Is This Happening in Other Cities?
As I discussed in my council presentation on April 25th, some Maplewood residents are paying higher rates than the haulers report to the City of Maplewood. Many other cities with open hauling systems have licensing ordinances that, like ours, require haulers to report their current rates to the city. One can't help but wonder if residents of those cities, too, are being charged more than the reported rates.
While I'm of course focusing on Maplewood, I have had a few conversations with residents of other cities, and have found that we're not alone. I did a little research, and here's what I've found out about the situation other cities that are at least in part in Ramsey County. The Ramsey County cities not listed - Blaine, Little Canada, North St. Paul, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township - all have organized collection.
Arden Hills
Arden Hills ordinance requires that haulers report their rates to the city as part of their licensing process. Arden Hills City Code, Chapter 6, Section 660.06, Subd. 1 states, "All occupied properties shall arrange for the collection of garbage, refuse, or other mixed waste thereof with a licensed refuse collector and shall pay the collector an amount not to exceed the collector's scheduled rates, as approved by the Council." However, they do not make a list of the reported rates available on their web page. Arden Hills has either four or five licensed haulers (they say four, but their web page lists five).
Falcon Heights
The Falcon Heights City Code, Chapter 14, Article VIII, Sec. 14-277, states, "All refuse haulers shall: ... File with the city clerk a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the licensing period. Every licensee shall provide 14 days' written notification to the city and the licensee's customers of any change in rates to be implemented during the licensing period."
I have not found a copy of the rates on their website; it may be that a resident would have to submit a data practices request to obtain the rates reported to the city by the eight licensed haulers.
Gem Lake
As far as I can tell, Gem Lake does not require licensed haulers to report their rates. I was also unable to locate any list of their licensed haulers on the Gem Lake website.
Lauderdale
Four haulers are licensed for residential service in Lauderdale. Their Garbage and Refuse Ordinance specifies (Title IV, Chapter 2, Section 4-2-11) that the haulers' annual license application include the "proposed charges for the hauling" and a "description of the kind of services to be rendered." It does not appear that they compile the reported rates in one place for residents to see.
Mounds View
Chapter 603 of the Mounds View city code governs garbage hauling. It includes (603.06, Subd. 1 (e)): "When the [trash hauler license] application is submitted, the applicant shall file with the Clerk-Administrator a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the licensed period. Every licensee shall provide thirty (30) days' prior written notification to the City and the licensee's customers of any change in rates to be implemented during the licensed period."
Five haulers are listed as licensed for residential pickup in Mounds View. I can't find any list of the rates submitted by the licensees.
New Brighton
According to the New Brighton City Code (Chapter 11, Article II, Section Sec. 11-34), garbage hauler license applicants "shall specify on the application a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the license period. In the case of service to residences, a minimum of three rate levels for regular service shall be provided. These rates will be based on volume. The licensee shall provide fourteen calendar days prior written notification to the City and to the licensee's customers of any rate changes to be made during the license period." The New Brighton web page lists four haulers licensed for residential service in their city, but I could not find any list of reported rates.
North Oaks
I was unable to locate a trash licensing ordinance or code section on the North Oaks website. Apparently they have open hauling of trash, but organized recycling collection.. North Oaks is an unusual community because it is covered both by a city government and by a city-wide homeowners' association, and none of its streets are public.
Roseville
The Roseville City Code (Chapter 402, section 402.04(E)) requires that "Before a solid waste hauler license shall be issued, the applicant shall file a schedule of rates to be charged during the licensing period for which the application is made. Every licensee shall provide written notification to the City and the licensee's customers at least 60 days in advance of any change in rates to be implemented during the license period. (Ord. 1097, 8-12-91)
You can see the rates reported to the city of Roseville on their website. I've obtained the bill of a friend in Roseville who uses one of their local haulers, and see that his family is being charged a 31% higher base rate than what is reported to the city (plus a fuel surcharge). The same hauler is licensed to serve Maplewood, though I have not yet obtained an example of their Maplewood invoices.
Saint Anthony
City Code § 111.216 (D) states, "When the application is submitted, the applicant must file with the City Manager a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the licensed period. Every licensee must provide 14-days’ prior written notification to the city and the licensee’s customers of any change in rates to be implemented during the licensed period." I can find no list of current rates on the city website, but there appear to be effectively just three licensed residential haulers, and a fourth that only does construction dumpsters.
Saint Paul
Chapter 357 of the Saint Paul City Code regulates solid waste. According to 357.05(c),
The Saint Paul website lists seventeen licensed haulers. I have not been able to find a list of their licensed haulers' reported rates. I'd be curious to know if anyone has been hauled in front of their council due to unreported changes in charges.
Shoreview
Section 703 of the Shoreview City Code covers waste haulers. Licensed haulers are required to report rates to the city as part of a license application (per 703.030 [E] and [G]), and as an ongoing condition of licensing (703.090 [C]) "shall notify the City of changes in service rate structures thirty (30) days prior to the institution of such change and shall notify customers at least twenty (20) days prior to the institution of such change." The Shoreview website has a list of licensed haulers (four of whom serve regular residential customers), but I haven't located any list of reported rates.
Spring Lake Park
Looking at Title V, Chapter 51 of the Spring Lake Park Code, which concerns solid waste and hauler licensing, does not appear to include any rate reporting requirement.
The vast majority of open hauling cities in Ramsey County do require licensed haulers to report their residential hauling rates to the city. However, as far as I can tell, only two cities -- Maplewood and Roseville -- make a list of those reported rates available on their websites for their residents to access easily. In the case of both of those cities, I've found residents paying substantially higher rates than what's posted on the city websites.
