#5 Public Hearing and Action on Ordinance for Leaves and Grass on Streets (File Ord. #2009-441)
OPERATIONS DIVISION MEMORANDUM
November 2, 2009
TO: City Council
FROM: Peter Riggs, Assistant Operations Director
SUBJECT: Second reading, public hearing and action on a proposed
ordinance amending the regulations on the placement of leaves
and grass on public streets. (File Ord. No. 2009-441)
Staff Recommendation
The Operations Division and the Police Department recommend, following the
public hearing, the City Council approves File Ordinance 2009-441.
City Manager Recommendation
The City Manager concurs with the Operations Division recommendation.
Suggested Action
Move to approved proposed ordinance number 2009-441.
Background Information
Currently JGO 12.44.060 allows for the placement of leaves in a public street
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between May 1 and November 15 of each year. This ordinance authorizes
residents to place leaves in the public street in preparation of the leaf collection
program held annually in November.
As currently written, JGO 12.44.060 has two flaws. First, allowing leaves to be
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placed in the street between May 1 and November 15 is too far in advance of
the leaf collection program and can have a negative impact on the effectiveness
of street sweeping operations and can pose a problem for stormwater flow.
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Second, the November 15 deadline no longer matches the scheduling of the
loose leaf collection program. In recent years the loose leaf collection program
has been scheduled for the two weeks immediately preceding the week of
Thanksgiving. This change was implemented to allow more time for leaves to fall
with a goal of improving the effectiveness and customer satisfaction of the leaf
collection program.
Ordinance Description
Proposed ordinance number 2009-441 amends JGO 12.44.060 to prohibit the
placement of leaves in the street after the completion of the loose leaf collection
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program and before October 1 of the following year. This means residents can
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place leaves into the street for collection starting October 1 and ending once
leaves are collected during the annually scheduled loose leaf collection program.
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The penalty for violating the proposed ordinance is outlined in JGO 12.44.100
and remains unchanged from the current regulations.
Pros and Cons
The primary positive outcome of proposed ordinance number 2009-441 will be a
reduction in the amount of time that leaves will be in the gutter line. Leaf piles
can impede stormwater flow and have a negative impact on street sweeping
operations. This is particularly true when a resident places leaves into the gutter
line well in advance of the leaf collection program. Additionally, neighborhood
aesthetics are impacted because leaves will rot and become unsightly.
The primary negative outcome of proposed ordinance number 2009-441 is that
residents will have less time to place their leaves into the street prior to leaf
collection. This should have minimal impact on customer satisfaction as leaves
do not typically start to fall until after October 1.
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jacob J. Winzenz, Director of Administrative Services
Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney
Dave Moore, Police Chief
John Whitcomb, Operations Director
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ORDINANCE NO. 2009-441
An Ordinance amending JGO 12.44.060 prohibiting placement of leaves on any street after the
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completion of the annual loose leaf collection program and until October 1 of the following year, with
penalties for violations thereof as set forth in JGO 12.44.100.
THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JANESVILLE DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I.
Section 12.44.060 of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Janesville is hereby
amended to read as follows:
“12.44.060 Leaves and grass on public streets.(A) Leaves:
It is unlawful for any person to
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before October 1 or
place or cause to be placed any leaves on any street or highway after November
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the City has collected, or caused to be collected, leaves from the applicable street during the
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City’s annual fall leaf collection program.
and until May 1 of the following year.
(B) Grass and Other Lawn Debris:
It is unlawful to place or cause to be placed any grass, grass
clippings, or other lawn debris on any street or highway at anytime. (Ord. 84-363’1, 1984).”
ADOPTED: Motion by:
Second by:
APPROVED:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Brunner
McDonald
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
Perrotto
Rashkin
ATTEST:
Steeber
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney, Wald Klimczyk
Proposed by: Police Chief and Operations Director
Prepared by: Assistant Operations Director