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117 <br /> <br />August 16th meeting, was apprOved by the following vote. <br />Ayes: Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano, Mr. <br />Vandever. Noes: None. Absent: Rev. Edwards. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE BAGGING OF LEAVES <br /> <br /> Ms. Judith Mueller, Director of Public Works, stated <br />that the proposal to require bagging of leaves was made in <br />response to dissatisfaction expressed~in the recent citizen <br />survey over the current system and an internal review. Ms. <br />Mueller stated that a ~major part of the proposal included a <br />substantial educational effort to encourage yard composting <br />of leaves. Ms. Mueller stated that clear bags would be <br />distributed to citizens free of charge and the bags would be <br />recyclable. Ms. Mueller stated that staff have also spoken <br />with volunteer youth groups who have indicated a willingness <br />to provide leaf bagging service for citizens in return for a <br />contribution to their organization. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Slaughter, Ms. Mueller <br />stated that the savings to the City as a result of requiring <br />the bagging of leaves would be at least $10,000 and as high <br />as $50,000. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated a citizen had raised the issue of <br />the City not enforcing people raking leaves into the street <br />and asked how much would it cost to add additional people to <br />speed up the current leaf collection process. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller stated that she could not estimate the cost <br />at this time, but noted that it would~be difficult to add <br />personnel without adding equipment. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty questioned whether the bagging proposal <br />could be tried in certain segments of the City on a pilot <br />basis. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Neal Gropen, Chairman of the Rivanna Solid Waste <br />Advisory Committee, stated that he thought the leaf bagging <br />proposal was well thought out and was a good idea. Mr. <br />Gropen added that the leaves would be more transportable for <br />citizens who wanted to use neighbors' leaves for compost. <br /> <br /> Ms. Loret Ruppe, representing the League of Women <br />Voters, stated that while the League is aware that concerns <br />and problems exist with the current system, they did not feel <br />there was a need to replace the entire system with something <br />new; questions are not addressed in the cost analysis; <br />environmental impact questions remain about the bags; and <br />the requirement may be hard on the elderly. Ms. Ruppe <br />recommended that a pilot program be conducted and that the <br />matter be evaluated and revisited at the end of the year. <br />Ms. Ruppe agreed that on-site composting should be <br />encouraged. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Ms. Ruppe <br />stated that she did believe more people would compost their <br />own leaVes if they were charged a fee to have the leaves <br />hauled away. <br /> <br /> Ms. Frances Racette read a statement by Ms. Wiedman on <br />behalf of Charlottesville-Albemarle Recycle Together (CART), <br />in support of abandoning the current vacuum system of <br />collecting leaves and supporting the bag system. Ms. <br />Rauzette stated that CART is willing to work with the City to <br />help educate people about composting. Ms. Rauzette stated <br />that she personally felt that providing paper bags to collect <br />the leaves would be better. <br /> <br /> Mr. Augustus Argrett, a resident of Johnson Village, <br />stated that the purpose of government is to serve the needs <br /> <br /> <br />