While I'm of course focusing on Maplewood, I have had a few conversations with residents of other cities, and have found that we're not alone. I did a little research, and here's what I've found out about the situation other cities that are at least in part in Ramsey County. The Ramsey County cities not listed - Blaine, Little Canada, North St. Paul, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township - all have organized collection.
Arden Hills
Arden Hills ordinance requires that haulers report their rates to the city as part of their licensing process. Arden Hills City Code, Chapter 6, Section 660.06, Subd. 1 states, "All occupied properties shall arrange for the collection of garbage, refuse, or other mixed waste thereof with a licensed refuse collector and shall pay the collector an amount not to exceed the collector's scheduled rates, as approved by the Council." However, they do not make a list of the reported rates available on their web page. Arden Hills has either four or five licensed haulers (they say four, but their web page lists five).
Falcon Heights
The Falcon Heights City Code, Chapter 14, Article VIII, Sec. 14-277, states, "All refuse haulers shall: ... File with the city clerk a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the licensing period. Every licensee shall provide 14 days' written notification to the city and the licensee's customers of any change in rates to be implemented during the licensing period."
I have not found a copy of the rates on their website; it may be that a resident would have to submit a data practices request to obtain the rates reported to the city by the eight licensed haulers.
Gem Lake
As far as I can tell, Gem Lake does not require licensed haulers to report their rates. I was also unable to locate any list of their licensed haulers on the Gem Lake website.
Lauderdale
Four haulers are licensed for residential service in Lauderdale. Their Garbage and Refuse Ordinance specifies (Title IV, Chapter 2, Section 4-2-11) that the haulers' annual license application include the "proposed charges for the hauling" and a "description of the kind of services to be rendered." It does not appear that they compile the reported rates in one place for residents to see.
Mounds View
Chapter 603 of the Mounds View city code governs garbage hauling. It includes (603.06, Subd. 1 (e)): "When the [trash hauler license] application is submitted, the applicant shall file with the Clerk-Administrator a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the licensed period. Every licensee shall provide thirty (30) days' prior written notification to the City and the licensee's customers of any change in rates to be implemented during the licensed period."
Five haulers are listed as licensed for residential pickup in Mounds View. I can't find any list of the rates submitted by the licensees.
New Brighton
According to the New Brighton City Code (Chapter 11, Article II, Section Sec. 11-34), garbage hauler license applicants "shall specify on the application a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the license period. In the case of service to residences, a minimum of three rate levels for regular service shall be provided. These rates will be based on volume. The licensee shall provide fourteen calendar days prior written notification to the City and to the licensee's customers of any rate changes to be made during the license period." The New Brighton web page lists four haulers licensed for residential service in their city, but I could not find any list of reported rates.
North Oaks
I was unable to locate a trash licensing ordinance or code section on the North Oaks website. Apparently they have open hauling of trash, but organized recycling collection.. North Oaks is an unusual community because it is covered both by a city government and by a city-wide homeowners' association, and none of its streets are public.
Roseville
The Roseville City Code (Chapter 402, section 402.04(E)) requires that "Before a solid waste hauler license shall be issued, the applicant shall file a schedule of rates to be charged during the licensing period for which the application is made. Every licensee shall provide written notification to the City and the licensee's customers at least 60 days in advance of any change in rates to be implemented during the license period. (Ord. 1097, 8-12-91)
You can see the rates reported to the city of Roseville on their website. I've obtained the bill of a friend in Roseville who uses one of their local haulers, and see that his family is being charged a 31% higher base rate than what is reported to the city (plus a fuel surcharge). The same hauler is licensed to serve Maplewood, though I have not yet obtained an example of their Maplewood invoices.
Saint Anthony
City Code § 111.216 (D) states, "When the application is submitted, the applicant must file with the City Manager a schedule of proposed rates to be charged during the licensed period. Every licensee must provide 14-days’ prior written notification to the city and the licensee’s customers of any change in rates to be implemented during the licensed period." I can find no list of current rates on the city website, but there appear to be effectively just three licensed residential haulers, and a fourth that only does construction dumpsters.
Saint Paul
Chapter 357 of the Saint Paul City Code regulates solid waste. According to 357.05(c),
Each licensee shall submit to the inspector a schedule of advertised charges in connection with his operation or service at the time of the application for license.
[...]
Charges shall not be changed except by submitting a revised schedule of charges to the inspector no more than ten (10) days after the effective date of the changes. The inspector shall report the revised charges to the department of public works within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the changes. Any licensee who shall charge or change his charges contrary to the above procedure shall be required to appear before the city council for consideration of revocation of his license.
The Saint Paul website lists seventeen licensed haulers. I have not been able to find a list of their licensed haulers' reported rates. I'd be curious to know if anyone has been hauled in front of their council due to unreported changes in charges.
Shoreview
Section 703 of the Shoreview City Code covers waste haulers. Licensed haulers are required to report rates to the city as part of a license application (per 703.030 [E] and [G]), and as an ongoing condition of licensing (703.090 [C]) "shall notify the City of changes in service rate structures thirty (30) days prior to the institution of such change and shall notify customers at least twenty (20) days prior to the institution of such change." The Shoreview website has a list of licensed haulers (four of whom serve regular residential customers), but I haven't located any list of reported rates.
Spring Lake Park
Looking at Title V, Chapter 51 of the Spring Lake Park Code, which concerns solid waste and hauler licensing, does not appear to include any rate reporting requirement.
Conclusion
The vast majority of open hauling cities in Ramsey County do require licensed haulers to report their residential hauling rates to the city. However, as far as I can tell, only two cities -- Maplewood and Roseville -- make a list of those reported rates available on their websites for their residents to access easily. In the case of both of those cities, I've found residents paying substantially higher rates than what's posted on the city websites.
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