Long Beach council advances ordinance restating garbage and leaf fees, approves month-long street sweeper rental

The Long Beach Town Council on Feb. 9 held the first reading of an ordinance to amend Title 9, Chapter 96, restating charges for garbage, refuse and leaf pickup and proposing a change to the leaf pickup fee from $10 to $15.

Town staff said the amendment aligns the ordinance with current practice (garbage and leaf collections are allocated to the same fund) and incorporates audit-recommended language changes. The increase is proposed to help cover capital needs for leaf trucks and related equipment; staff noted one new F‑550 truck purchase was charged to this fund and that three older leaf vacuums will need replacement over the next five years.

Street superintendent Tom Dolf (referenced by staff) told council the currently used leaf machines and street sweeper are aging: the sweeper is more than 20 years old, and replacement leaf vacs are likely to cost between roughly $110,000 and $170,000 each depending on market conditions. Staff outlined options including renting a street sweeper, buying refurbished or new equipment, or outsourcing leaf pickup; stormwater and motor vehicle highway funds were suggested as possible partial funding sources because sweepers help protect catch basins.

To address immediate cleaning needs, the council authorized renting a street sweeper from Best Equipment for an estimated four weeks at a discounted total of $13,500, with the town to pay from the operating budget (motor vehicle highway or stormwater maintenance fund). The motion to rent the sweeper passed by voice vote.

Council made a motion to approve the ordinance on first reading (with further capital analysis to inform the second reading and final fee adoption). Staff said they will present more detailed capital-cost information among departments before the ordinance's second reading next month.

Votes at a glance: council approved the first reading of the garbage and leaf ordinance, and authorized a four-week street sweeper rental for $13,500; standard consent and appointment votes also passed during the meeting.