Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2004-909

Sponsor: Council Member Jenkins & Johnson

Date of Introduction: August 24, 2004

Date of Analysis: August 27, 2004

Type of Action: Establishing Zero-Tolerance for Litter program

Bill Summary: The bill provides Council approval of holding of a referendum on the November 2, 2004 ballot for the purpose of establishing a proposed Charter Amendment establishing Article 27, a zero-tolerance policy on the control of Litter.

Background Information: Section 27.03 of this proposed article requires the City and its independent agencies to:

• Remove and clean-up litter in public rights-of-way (city and state) on a weekly basis
• Place trash receptacles at various public locations and where litter frequently appears
• Not allow commercial advertising on bus stops and shelters

According to a 2002 study of area litter by the JCCI, plastic and cigarette butts account for 61% of small item litter; plastic, foil, and paper account for 54% of large items, cups, bottles, and cans accounting for another 24%. Further, various litter reduction and clean-up programs and FDOT efforts in 2001 removed a total of 1,950,541 pounds of trash. The three zero-tolerance policies defined by proposed Chapter 27 are listed as one of 15 recommendations listed in the JCCI litter study, although the JCCI study did not specify any clean-up schedule. Reducing litter was one of the City Council’s 5 top priorities for 2003-04.

The proposed charter amendment does not address dealing with a major source of the problem, individuals and businesses discarding trash when and where they wish. Nor does it address the enforcement of litter laws currently on the books or other JCCI recommendations.

Policy Impact Area: Litter in Jacksonville

Fiscal Impact: Solid Waste estimates that the costs of policing all roads in the City on a weekly basis may cost $15,510,000 per year. The Mayor’s proposed budget provides $1,236,097 for this effort.

Analyst: Weiss