Trash decision right one, but questions linger

Council must listen to people as it decides how to move forward

COLORADOAN OPINION COLUMN - FEBRUARY 4, 2010

The Fort Collins City Council made the right decision Tuesday to back away from a trash district pilot project in the face of overwhelming opposition, but some challenges connected to this topic linger.

One of the largest crowds to appear in consideration of a city issue appeared Tuesday, and two clear messages emerged: most residents do not want the city to make such choices for them, and city policy should not harm local businesses.

Council members often tout the numerous efforts made to encourage and support local companies. And there are many successes. But the fact is that both rhetoric from council members and proposals pursued by the council such as this district also speak volumes about how elected representatives feel about local business.

The City Council in pressing forward for two years on this proposal came perilously close to approving a contract for the district that could have harmed a locally owned business that held more than 60 percent of the customers in the proposed district. While the city and council had the legal backing to pursue a district, it is clear they did not have the political support for such a move.

The question now is where the city will go from here. If the goals remain to reduce truck wear and tear on roads, air pollution and noise pollution as outlined in the Climate Action Plan, what other avenues are available?

While the goals set forth in this process are admirable, the process was not. A new approach is required to engage residents in a shared vision of environmental responsibility and efficiency.

Fort Collins City Council members are reminded that this is a highly engaged and conscientious community. Residents are much more likely to align with the city on such goals, including recycling, but through voluntary approaches rather than regulatory policy. Dozens of neighborhood homeowner associations have successfully negotiated better rates with a single hauler. And the city of Fort Collins has neighborhood resources available that could be directed to educate and assist other residents to achieve similar outcomes.

On the positive side, city officials who recognized that this issue was important to residents from various perspectives were right to schedule this rare hearing. Although City Council members agreed at the outset of the meeting that they would not pursue the trash district, the hearing continued. And that is good. It is clear that people wanted their voices to be heard.