[OldNorth] Trash Pick-up

[Bruce Winterhalder]

Old North Neighbors:
         The letter copied below, written to Bob Weir (Public Works), is is 
the most recent action on the trash pick-up situation.  This request we 
make is a result of discussion at our last monthly meeting.
                 Bruce


Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Bob Weir
Department of Public Works
City of Davis, California

Dear Bob:

I’d like to start out by saying thanks for the cooperative spirit you’ve 
demonstrated on the issues facing our neighborhood.

A quick summary to begin: The 600-block parcels of Old North were designed 
to use alleys, rather than curb cuts and driveways, for auto access and 
utilities.  We’ve given the DWR/Public Works approach of street-side trash 
& recycling pick-up a try for the last few weeks, and it has some real 
problems.  After surveying the neighborhood it appears there is strong 
support for giving alley pickup a try for a similar period, after trimming 
of vegetation as needed, and then making a decision based on real-world 
experience of the two options.

For your files, here’s some background on the alleys of Old North­the five 
alleys that run between 6th and 7th Streets, sandwiched between B&C, C&D, 
D&E, E&F, and F&G Streets.  Part of the historic character (Lofland, Old 
North Davis) of the Old North neighborhood is the use of alleys for 
utilities and the general absence of curb cut driveways and garages on the 
fronts of the lots and residences.   This means that we have long 
experience with trash pick-up on the alleys.  Lack of driveways makes 
street-side pick-up unattractive and/or physically quite difficult in many 
cases.  Those living mid-block, in some cases elderly individuals, have to 
maneuver the carts from behind their homes over the planting strip and curb 
drop and back.  Heavy demand on street parking by UCD and downtown 
commuters means that cans are getting “parked in.”

These concerns and others led the ONDNA to propose continued alley pick up. 
After our meeting with you and DWR last summer meeting, we followed up on 
your request that we poll residents about their preferences, organizing a 
flier and survey card distributed to the approximately 100 households on 
alleys.  We gave residents a balanced description (a copy of which you 
have) of the pros and cons of either option.  The key concern you expressed 
to us was that residents who favored alley pickup understood that 
substantial trimming of trees and other vegetation would be required.  Over 
50% of the cards were returned by mail, with a super-majority (over 2/3) 
expressing a preference for continuing alley service.

We appreciate the willingness of DWR to take the time to test the alley 
option on 10/28/04. We feel, however, that the results were 
inconclusive.  The driver (a manager) was inexperienced with the mechanical 
arm, and the truck was equipped with the wrong arm to pick up the trash 
containers.

After discussion at our recent monthly meeting, the Board of ON voted to 
request full alley pick-up in the 600 blocks, to begin as soon as the 
trimming can be completed.  We propose a trial period of four weeks to see 
if it is satisfactory to residents and workable for DWR.  We know that 
there is concern residents will by unhappy with trimming, and think that 
the best way to avoid problems is to have Dan Quickert (756-0575) ­a 
resident of Old North who is a consulting arborist­meet with the crew on a 
walk-through.  His day job frequently involves helping tree trimming crews 
identify how to provide needed clearance while doing the least damage to 
the trees, and it makes sense to take advantage of this (free!) resource here.

We have now had a couple of weeks experience with the carts and street 
pick-up.   They have their advantages, but a walk around the neighborhood 
shows that people are adapting to the problem of difficult access to the 
rear of their homes by leaving the carts visible in their front yards or on 
parking strips.   This is perhaps a predictable but it is not a desirable 
or attractive solution.  We also have noticed the carts get ‘parked in’ 
which takes up considerable DWR driver time to reposition them.

So we’d like to have the alleys trimmed and give alley pickup a try.  At 
the end of that time, we’d gather feedback from the neighborhood and sit 
down with you and DWR, and see which way of doing things is most workable.

Again, thanks for your time and consideration,

Bruce Winterhalder (president, ONDNA)
winterety at sbcglobal.net 
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