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256 <br /> <br /> Ms. Mirjam Schuller, .President of the Intersorority <br />Council at the University of Virginia, requested that Council <br />look into the issue of safety around the railroad tracks at <br />Rugby Road. ~ <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix recommended that staff, meet with <br />representatives from the University to further discuss the <br />issue and report back to Council. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter requested a report on the status of the <br /> Meadowcreek Parkway, specifically, where are we in the <br /> process, what location has actually been approved, and what <br /> steps remain for Council to take. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that a report will be Prepared as <br /> soon as staff hear back from the Virginia Department of <br /> Transportation. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: DUMPSTER COLLECTION FEE <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix reviewed the propOsed dumpster fees, noting <br /> that'Councit made a decision during the budget process to <br /> raised $165,000 from dumpster collection, or approximately <br /> 17% of the actual cost of collection. ~The ordinance also <br /> restricts use of more than 12 containers by commercial <br /> businesses in order to prevent current dumpster users from <br /> converting to curbside collection. <br /> <br /> Mr. Clyde Gouldman, City Attorney, stated that Public <br />Works Department staff recommended that the ordinance~.be. <br />effective September 16th. <br /> <br /> Responding to questions from Ms, Slaughter, Ms. Mary <br />Ingels, Assistant Director of Public Works, stated that there <br />are approximately 540 dumpsters and approximately 20% of <br />those are residential apartments. Ms. Ingels continued that <br />staff are optimistic that recycling can be phased in for <br />apartments in this budget year. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Drake Fink of 2700 McElroY Drive, representing <br />Charlottesville-Albemarle'Recycle Together (CART), stated <br />that CART, in general, supports user fees for solid waste, <br />but opposes the proposed dumpster fees for the following <br />reasons: 1) all producers of solid waste should pay a volume <br />based user fee in order to create incentives to reduce the <br />amount of trash sent to the landfill; and.2) the proposal <br />would target only renters who on average are poorer than <br />homeowners and recycling would not be available to help them <br />reduce their waste. <br /> <br /> Mr. Richard Jones, a resident of Fluvanna County, <br />manager of approximately 800 apartment units in the City, and <br />Director of the Blue Ridge Apartment Council, registered <br />strong objections to the proposed dumpster fees, stating that <br />he felt it was an unfair and discriminatory approach. Mr. <br />Jones stated that dumpster collection represents only 33% of <br />the solid waste collection costs for the City, yet it is the <br />only group required to pay a fee. Mr. Jones requested that <br />Council also support the following if the dumpster fee is <br />approved: 1) all generators of solid waste should be asked <br />to pay 17% of the cost of collection; 2) direct the City <br />Attorney to draft an ordinance making unlicensed hauling of <br />trash through the City illegal, press Albemarle County to <br />adopt a similar ordinance, and make illegal dumping into <br />dumpsters illegal; and 3) extend recycling to all trash <br />generators in the City. <br /> <br /> Mr. William Stevenson of 406 Wellington Drive and the <br />owner/manager of approximately 100 apartment units, stated <br />that he did not understand why the increased property taxes <br />cannot cover the cost of trash collection. Mr. Stevenson <br /> <br /> <br />