5.5 PCSR 01-24-2017
Request for Action
ToItem Number
Planning Commission5.5
Agenda Section Meeting DatePrepared by
Public HearingsChris Leeseberg, Senior Planner
January 24, 2017
Item Description
Reviewed by
City of Elk River
Zack Carlton, Planning Manager
Ordinance Amendment relating to Dumpsters
Reviewed by
and portable storage containers in city right-of-
way, Case No. OA 17-02
Action Requested
Recommend, by motion, approval of the OrdinanceAmendment as proposed.
Background/Discussion
Panning staff and the Police Department get numerous calls a yea
containers/pods, dumpsters, rock, soil, and pallets on public streetsand sidewalks. Currently, the
ordinance does not address these requests. Many property owners do not want the heavy structures
placed on their driveways or yards for fear they will damage the
soil, or pallets of product such as sod, they also have the concern that heavy delivery trucks will damage
their property.
The city has the same concerns with their public rights-of-way, and who is responsible when a private
property owner places these items in the public right-of-way and causes damage or anaccident with a
vehicle or pedestrian?
,
At the September 19, 2016 work session, the City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance addressing
these requests and concerns.
Refuse Containers and Portable Storage Containers
Reviewing standards of peer cities, many of them require a permi-of-
way. Staff recommends implementing a permit process for limited reasons such as the necessity of
immediate cleanup of solid waste or storage of personal property due to fire, flood, or other calamity or if
the topography of the property, as determined by the city, prohis the placement of a container.
The responsibility will fall on both the property owner/user and
The language being proposed on the permit will state:
The owner of a container is responsible for any private property
gutter, boulevard, and/or public infrastructure damage as a resu
and/or removing of the container.
The user of a container is responsible for any private property,
gutter, boulevard, and/or public infrastructure damage as a resu
Materials
Because of how construction and landscaping materials, wood, dirt, rocks, pallet
substancesare delivered, handled, and extracted from the right-of-ways, staff is recommending that these
items beprohibited tobe placed in a right-of-way, nor allowed with a permit. Landscaping materials
such as boulders and decorative rock are dumped directly on pave, or other
equipment, scoop them up with their bucket scraping against the pavement resulting in damage to the
pavement.
Definitions
Staff is also recommending the addition of several definitions as they relate to the regulation of refuse
containers, portable storage containers, and materials in public-of-way.
Enforcement
Staff is working with legal counsel on who will enforce this ordinance.
Financial Impact
None
Council Meeting
If acted on, this item will go to the February 21, 2017, City Council meeting.
Attachments
Proposed Ordinance
Proposed Permit Language
N:\Departments\Community Development\Planning\Case Files\OA\OA 17-02 Dumpster Regulations\4-Planning Commission\4.5 sr PC 1-24-
17.docx
Strikethroughs to be removed
Underlines to be added
Ordinance17-
____
An Ordinance AmendingSection, 46-39,Performance Standardsof the City of Elk
River, Minnesota, City Code
The City Council of the City of Elk River doeshereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1.That §30-1, Definitions,of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances shall read as
follows:
Dumpster means any portable container used or designed for collection of,
disposal of solid wasteor the like. Dumpsters shall include, but is not limited to, rol-off containers,
collection bins, and tubs.
Portable storage container means a portable, weather- tight receptacle designed and used for the storage
or shipment of household goods, wares, building materials, or merchandise.
Refuse container means any portable container used or designed for collection, tr
or storage of solid waste or personal property.
Roll-Off container means a large metal container designed and used for the temporar
refuse, rubbish, trash, garbage, junk, debris, offal, or any mat
be thrown away. Such container is typically rented or leased to r occupants of property for
their temporary use and which is typically delivered and removed
Solid waste means all matter of useless, unwanted or discarded solid or semi
commercial, industrial, institutional, construction and demolition waste material, including garbage
and refuse.
SECTION 2. That § 46-39, Regulation of Refuse Containers, Portable Storage Containers, an
Materials in Public Right-of-way, of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances shall read as follow
(a)Purpose
(1)The primary purpose of right-of-ways, public streets, and sidewalks is for use by vehicular
and pedestrian traffic and other public utilities and services.
obstructions in these public spaces are necessary to protect thealth, safety, and welfare of
the general public.
