Trash roll cart storage locations could become more specific. It depends on public input

Charles Dunlap, Columbia Daily Tribune
Updated ·4 min read
Comment forms sit on a conference room table Thursday at a meeting where public comments were sought an any updates to the city's trash roll cart storage ordinance.
Comment forms sit on a conference room table Thursday at a meeting where public comments were sought an any updates to the city's trash roll cart storage ordinance.

When the Columbia City Council voted in March to move to an automated system for trash collection, it was the start of a yearlong process for education, updates and eventual delivery of roll carts for trash.

It also means the city council is again looking back at the originally adopted ordinance to see if any modifications are needed in regard to placement of the roll carts on non-collection days.

Ward Six council member Betsy Peters brought forth community concern about private property roll cart placement at a previous council meeting, leading to a public input meeting Thursday evening for feedback on the policy and any suggested modifications.

"The ordinance as it states now is it allows you to keep your roll cart on private property. Well, private property is right behind the sidewalk in your front lawn, next to the driveway, right next to the sidewalk. So, that makes it look like it is right on the street. So, are we OK with people storing their roll carts pretty much on the street?" she asked, adding concerns voiced to her related to city aesthetics to possibly always have the roll carts near the street.

Community members gather to provide feeback to city staff and elected officials on any changes to a trash roll cart storage location ordinance.
Community members gather to provide feeback to city staff and elected officials on any changes to a trash roll cart storage location ordinance.

Other considerations are residences without sidewalks, or those who do not have a street-facing driveway, and figuring out where to store their carts when not out for trash collection, Peters continued.

The city is taking public comments through Dec. 31 through BeHeardComo and the implementation of automated trash collection starts March 4, so the Columbia City Council will first see any potential policy changes at its Jan. 16 or Feb. 5 meeting. Further public comment and a decision could come at the Feb. 5 or Feb. 19 meeting depending on if any ordinance changes are introduced, said Dave Sorrell, utilities director.

"We are looking to see what the community thinks. Do we need more restrictions? Is the requirement simply to store it on your property enough? In the feedback from (this meeting) and what we get from BeHeard, then we can figure out if there is some sort of consensus to do something more specific or what we have may be enough or not. Ultimately it's the council's decision," he said.

For resident Gergory Gortmaker, the automated system is a good thing and he already has a storage location in mind at his property. He didn't see the need to make any policy changes, which matched many of the online comments.

"I'm in good shape. I can just put it behind my house," he said, adding he also hopes the city can adopt more environmentally friendly equipment in future as well for trash collections.

Columbia curbside trash pick-up customers previously received a postcard with information on how to select a roll cart for delivery in February.
Columbia curbside trash pick-up customers previously received a postcard with information on how to select a roll cart for delivery in February.

Jacque Sample, who is on the city's disabilities commission, said the main concern for the commission is roll carts blocking sidewalks, conferring with fellow commission member Dawn Zeterberg.

"That is what I wanted to make sure I said today," Sample said, adding any changes need to include an enforcement piece with fines or opportunities for community service if a person violates any roll cart rules. Community service should be a person working on an active disability issue, she said. Examples include cutting back tree limbs or bushes along sidewalks or shoveling them free of snow.

"We have so many citizens who rely on sidewalks to get through and if it is blocked, they can't jump over the terrace to get to the street. It literally cuts off their transportation," Sample said, adding any sidewalk rules need to apply at any time, noting rules already in the ordinance, such as cart distance from parked vehicles or street side mailboxes. "I'm afraid people are going to park (the carts) on sidewalks, if they have sidewalks.

"We just foresee them, much like the Bird scooters, cluttering the sidewalks."

While people who are disabled can have difficulties with roll carts and there is a city program for assistance, sometimes getting just the bags to the curb is harder than using a roll cart, said resident Chriss Jones, noting her disability status. Jones regularly contributes at council and other city government meetings.

"Like Jacque, I'm really worried about my bad days and I'm using my cane, I really need that level ground," she said about any potential sidewalk blockages by a roll cart, also noting she has to contend with people in her neighborhood who, when they park a truck, do so on a sidewalk.

More: Rollout of roll carts for city trash collection coming next March after council vote

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here's when Columbia city council could vote on roll cart rules change