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File #: RES 18-1760    Version: 1
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
In control: City Council
Final action: 10/17/2018
Title: Adopting the report of Ramsey County Elections finding that the petition for a referendum on Ord18-40 is sufficient.
Sponsors: Amy Brendmoen
Attachments: 1. Ramsey County Election Memo, 2. Online comment re RES 18-1760
Related files: Ord 18-40
Title
Adopting the report of Ramsey County Elections finding that the petition for a referendum on Ord18-40 is sufficient.

Body
WHEREAS, Saint Paul City Charter Section 8.01 states that “[t]he people shall have the right to … require ordinances to be submitted to a vote … by a process known as … referendum”; and

WHEREAS, on August 8, 2018, the Council adopted Ord. 18-40 which was signed by Mayor Carter on August 9, 2018 and published on August 13, 2018; and

WHEREAS, a petition seeking a referendum to repeal Ord. 18-40, amending Chapter 357 of the Legislative Code to regulate coordinated collection was filed with the Office of the City Clerk on September 27, 2018 (the “Petition”); and

WHEREAS, City Charter Chapter 8 requires a petition for referendum to be signed by registered voters equal in number to eight (8) percent of those who voted for the office of mayor in the last preceding city election; and

WHEREAS, the last preceding city election was held November 7, 2017; and

WHEREAS, according to the Ramsey County Elections Manager, there were 61,646 first choice votes cast for Mayor in the 2017 election, meaning that the required number of signatures for the Petition is 4,932; and

WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Elections Manager, who supervises elections on behalf of the City, has reported to the Council that Petition signatures have been checked for compliance with the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Saint Paul City Charter; and

WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Elections Manager reports that the Petition contains 5,919 signatures, and that 5,071 of those comply with the Charter’s requirements; and

WHEREAS, Saint Paul Legislative Code Chapter 357 is the Solid Waste Chapter of the City’s licensing code; and

WHEREAS, Ord. 18-40 amended Leg. Code Chapter 357 by doing the following:
? Adding the term “Authorized Coordinated Collection Program” as a program for the collection and processing of mixed municipal solid waste, yard waste an...

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Date NameDistrictOpinionCommentAction
10/21/2018 8:55 PMMichael   The City needs to keep to the original idea of having one collector for the ***igned zones (this has been amazing for my neighborhood) but also MUST identify cost improvements such that households have greater flexibility in the costs ***ociated with this new service.
10/18/2018 4:42 PMPat For It’s a credit to our excellent recycling service that a great deal of the city doesn’t seem to need home pickup of their trash. Personally, I would be hard-pressed to fill a 34-gallon trash bin in a quarter, let alone bi-weekly. I want to pay my fair share for the trash I produce, but the current plan doesn’t make that possible. I’m now paying about $200 more a year for trash disposal, and getting a service I don’t need, especially since the collection site is about a block off my route to work. There must be a middle ground here. Perhaps you could double my trash costs, instead of tripling them? Have you considered an annual collection site usage fee for Do-It-Yourselfers, and/or adjusting prices at the collection site? +3
10/18/2018 12:38 AM Billy For Previously, 5 families were sharing one bin. Why? Because we are poor. Now we have to pay over $800 more per year in total. Our city council voted against the best interest of the people and the poor, without our consent. Without this referendum, we will simply have to wait until we can vote the current city councilors out. For them, it might already be too late. +6
10/17/2018 11:51 PMShawn For Absolutely terrible idea. Was this the best you could come up with? I am against the St Paul trash service. You didn't discuss this with members of the community. You sent out flyers telling people you were forcing them to pay for a private service. Why not send them out asking if we concur?! You liberals try to control others who don't have the same point of view. THIS ISNT AMERICA. Too many trucks tearing up the roads is a complete joke, you don't do enough preventative maintenance into these roads. When cracks are allowed to soak up water, then freeze, you get problems. Has absolutely nothing to do with an extra truck or two driving down the road. I have ten-fold the amount of school buses on my road. Wanna address that? +4
10/17/2018 4:31 AMBruce For I'm delighted that Ordinance 18-39 is being rescinded. If and when the petition drive succeeds to have Ordinance 18-40 placed before the voters in a referendum, I hope that the Council will revoke this ordinance as well. Then, working with representative of St. Paul CARTless, I hope that the Council will craft a more balanced approach to any future attempt to adopt any MANDATORY trash collection program in St. Paul. By "balanced", I mean adopting a policy where residential trash fees are in line with what Mpls residents are charged. Also, having an opt-out feature for so-called "zero wasters" who, by their habits, lessen their contribution to the solid waste stream. Also, that neighbors, and those in rental units of up to four units be allowed to share trash cans. Also, that the city forego attempts to tack on "administrative fees" to our property tax bill each year----when residents are paying the haulers directly, and not having the city collect residential trash disposal fees. +5
10/17/2018 3:40 AMMeredith For When I could choose my own hauler, my cost was $33/billing cycle. For the exact same size bin and service, I now pay $78/cycle. If I had an extra $500 a year, I would not be living in Frogtown! While I support organized hauling in general, this process has been, literally, a trash fire. Why are we paying more for less? It even charges us extra for organics! The petition is sufficient. If you didn't want us to demand a vote on it, you should have studied other organized trash systems and come up with something that works, and doesn't disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged communities. +7
10/17/2018 1:25 AMDaniel Brown   The success of this petition effort demonstrates how concerned and frustrated St. Paul residents are with the City's Organized Trash Program. I urge City Council to revise this plan to maintain what is good about it, but listen to concerns that residents have raised, so that we can have a more acceptable plan. Sharing garbage cans is not a crime. It makes sense, and it is economical for many, many residence. +8
10/15/2018 5:52 AMEric Lein  For A vote to find that "our" petition, with its 5,071 valid signatures, on ORD 18-40 is sufficient will be greatly appreciated. +11 -1