Title
Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 32, Section 32-23 and Section 32-33, Code of Ordinances (2018 Edition), regarding the establishment of a Downtown Commercial District. (Second Reading)
Body
The City of Round Rock’s downtown area is experiencing concerns with illegal dumping, nuisance odors and minimal recycling opportunities. To alleviate these issues, the City is in the process of constructing community dumpster locations on three blocks of downtown, known as the Downtown Commercial District. These locations will allow the tenants in these areas to utilize a common trash/recycle disposal location. The City will assume management of the waste services provided at these locations to the downtown businesses. This will improve the aesthetic of Downtown Round Rock. Currently, the downtown businesses internally choose from an approved franchise to negotiate rates and services. Under the new program, the City will invoice the businesses directly with their existing utility bill for the services provided based on established rates.
The charge for the collection for the refuse and recycling for businesses in the Downtown Commercial District shall be determined based on the classification and square footage of the business. The classifications include: small office, large office, small retail and services, large retail and services, small restaurant, medium restaurant, large restaurant, small bar, and large bar.
The amendment to the ordinance includes the new rates that will be charged to the businesses in the Downtown Commercial District. The rates include the cost from the waste collection company as well as the City's fee for administering the program.
We anticipate that these new rates will go into effect in October 2019.