HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Cover letter for proposed ordinance CAF 1/
City Attorney's Office
Caring People 515 Clark Avenue,P. O. Box 811
Quality Programs Ames,IA 50010
Exceptional Service
Phone: 515-239-5146 0 Fax: 515-239-5142
October 7, 2009
The Honorable Ann Campbell, Mayor,
and Members of the City Council
of the City of Ames, Iowa
Re: Sec. 10.8 of the Ames City Code and Proposed Composting Ordinance
Dear Mayor Campbell and Council Members:
I am writing this letter regarding proposed changes to section 10.8 of the Ames City Code and the
possible addition of a new ordinance regarding composting. This issue was brought to Council
recently and was referred to Kevin Anderson, the City Sanitarian. Specifically, concerns were
raised regarding the fact that section 10.8 currently only allows for composting of yard waste and
does not allow for composting of kitchen scraps of any kind.
Additional members of city staff were consulted regarding this issue and a consensus was reached
that certain kitchen scraps should be allowed in compost piles, while others should be strictly
prohibited. Materials from ISU extension were provided and it was agreed that any changes to the
City's ordinances should comply with the recommendations contained in those materials. Those
materials are attached to this letter for your review.
With these issues in mind, the City Attorney's Office recommends the following action:
1. Direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance which removes subsection (3)(b) from section
10.8 of the Ames Munioipal Code and creates a new section in chapter 10 that deals with
composting. This new section should conform to the ISU extension materials and allow for
composting of fruit and vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds and eggshells, in addition to yard
waste. Additionally the new section should specifically state that animal meat,bone and fat are
prohibited from composting as well as feces and diseased plant material.
2. Council may also direct the City Attorney to include additional language in the new composting
section that provides setback requirements, size restrictions, container requirements and pest
abatement if Council believes that the expanded composting provisions will result in citizen
complaints.
While discussing this solution with other departments, there were some concerns raised regarding
potential complaints about expanding residential composting. Specifically, there were concerns
regarding the proximity of a compost pile to a property boundary and possible odors that may
emanate from it as well as a concern regarding rodents or pests that may be attracted to the pile.
To resolve these issues, other cities have enacted much more comprehensive composting
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ordinances which describe set back requirements from property boundaries as well as water
sources. These other municipalities have also included container requirements for composting,
language concerning maximum size allowances for compost piles, and specific language that deals
with pests and rodents.
The following are additional provisions that could be added to the new section in chapter 10 that
deals with composting within the City of Ames. These additional provisions are taken directly
from comprehensive composting ordinances from White Bear, Minnesota and Chicago, Illinois.
Location. No compost site may be closer than five (5) feet from any rear or side
property line and shall not be located in any front yard, or closer than twenty-five
(25) feet from any residential dwelling except the dwelling occupied by the
landowner. Composting areas shall also be located and designed so that seepage
from the compost will not run off into public or private streets, storm sewers,
drainage ditches, water retention basins, streams or lakes.
Size. No compost pile may exceed 25 square feet in area or exceed 4 feet in
height.
Composting Containment Structure. All compost sites must be totally contained
within a structure which may be constructed of wood, wire mesh or a combination
of wood and wire or commercially fabricated compost bins designed to contain
composting materials.
Rodent and Pest Control. The presence of insects, rodents, birds and other vectors
or pests shall be controlled through specific measures. These specific measures
may include grinding the ingredients, providing screens or netting or conducting
the composting operation in-vessel.
Additional direction from Council is necessary if the ordinance should be drafted to accomplish
more than the current goal of including certain limited kitchen scraps to compost piles. The
provisions contained above are examples of language that may be added to a new ordinance
regarding composting within the City of Ames. The City Attorney's Office does not have any
specific recommendations regarding these additional provisions. These are simply being offered
as a solution to concerns raised by City staff.
Sincerely,
�Km
at"—
Kristine Stone
Assistant City Attorney
Att: ISU extension brochure