Concerns over timing, cost and design have seen the Town of Canmore postpone its proposed downtown waste enhancement program.
Manager of public works Andreas Comeau was in front of council last Tuesday (Feb. 1) to provide them with details of how administration plans to proceed after meeting with downtown property owners.
“As a result of those conversations, there was significant feedback to the point administration felt it was prudent to come back with an update,” Comeau said.
Originally the program, which proposed to transition from dumpsters to roll out plastic bins, was set to begin in June.
It included a requirement for property owners to have animal proof enclosures for waste bins this year, either inside the building or as an accessory structure.
The new system was to be delivered entirely by the two private sector haulers, BFI and Waste Management.
Because of that fact, Comeau said, he could not provide details of how much the change would cost per property or per business.
“The costing details will really be between business owners and building owners,” he said. “At this particular point, we are not suggesting how these costs be split up.”
Tom Gregory with BFI said the company is still looking into the changes, but usually they charge by pickup.
Gregory said charging by weight becomes more expensive because fitting a truck with a scale can cost up to $30,000.
“We feel that most people’s bills will most likely double as a result of cart pickup,” he said in an email to the Outlook.
Phil Rose with Waste Management said they currently do not foresee any increase in fees for a number of reasons.
Currently, Rose said in an email, the company calculates lift rates based on a business profile and assumed weights, which should not change as a result of the new program.
As well, the company has an organics program operating in Calgary using a truck with the same configuration that would be needed in Canmore.
“This would mean the capital required for the tote service would not impact the Canmore customers in the short (term),” he said. “However, if the labour costs are increased, we will need to review all such hours increased against last year.”
Building and business owners attending the meeting questioned the cost benefit of the program considering how much more labour intensive it would be for the hauling companies.
As part of the proposal, the haulers would have to be out of the downtown area by 10 a.m. each day increasing the number of days they have to travel into Canmore per week.
Stonewaters owner Mike Gordon said the program was a complete surprise to him.
“It isn’t that I am opposed to listening to things to make (the downtown) better… but in these economic times we are in a touch cycle,” Gordon said, adding the proposed bins for cardboard are grossly inadequate for his business. “I am open to sit down with you and give you a perspective of our individual business needs.”
Sondy Syzmanis, administrator with the downtown business association, also said the news and changes were a surprise to business owners.
She added the program appeared to be directed more at landlords than businesses, which would be the ones bearing the added cost.
The association had made a recommendation to council to postpone the program.
Comeau said the recommended program came out of a 2009 study by 2CG Consulting that consulted some building owners and businesses at the time.
He said administration will return with an amended waste control bylaw in the spring to reaffirm council’s support.
At the same time, he said, they will consult with building and business owners, reconsider affected areas, refine the implementation timelines and revisit the level of screening recommended for waste containers.
“Once approved, administration would like to meet with building owners and to see how it affects them and what solutions are possible,” he said. “All buildings in the downtown core are unique.”
Coun. John Borrowman asked if there was a way to absorb the initial capital costs of the programs in something like a local improvement tax.
“I think it would help to encourage more support if there is not that huge hit up front,” Borrowman said.
Mayor Ron Casey said if the bins behind Rusticana and beside the Senior’s Centre, which are municipally handled, are acceptable, then maybe the program should switch from the private sector to the public.
Several building owners also expressed support for going to a centralized bear bin system to be handled by the municipality.
Casey said while there are questions over the program and costs, the time to do this work is when it is slower.
He said enhancing the downtown area attracts businesses and he questioned whether having dumpsters in alleys of a tourist town is acceptable.
“I don’t think we should run away from this because there are a couple of hurdles in front of us,” he said.
Comeau said at this time he does not believe administration is willing to look at an alternate program as the study from 2009 recommended remaining with private haulers.
He also pointed to the fact the municipality has spent $5.5 million so far on downtown enhancements with more projects on the books for 2011.
Coun. Hans Helder said giving businesses the ability to go through a business cycle and budgeting process should be the way to go forward.
However, he also expressed concern that the costs, even though unknown, may be too much.
“It seems to me this is an expense that may be too burdensome for businesses to handle,” Helder said. “Council has spent significant time and effort the last several months paring down budgets and keeping tax increases as low as possible… it is inappropriate to turn around to businesses with increased capital and operational costs.
“I would encourage you to get a sense of what is financially viable for businesses, not just what the Town wants to do.”
Coun. Gordie Miskow was also worried about whether the program is cost effective for businesses in town.
