AGENDA #5a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Improving Conditions in Downtown Alleys
DATE: April 25, 2005
This report discusses recent concerns expressed by citizens, members of the Community Design Commission and various business owners related to cleanliness in the alleys downtown, especially the north alley in the 100 block of East Franklin Street.
BACKGROUND
Downtown alleys are located within high use commercial areas and incur typical problems associated with concentrated, extensive business and pedestrian activity. We have had complaints related to cleanliness issues over the past several years and have attempted to find solutions or actions that would ameliorate such problems. Our efforts generally have been in the context of programmatic services, rather than one shot efforts in response to a specific concern. Major problem areas requiring our attention and action have included the following:
DISCUSSION
In recent years, Town staff has implemented maintenance procedures and instituted a number of steps to address problems related to overall cleanliness within the downtown area. We attempt to acknowledge the comprehensive nature of service needs, rather than limiting our focus for example on one or more alleys in particular. Recognizing that the town needs to serve as a catalyst in identification of problems and formulation of solutions, we nevertheless also believe that effective measures ultimately will require participation and collaboration on the part of the town and business owners. Rather than ownership of solutions, the town needs to partner with businesses in efforts to assure a viable, clean downtown area.
Consistent with such recognition, for its part, the town has steadily expanded its commitment to establishment and maintenance of a clean downtown. We provide the most comprehensive, highest service levels to that area relative to other areas we service throughout town. Our resource commitments are most significant in this area.
Past actions have included establishment of a daily program to empty more than one hundred refuse containers (i.e., street cans) throughout downtown. We dedicate one position within our Landscape Division for daily inspection and litter removal, including service to the alleyways and the parking deck. Presently we adhere to a service objective of twice weekly sweeping of streets within downtown. This is at least double the service level provided major and residential streets throughout other areas of town. Future efforts will continue to include the daily servicing of street cans and the high service level for street sweeping. We will continue to install and maintain street cans strategically located throughout downtown. As downtown merchants have at various times supplemented town work crews responsible for litter removal from sidewalks and alleyways, we recognize that certain times will require diversion of town resources to such efforts during high demand periods, such as arrival of students at the start of the school year and before and after special events held in downtown locations.
Past actions have included periodic power washing, especially in and around the alley between the Wallace Parking Deck and Franklin Street. We often have to commit extra resources to cleaning in and around areas improved as a part of Streetscape. For example, we have had to remove plantings that have been pulled through vandalism and replace those plants that have been removed. Such efforts often include removal of graffiti, both from sides of buildings, sidewalks and kiosks. We also have committed resources to meet accompanying rodent control needs. While this service has presented problems at various levels of intensity, we have had to address needs and solutions almost on an on-going basis. Presently we service two self-contained town compactors, with a capacity of 30 cubic yards each, strategically located for the benefit of adjacent businesses. Such service often includes labor intensive clean-up in and around these units. While we address enforcement issues related to disposal of refuse and general unsightliness on private property, we believe that improvements here both are warranted and feasible. Future success in this area will depend on expanded efforts on the part of Town officials, especially in Solid Waste and Inspections, working with business owners/managers in the regulation of refuse accumulation on private property. Also, we will continue to devote Town resources to continued high service levels on an on-going basis and divert resources during periods of special need. For example, we expend most of our annual general fund overtime budget of about $120,000 on concentrated cleanup of downtown areas before and after special events.
Past actions have included installation of a 300-gallon collection bin accessible to adjacent restaurants for disposal of grease generated by food establishments. Presently we are monitoring the effectiveness of a town-installed fence around the grease bin in an effort to minimize enforcement problems and enhance aesthetics in adjacent areas. We met with affected business owners/managers to formulate installation of such a fence and realistic expectations on the part of both town staff and the private sector. Future work will include consideration of effectiveness of this measure and possible development of additional actions related to regulation and enforcement of use of the grease bin. For example, we may find that voluntary compliance is inadequate and will need to be supplemented with a key system in which users pay a fee for access. This is another example that brings into focus the necessity for public/private partnership if associated problems are to be addressed successfully.
Past actions have included recycling downtown, emphasizing orientation and education of businesses about public programs available. While we were able to encourage voluntary recycling in prior years in which recycling programs were under the direction of the Town’s Public Works Department, the authority and responsibility for provision of such services came under the purview of Orange County’s solid waste management program at the time of transfer by the town to the county. Presently we continue to work with County recycling staff to assure adequate provision of alternatives to downtown businesses compatible with overall goals and objectives of solid waste management programs. Future improvements are anticipated in this service area as problems with adoption of the updated solid waste management plan are resolved through cooperative efforts between town and county policy officials and the public staff of each jurisdiction. We continue to work with officials from Orange County Solid Waste to improve commercial recycling services. Starting May 2, 2005, Orange County will provide cardboard recycling collection services three days per week at two containers in the back alley on the 100 block and at three containers in Parking Lot #2. This service cost of $500 per month will be covered by the town’s Public Works Department. In addition, if paper stock enterprises do not replace recycling containers downtown, then the town will purchase five new containers at the start of the new fiscal year in July, 2005. In our discussions with Orange County solid waste staff, we find them receptive to placement of a compactor in the 100 block to service the entire area and enhance aesthetics.
Related issues are being addressed again at this time in response to citizen complaints and the desire expressed by downtown merchants for further action. The Town Council referred a citizen petition presented at its meeting on December 6, 2004, to the Town Manager for follow-up and resolution. Town staff recently has met with such groups as the Downtown Commission and the Chamber of Commerce to explore further steps.
We believe that success with establishment and maintenance of clean, sanitary conditions within the downtown area will have to be based on a public/private collaboration. While public efforts can go a long way in meeting such an objective, efforts must also be made by users and owners within this area. Many problems result from generation of waste on private property, and effective solutions will require a concerted mutual effort addressing enforcement issues.
NEXT STEP
In addition to continuation of services discussed above, we propose establishment of on-going workshops between business owners/representatives and public officials, including both Town and County solid waste staff, to identify problems and solutions. Our Public Works Director recently discussed this idea with representatives from the Downtown Commission and the Chamber of Commerce, whose members generally received the proposal enthusiastically and with a willingness to participate.
As issues are identified, including possible action needed by the Council related either to regulations, enforcement and/or financial matters, we periodically will report back to the Council.