(b)Refuse and Portable Storage Containers
(1)No person shall encumber or obstruct any right-of-way, street, alley, lane, ditch, gutter,
sidewalk, fire lane, or public no parking area within the corpor the city with the
placement of refuse and/or portable storage containers.
Last Updated March 2014
Strikethroughs to be removed
Underlines to be added
(2)The Building Division may issue a Right-of-Way Obstruction Permit for placement of refuse
and/or portable storage containers in a city right-of-way due to the necessity of immediate
cleanup of solid waste or storage of personal property due to fi
if the topography of the property, as determined by the city, pr
refuse and/or portable storage containers on the permitted prope
(c)Building and Landscaping Materials
(1)Construction and landscaping materials, wood, dirt, rocks, palle
substances are prohibited to encumber or obstruct any right-of-way, street, alley, lane, ditch,
gutter, sidewalk, fire lane, or public no parking area within the corporate limits of the city.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and be published as provided by
law.
st
day ofFebruary, 2017.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River 21
______________________________
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Last Updated March 2014
Staff will create a permit that reflects the information outline
Right-of-Way Obstruction Permit
(a)The Right-of-Way Obstruction Permit application shall specify the portion of thesidewalk,
street, or other public ground to be used and the period for whi
public ground may be used.
(b)Dumpsters, Roll-Off Containers, Trash Containers, and Portable Storage Container(Container)
(1)The permit shall be applied for, and signed, by both the refuse collector and the end
user.
(2)The permit shall be visibly placed on the side of the container facing the street.
(3)The permit will be valid for thirty (30) days.
(4)The owner of a container is responsible for any private property, public property, street,
curb and gutter, boulevard, and/or public infrastructure damage as a result of the
placement, positioning, and/or removing of the container.
(5)The user of a container is responsible for any private property, public property, street,
curb and gutter, boulevard, and/or public infrastructure damage utilizing
the container.
(6)The user of the container is also responsible to keep the area around the container free
of debris.
(7) Containers shall be:
a.Supported at each contact point with protective devices to preventhe
surfaces they are placed on.
b.Marked with reflectors, reflective tape, or flashers on each corner or with six (6)
reflective traffic cones.
c.Well maintained and in good working condition.
d.Securely covered when materials inside are easily airborne, emit
otherwise offensive.
(8)Containers shall not be:
a.Placed closer than 30 feet to any fire hydrant, crosswalk, or traffic control
sign/device.
b.Placed in a designated fire lane or in public no parking areas.
c.Placed on any sidewalk.
d.Placed within 100 feet of a street intersection.
(9)Refuse must be placed inside the container and not alongside or on top of it.
(10)Debris and property may not extend past the sides of the container.
(11)All containers are required to be emptied when full. Full is defined as when the
contents of the container reach an average level of one foot below the top edge of the
container sides. Any container which has reached the full status and is not emptied
within seven (7) calendar days shall be considered in violation
(12)No container shall contain any hazardous waste unless pursuant to a permit for such
waste issued by the appropriate governmental entity.
(c)Fees, Escrows, and Fines
(1)Any permit fees, escrows, or fines pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be
set by and amended, from time to time, by the City Council throu
(d)Violations, Any violation of this ordinance is a misdemeanor.
(1)Any violation to the permit is grounds for revocation of the escrow.
(2)The City of Elk River may remove or have a container removed from the public
right-of-way, if the container is in violation of this permit.
(3)The owner of the container, or if the owner cannot be determinedson placing
it in the public right-of-way shall pay all costs, fees, penalties or other expenses
incurred by the city in removal, storage fees and disposal of any container and i
contents. This includes any cost incurred by the city to restore the street, curb,
boulevard, or sidewalk to its prior condition.
(4)If the container is not claimed within 30 days, after being notified in writing, by its
owner or person responsible for placing it in the public right-of-way, it may be
disposed of as abandoned property, but disposal shall not diminish the responsibility
of the owner or the person responsible for placing the container-of-
way to pay all amounts due.
(5)The city shall not release a container from storage until all amounts this
section have been paid.
(6)The city shall not be responsible for any damages to such contai
accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.