Greenville City Council Workshop: Solid Waste and Business Support Updates - May 6, 2024

The Greenville City Council held a workshop on May 6, 2024, at 4:00 PM in City Hall Conference Room 337. Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels presided over the meeting, with Councilmembers Warman, Blackburn, Sully, Robinson, O'Wells, and Willett present. The agenda included two new business items: an update on the five-year plan for solid waste services and a business support program update. No votes were taken; the workshop served as a discussion and information-sharing session.

Discussion Items

Update on 5-Year Plan for Solid Waste Services

• Presentation by Kevin Mulligan (Public Works Director) and Delbert Bryant (Solid Waste Manager):

  • The solid waste division serves approximately 22,000 single-family accounts and 22,000 multifamily accounts with 48 employees and 27 trucks. Weekly collection includes refuse, recycling, yard waste, bulky items, and special services for those unable to bring carts to the curb. A 95% setout rate results in about 1 million collections per year. Mosquito control is integrated, using EPA-approved chemicals and ultra-low volume (ULV) treatment targeting adult mosquitoes, with no residual effect on other wildlife.
  • Route efficiency improvements: In 2023, the city converted 12,000 single-family residences to a quadrant-based collection schedule, completed in five months instead of one year. Technology tracks arm movements and identifies problem areas, achieving an average of 150 houses per hour per truck.
  • Benchmarking against 20 cities: Greenville’s monthly fee of $16 is the second lowest among enterprise fund cities (average $22.30). The city offers weekly collection for all sectors, unlike many peers that have moved to bi-weekly recycling. Staff recommends maintaining weekly recycling to avoid contamination shifting to garbage carts.
  • Vehicle Replacement Fund (VRF): The city currently pays $1.2 million annually into the VRF, but the required amount is $2.2 million due to vehicle cost increases of 50–100% over the last decade. A proposed rental rate increase to $3 million annually would allow replacement of side loaders every five years (instead of current seven) to reduce maintenance costs and downtime. Leasing was considered but deemed too risky due to uncertain pricing and interest rates.
  • Capital facility upgrades: Plans include a $1 million renovation of the assembly room for training, and $3 million for expansion of parking and wash pit areas at Public Works.
  • Five-year rate plan: Two options were presented. Option 1: Current rate of $16/month, with deficits covered by reserves, increasing to $24.50 by 2029. Option 2: Includes replacement of carts and dumpsters (one green cart and one blue cart per household), adding about $1.30/month, with a similar top rate. The average of 16 enterprise fund cities is currently $22.30. Any rate change would not be adopted until June 2025 for the fiscal year starting July 2025.
  • Proposed ordinance changes: (1) Eliminate the ability to suspend the solid waste fee for properties connected to a utility bill, closing a loophole where residents could stop paying but still receive services like yard waste and mosquito control. (2) Rename the Sanitation Division to Environmental Services Division to better reflect the breadth of services.

• Councilmember Discussion:

  • Councilmembers praised the solid waste team for their service and efficiency. Questions addressed recycling contamination (currently only #1 and #2 plastics accepted due to market conditions), the impact of ULV mosquito control on amphibians, the fee structure for special services (no additional charge), and the vehicle replacement fund mechanics. Councilmember Willett noted that the city’s 96-gallon carts are 95-gallon. Councilmember Sully asked about trade-in value for used vehicles; staff confirmed they sell via GovDeals and saw high returns on some trucks. Staff will explore other sales channels.

Business Support Program Update

• Presentation by Tiana (Director of Neighborhood Business Services) and Tish Williams (Business Development Manager):

  • The new Neighborhood and Business Services Division focuses on supporting small and minority-owned businesses. Current programs include:
    • Small Business Assistance Program: Funded by $400,000 in ARPA funds, offering grants up to $50,000 for businesses in qualified census tracts as part of pandemic recovery.
    • Business Resilience Microloan Program: New program with $50,000 initial funding, offering 0% interest loans up to $10,000 for businesses in the downtown/urban core impacted by infrastructure improvements. Applications open May 13, 2024.
    • MWBE Programs: Incubate to Accelerate (loans up to $25,000 for minority/women-owned businesses), Operation Hope (26 referrals, 11 graduates), and HUB certification workshops. Tish Williams highlighted a success story: a business owner who expanded from Town Common to a second location and a yoga studio.
  • Staff collaborates with ECU, Pitt Community College, Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Greenville Partnership to provide technical assistance, training, and networking.

• Councilmember Discussion:

  • Councilmember (likely Robinson) expressed strong support for the new office, noting the importance of resources for small businesses, especially during construction. The speaker suggested appointing a small business liaison to help entrepreneurs navigate permits, inspections, and health department requirements. The city manager indicated that the budget discussion would align with this direction, emphasizing increased engagement and direct relationships with business owners.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were made. The workshop was informational.
• Solid waste fee changes will be further discussed with the public and brought back to council for consideration in June 2025 as part of the fiscal year 2026 budget process.
• The Business Resilience Microloan Program applications will open May 13, 2024; the budget amendment for the program is on the regular council agenda for the same evening.
• Staff will continue to refine the solid waste rate options and explore additional vehicle sales avenues.
• The proposed ordinance to eliminate the solid waste fee suspension and the division name change will be brought back to council for a vote at a future meeting.