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CITY OF MARSHALL COMMISSION AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET: MEETING DATE: September 14, 2017
PROJECT: Consider and act on programs to address garbage and litter abatement and beautification projects in the City of Marshall, including neighborhood improvement programs, quarterly cleanups, code enforcement efforts, and the Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep Marshall Beautiful Programs. (Public Services Director)
DESCRIPTION: The City Commission has encouraged staff to develop programs that help beautify Marshall through litter abatement and beautification efforts. A new state law, which became effective September 1st, requires an individual guilty of illegal dumping (littering), illegal outdoor burning of household trash, or other violations associated with littering or dumping, to perform up to 60 hours of community service related to litter abatement – in addition to their fine or other penalties assessed. The Texas Senate Research Center stated, in reference to the recent House Bill 1884, that “Litter and illegal dumping costs the state millions of dollars every year. In a study done by Texans for Clean Water in February 2017, the City of Houston spent over $13 million in litter abatement alone. For context, Lufkin (pop. 36,000), spent $149,000 for their litter abatement. During a recent Texas Department of Transportation roadside litter survey, there has been an 81 percent increase in litter along our Farm to Market Roads. H.B. 1884 requires a convicted litterer to perform up to 60 community service hours by picking up litter or working at a recycling facility in the county of residence.” Over the past few years we have added several programs: Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) – we rejoined Keep Texas Beautiful this week, which is one of the premier programs in the nation! Their wealth of resources, information and educational programs will be very beneficial in making an impact in Marshall. Litter abatement is an educational, action, and enforcement issue. KTB also donates $2 million a year to the top ten Texas communities that exhibit outstanding overall efforts to keep their community beautiful – called the Governor’s Community Achievement Award. Awards are based on population
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grouping, of which Marshall falls into a category for an annual award of $180,000 for use on beautification projects or community entry monuments with associated landscaping. Many communities who are a part of KTB also offer local programs such as Adopt-a-Site for additional maintenance and beautification. The City of Longview has a highly recognized adoption program under their Keep Longview Beautiful Program. We will be restarting our Keep Marshall Beautiful (KMB) program now that we have rejoined KTB. Landscaping Ordinance – we recently approved our first landscape ordinance that requires a good level of landscaping for all new construction or major renovations; this is a great addition. Marshall Clean Sweep – this is our quarterly program to utilize all city departments and volunteers to focus on a specified neighborhood or area of Marshall, for a set period of time, to improve the area through cleanups, visual enhancements, public safety improvements, and infrastructure improvements. This program over the last almost two years has removed approximately 972 cubic yards of trash and debris from our streets and right-of-ways, enough to cover a football field six inches deep in debris! Our next Clean Sweep Program is set for September 30th. This program has been largely successful because of the volunteer efforts of City Staff, City Commissioners, local clubs, organizations, and ROTC and AVID students from Marshall Jr High and Marshall High School. Quarterly City-Wide Cleanup Programs – we continue to provide our residents with four quarterly “free” dump day opportunities each year and we also annually offer our city residents with two additional “free” dump passes. Result - our residents have six times a year when they can dump debris at the Marshall Convenience Station free of charge. Volunteer Litter Fee on Water Bill – for decades, residents have been offered an opportunity to donate $1.00 monthly to aid in litter control efforts. In the past, these donated funds have been directed to help offset the cost of a Litter Control Contract that monthly provides litter removal on over 65 miles of major streets in Marshall. This has been our longest-running city litter abatement program. Additional programs to be considered: Adopt-a-Highway or Street Program – the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) offers an Adopt-a-Highway program whereby two mile or more segments of state highways can be adopted for litter control by families, clubs, organizations, groups, and businesses (even the City Commission and City Staff). Once adopted, the responsible group must pick up their segment of the highway a minimum of four times a year. In return, TxDOT provides highway signs with the adoption group’s name predominantly displayed on the highway. They also provide litterbags, safety vests, and safety training for volunteers. There are currently twentyeight (28) segments of highways already adopted in Harrison County. Many communities offer a similar program for their city streets. This would be a great program to add in Marshall, along with an Adopt-a-Site program for maintenance and beautification.
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Beautification Projects – projects are needed all over Marshall for landscape beautification in every neighborhood, parks, and right-of-ways by adding trees, shrubs, and flower gardens. A good example is adding crape myrtles in our street and highway right-of-ways because they are hardy and indigenous to Texas. Mature crepe myrtles in a right-of-way do not create issues like trees do when they mature and destroy sidewalks, streets, and sewer lines as they search out water sources. Downtown is a perfect example of majestic live oaks that are ruining the sidewalks and growing into the storm drains and sewer lines, totally clogging them and creating drainage and sewer backups. A program to plant trees in open spaces and parks is needed. We could partner with civic organizations like the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, fraternities, sororities, and the Texas Forest Service to help plant trees and become a member of Tree City USA and other Arbor Day Foundation affiliates. Education, Young and Old – educating the public of litter abatement efforts and laws is very important. In the past, the City of Marshall worked with MISD to offer classroom sessions each year. This can be started again under the Keep Marshall Beautiful umbrella. We can also use our water bill envelop to distribute anti-littering and beautification inserts. Enforcement – one important aspect of litter, debris, and dumping abatement is strong ordinances and stronger enforcement. Keep Texas Beautiful has a large archive of city ordinances that can be used to strengthen local ordinances, to make way for increased enforcement efforts. Publicity – another important part of a successful litter, dumping, and beautification program is getting the word out that the City of Marshall is serious about enforcement and serious about litter removal and beautification. Recognition – at one time we partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and local media to publically recognize residences and businesses for landscaping and beautifying their locations, we could offer a $100 award to each, as an added incentive. This could even apply to new construction or major remodels. Solid Waste Litter Reduction and Recycling – each week, areas all over Marshall are littered because our solid waste program allows setting out of garbage bags by the curb. This unhealthy practice is a breeding ground for filth because rodents, birds, dogs, cats, and other animals dig into the bags and spread garbage and litter. This is unhealthy and why many communities, large and small, have converted to large rolling carts for trash and recycling. Our current solid waste contract expires December 31, 2018, which provides an excellent opportunity to consider furnishing rolling carts to reduce litter and provide a healthier solid waste program. Republic Services Inc, as part of the requirements in our solid waste contract, annually provides numerous free dumpsters and roll off containers as well as a $6,000 annual contribution for litter control and beautifications projects. They also provide a $15,000 donation for housing demolitions, plus twenty (20) free 30-yd. dumpsters a year for use in housing demolitions. They also donate food and drinks for all of the Clean Sweep events.
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COST: N/A at this time
FUNDING: N/A
Acct. Name & No
Original Budget
RECOMMENDED CITY COMMISSION ACTION: Consider adopting garbage, dumping, litter abatement, and beautifications programs and projects in the City of Marshall, including a neighborhood improvement programs, continued quarterly cleanups, increased code enforcement efforts, and the Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep Marshall Beautiful Programs. (Public Services Director)
CITY CONTACTS: J. C. Hughes, Public Services Director (903-503-4503)
ATTACHMENTS: TxDOT Email – List of Hwy Segments Adopted for Litter Control – Dated 09-08-17
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