The Daily Hustle: 11/4/10

Photo courtesy Flickr user rjl20 [CC]

Is it election night hangover?

A quiet City Council meeting this morning, as the centerpiece of the agenda – phasing in citywide recycling by 2014 – passed without controversy on in the chambers.

Solid Waste Services director Bob Gedert walked council through the major provisions, which the Hustle tackled in print this week, noting “the larger the property, the sooner the phase in.”

Lee Leffingwell, in a familiar refrain, focused in on the costs: Some $525,000 in expenditures to the city for increased staff time, education and signage, monitoring services, and a website where haulers can update their info. Gedert noted the costs to the city would be accounted for starting in the FY 2012 budget; costs to multi-family units and offices were less certain, and Bill Spelman requested SWS make those available to council, and the public, as soon as possible.

Contrary to what we thought, it sounds like Phase 2 regulations – encompassing recycling and composting at restaurants and bars – will roll out a little later. Gedert predicted an ordinance would be ready to come back to council “next summer.” The largest complication is “organics collection,” i.e., composting, he said, citing a need to hammer out regulations with the restaurants and the health department.

The measure passed on a unanimous vote.

It was towards the end of an update on the Austin Climate Protection Plan, Leffingwell announced some unfortunate news: the death of longtime State Rep. Edmund Kuempel (R-Seguin), a friend to several on the dais. Soonafter, the council broke for executive session discussion.