title
ORDINANCE AMENDING SOLID WASTE COLLECTION TIMES FOR CERTAIN ZONES (B)
Ordinance 160709
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the Code of Ordinances relating to solid waste disposal by amending paragraph (e) of section 27-79 to provide for earlier solid waste collection times in certain zones; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
explanation
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
Gainesville's Code of Ordinances restricts Commercial Service and Construction and Demolition Debris Franchise haulers to collecting waste Monday through Saturday between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. except in areas of mixed residential and commercial occupancy where collections may begin no earlier than 7:00 a.m. The City Manager or designee may authorize collection on Sunday where special needs of the customer make it necessary. In the event of an emergency, a franchisee may collect at times not allowed by this section, provided the City Manager grants prior approval. Prior approval for an earlier starting time has traditionally been provided to haulers each year on the Friday morning of the Homecoming Parade when thousands of pedestrians converge on University Avenue in the hours prior to the commencement of the parade. The areas where haulers may start collections early that day are usually confined to the first couple of blocks north and south of University Avenue from Main Street to NW 22nd Street. The opportunity to start early in those few blocks gives haulers the chance to empty dumpsters and vacate the area before it becomes congested with vehicular traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians.
In consideration of the density and mixed-use nature of the development occurring in parts of the City; and taking into account that these types of areas have difficulty loading and unloading solid waste containers the Solid Waste Division is proposing that the City Commission consider providing flexibility to the starting times listed in the ordinance. Such flexibility would provide the City Manager or designee the ability to determine whether there are operational justifications to allow earlier and/or later collection hours. Exception areas would presumably be designed to grant exceptions to specific commercial areas exhibiting congested daytime environments with high volume of pedestrian and/or bicycle or scooter-type traffic; and would be based upon safety and zoning criteria. The hours could be set by the City Manager or designee following input from business owners and residents of the respective areas. Some areas that might be initially considered would be adjacent to the University of Florida campus zoned UMU-1 and UMU-2 Urban Mixed Use, and areas in the core downtown area zoned CCD Central City District.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
This ordinance requires two readings. First reading will be held on September 21, 2017; second reading will be held on October 5, 2017.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
fiscal note
None