Columbus, Georgia

AN ORDINANCE



NO.___________



An Ordinance amending Columbus Code Section 13-167.2 (6), General Provisions by

adding two new subsections (a) and (b), to provide for trees to be picked up by

the Department of Public Services for a fee and to set forth the length

requirements and placement of the trees for pickup. In addition, amending

Columbus Code Section 13-169.1 Same-Residential by adding a new subsection (j)

to set fees for tree pickup and to establish the process for billing and

collecting of said fees.



THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY ORDAINS:



SECTION 1.



Columbus Code Section 13-167.2 (6), General Provisions is hereby amended by

adding new subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:



?(a) All branches, limbs and trunks from the removal of trees by the owner or

his agent may be collected by the Department of Public Services for a fee

established by Columbus City Council. (See Sec. 13-169.1(j)).



(b) All branches, limbs and trunks of trees to be collected by the Department

of Public Services shall be:



(1) Cut into lengths of four feet or less; and,

(2) Placed at the curb side for collection



SECTION 2.



Columbus Code Section 13-169.1 Same ? Residential is hereby amended by adding a

new subsection (j) to read as follows:



?(j) The fees for collecting branches, limbs and trunks of trees to be removed

from private property by the Department of Public Services are as follows:



Per load - $50.00

Per ton - $14.00



(1) An offset of 25 percent as described in Section 13-169.1(2) shall be

applied to low-income households.

(2) The above rates shall be assessed on the customers water and sewer bill and

shown as a separate and distinct item on said bill, and shall be paid in full

by the due date as shown on said bill.

(3) Should the aforesaid charge for tree disposal not be paid by said due date,

action shall be taken as specified in Section 13-169.1 (e), (f), and (g).





SECTION 3.



All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance

are hereby repealed.



-----------------------------



Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the

______day of ______________, 2004, introduced a second time at a regular

meeting of said council held on the ____________day of _______________, 2004

and adopted at said meeting by affirmative vote of ______ members of said

Council.







Councilor Allen voting ___________________.

Councilor Anthony voting__________________.

Councilor Davis voting____________________.

Councilor Henderson voting________________.

Councilor Hunter voting___________________.

Councilor McDaniel voting_________________.

Councilor Rodgers voting__________________.

Councilor Suber voting____________________.

Councilor Pugh voting_____________________.

Councilor Woodson voting__________________.







______________________________ ______________________________

TINY B. WASHINGTON ROBERT S. POYDASHEFF

CLERK MAYOR











COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT



COUNCIL MEETING



__________________





AGENDA REPORT # ______________________



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Ordinance change for ?Tree for Fee?



Initiated By: Department of Public Services







Recommendation: Amend the Solid Waste code to coincide with the operational

changes of Public Services in implementing the ?Tree for Fee? program and also

amend the Solid Waste code to allow for the collection of associated fees for

the service.



Background: We began a ?Tree for Fee? pilot program in November 2003. The

program has been successful. If Council implements the ?Tree for Fee? program,

the Solid Waste code will need to be amended to coincide with the operational

changes of the department of Public Services. In addition, a method to ensure

funds are collected for providing the services will need to be implemented.



Analysis: The ?Tree for Fee? program has been a success for the customer and

the Columbus Consolidated Government. This program has effectively stopped the

tree complaints we had in the past. It has also given the citizens another

option for tree disposal. The billing collection rate for the trial period has

been 82%. This could be improved to ensure that the program pays for itself.



We have negotiated with Columbus Water Works to provide the billing services

for the Tree for Fee program. In the event that a bill goes unpaid by the due

date the same procedure that is currently used for non-payment of garbage

services will be instituted.