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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM <br /> MEMORANDUM NO. 99- 58 <br /> March 26, 1999 <br /> TO: The Honorable Mayor Terry M. Howley and City Council Members <br /> FROM: James L. William .; City Manager <br /> Cecil A. Collins, r.; Community Development Directo�(� <br /> SUBJECT: Authorization to solicit Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for a Pilot Leaf Vacuuming <br />, Program <br /> Staff requests the authorization of Council to proceed to prepare and publish Requests for <br /> Proposals (RFPs)to conduct a Pilot Leaf Vacuuming Program. ', <br /> Background I� <br /> The State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs set aside $400,000 to i <br /> assist the City of Decatur in making the transition from leaf burning to other disposal options, � <br /> including composting and mulching. Funding from the state was allocated for a Pilot Leaf I <br /> Vacuum Service, purchase of leaf removal equipment, education and outreach, Turning Point <br /> Leaf Raking Project, and other miscellaneous expenses. Among these proposed activities, <br /> Turning Point Leaf Raking Project has already been initiated at the beginning of Fall 1998. The <br /> expenses that have accrued so far in the project are approximately $28,279.48 (see Attachment <br /> A). According to the terms of the grant award (#9912071) the City may not incur costs after <br /> January 2001. <br /> The Department of Community Development conducted a study session on the larger question of <br /> leaf collection and disposal in September 1998. At that time, we proposed the Pilot Leaf <br /> Vacuuming Program as an alternative system for leaf disposal. Staff proposed proceeding with a <br /> pilot program because the state funds available would not be adequate to offer a Citywide leaf <br /> collection program. The pilot program will be an innovative cooperative approach between the <br /> City of Decatur and the private sector to address leaf collection and disposal. Based upon the <br /> experience of other Illinois cities, we anticipate that this program will be labor- and <br /> machine-intensive, requiring six or seven collection days weekly and ten-hour work days during <br /> the relatively short season. The Pilot Leaf Vacuuming Program will not be a citywide service. It <br /> will take place in a designated portion of the city during Fall 1999. This program will also <br /> provide valuable information to the City regarding operational expenses, volume of leaves <br /> generated, and a basis for cost comparison to other available options and the current system. One <br />