy changes. Some of these changes include the following: o inoperative motor vehicles on private property will now be referred directly to a towing company, o code compliance period on vehicles was reduced from 20 days to 10 days, o a stronger weed ordinance will reduce repetitive notification requirements to owners, o mowing issues are being clarified to reduce duplication of staff efforts in addressing citizen concerns, and o an Environmental Code Advisory Committee will explore opportunities for greater neighborhood and civic league involvement. Four new positions are needed to address enforcement of code issues in Portsmouth. Two inspectors will be assigned to each of the Departments of Environmental Services and General Services. Additionally, these new inspectors will conduct more systematic code sweeps in neighborhoods, and educate citizens regarding the schedule of bulk refuse collection and the type of items eligible for pickup. This enhanced program will work closely with civic leagues and address specific concerns of neighborhoods.