City Departments collect a wide variety of fees for permits, services, fines and other charges that are all part of everyday operations of municipal government.  Since September 2008, Ordinance 08-M-43 established the consolidated fee schedule for better transparency of fees charged by the city.

The Fee Schedule ordinance provides a single document with all City fees that directly affect the users. The changes to the fees ensure the continued operation of public utilities, provides for essential services to the community and to adequately maintain the investment in existing infrastructure.  All changes to the fee schedule will have a 45-day period before the new fees take effect. This allows staff to update and advise citizens on the upcoming changes. 

With the changes in garbage service, staff recommends updating the fee schedule for only garbage rates at this time based on what was received in the proposal selected by City Council. What is included in the attached fee changes is a specific vendor proposal that can be adjusted as needed to match the approval of Ordinance 25-F-014.

Solid waste rates have not changed in 7 years. Changes here represent both rising industry costs over that time as well as enhanced service offerings in some areas like standard bulk and brush pickup. See below for a summary of changes.

Summary of Changes:
Chipping Services will be discontinued and removed from the Schedule. Instead, this will be included in the Bulk/Brush pick up service proposed at this time and listed as a regular service for solid waste.

Combined Residential Garbage once-a-week, Recycling every other week, and Bulk/Brush services every other week would increase from $14.46 to $18.10 per month.

Special Pick Ups will be removed. 

Class II, Mobile Home Parks will be charged the standard residential rate for garbage, recycling, and bulk/brush pick ups.

Class III, Apartments, and Class IV, Motels, will be removed and charged the appropriate Small Commercial rate or appropriate sized container.

Offices, barbershops, and professional services; and light retail, wholesale, commercial or industrial from 2,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet; and  medium retail, wholesale, commercial or industrial 2,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet, also known as Class V through VII, will be consolidated to Small Commercial. These fees would increase from $15.70, $27.08, and $39.34, respectively, to $45.00 for once a week pick up and $90.00 for twice per week. 

Class VIII is not a used classification and will be removed.

Commercial Containers will increase 43%. See Schedule for breakdown.

Recycle containers will be available and were added to the fee schedule.

Roll-Off Container fees would increase 67% for a 20 cubic yard and increase 21% for a 40 cubic yard container base, plus a tonnage fee. 

Compactor rentals increase an estimated 306% for a 2 cubic yard and 144% for a 4 cubic yard. If these are to be used for recycle purposes, customers are free to choose a different provider.

The overweight charge is being removed.

Disaster Management Rates have been identified and added to the schedule.

Commercial Recycling Hauling Permit Fee will be reduced from $2,500 to $25. State law permits businesses to contact their own recycling services, if they wish. The changes that staff has proposed present a policy shift. The current code requires that private haulers receive a letter of certification from each business and that the city issue a permit for each business the private hauler removes recyclable materials from. The current permit amount is $2,500 per business, which must be renewed annually. Staff is proposing to eliminate the letter of certification requirement. Instead, private haulers may simply list the businesses they serve as part of their permit application. Also, Staff is proposing to reduce the permit fee from $2,500 per business served to a flat $25 for the year, regardless of number of businesses served. Staff determined that the current code presents a significant barrier for private haulers and is effectively prohibitive. The proposed changes would make it easier for private haulers to operate in Schertz.

To set fees to match the new solid waste provider approved proposal.

The fee schedule is a transparent way to provide information on fees charged for services for the City. These changes will provide for selected garbage services in the City of Schertz.

Staff recommends Council approve a fee schedule to match the level of service described in the accepted solid waste proposal.

Charges for service of one pick-up of garbage and recycling per week and one bulk/brush pick-up every other week would be a 52% increase for residents and 43% increase for large commercial that use roll-off containers. 

The City is proposing to keep a 3% franchise fee that goes to the General Fund to pay for the use and wear of roadways, which would increase by an estimated $60,000 annually. The proposal will also lower the fee charged to the waste provider to provide billing services and customer service from 12% to 7% as the new provider will handle all commercial billing directly as well as all residential and commercial customer service calls. This decrease will lower the revenue for the Water & Sewer Fund that provides garbage services by an estimated $100,000. Schertz' Utility Billing staff is proposed to continue billing residential accounts and audit records of the new provider to ensure the proper execution of the contract and charges. 
 

Adopt Ordinance 25-M-018 and update Public Works-Streets and Garbage Collection fees for FY 2024-25, effective July 1, 2025.