MADEIRA BEACH – A last minute protest by business owners, primarily hotel interests, has set back the city’s “recycling for everyone” effort.
Recycling programs for single and multi-family residences have been up and running since April.
Final approval of an ordinance requiring commercial establishments to recycle specified waste materials was expected at the City Commission July 20 meeting.
However, a contingent of business owners brought their concerns to the commission, who then voted to table the issue for further study.
The residential program is voluntary, but homeowners are billed for the service whether they use it or not. Businesses are required to recycle under the program’s rules, but may use the hauler of their choice.
Most speakers at the meeting agreed recycling is a good idea, but felt it should not be mandatory. They also objected to a requirement of at least two pickups a week.
“We have businesses in town who do not have the capability to sort trash,” said Robin Grabowski, president of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. A recycling requirement would be a particular hardship on hotels, she said, who would either have to ask guests to sort their trash or train staff to do it. There is a big turnover in hospitality industry employees, she added.
What would happen to businesses that did not recycle, Grabowski asked. City attorney Michael Connolly said violators of the ordinance could be prosecuted through the city’s special magistrate.
Hotel owner T.J. Gill said someone in his establishment would have to go through and separate the trash to comply with the recycling requirement.
“In this economic climate, it’s draconian to force businesses to participate (in the program),” he said.
Joe Jorgensen of Travel Resort Services said guests would be told when they check in “Here are your three containers (for recycling).” Jorgensen said, “Would you want to be in a hotel and do that?”
He urged that the program be made voluntary.
Patricia Hubbard of Hubbard Enterprises said space is scarce for her businesses at John’s Pass. The recycling program would require a paper bin, glass bin, and a garbage bin, she said.
“Where are all these bins going to go?,” Hubbard asked.
Hubbard also said the twice a week pickup requirement “is too much.”
Mandatory recycling places a burden on hotel owners especially since they would have to add and train staff, said Lisa Hand of Barefoot Beach Hotel. She urged the commission to take a second look at the ordinance and get together with the businesses.
“Not one person here is in favor of it,” said Brian Bornemann. “Listen to the people.”
The opposition to the business recycling program came as a surprise, coming as it did on the ordinance’s second and final reading.
“We’ve been talking about this all year,” said city attorney Michael Connelly.
“I haven’t heard any of this before,” said Commissioner Carol Reynolds.
The commission voted 5-0 to table the ordinance for further study, and get input from businesses.
Commissioner Steve Kochick, however, warned the city will not abandon the recycling issue.
“We don’t want to be anti-business, and we want to initiate this as painless as possible,” he said. “But we do feel the county has expressed to us the need to do recycling.”
Pointedly, Kochick added, “It’s going to happen.”
Electronic signs OK’d
An ordinance allowing electronic message boards and animated signs was narrowly approved. But the commission gave clear notice that new restrictions could be added that will make their widespread use unlikely.
Pinellas County mistakenly approved a permit earlier this year for an electronic sign at the Surf Style store in John’s Pass Village.
The commission then decided at an April workshop to allow the signs with unlimited features. The devices can flash, scroll, text, show graphics and even brief videos.
Higginbotham addresses budget
At the outset of the meeting, Higginbotham responded to some of the comments made by citizens at the July 13 budget hearing.
Specifically, Higginbotham said allegations that the city does not provide monthly financial reports are untrue. Reports are prepared each month containing revenues and expenditures by line item.
They are included in periodic reports made to the commission, and are readily available to residents on the city Web site, he said.
Higginbotham also defended the rehiring of several recently retired city employees shortly before state legislation took effect that would have required a longer wait to rehire.
Higginbotham said he took advantage of the then-existing retirement rules before they expired to save the city more than $85,000 this fiscal year, and over $70,000 next year.
The city manager said he is preparing a more comprehensive report to be presented soon addressing the citizens’ questions and complaints.
Millage rate set at 1.79
The commission set the tentative millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year at 1.79 mills, which is the same as the current rate.
Correction
Madeira Beach public works director Michael Maxemow was hired back by the city one month after he retired at a reduced salary and different benefits, according to City Manager W.D. Higginbotham. A state statute took effect hours after Maxemow was rehired that would have required the city to wait six months to rehire Maxemow. A recent article in the Beacon stated otherwise.
