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Session 1911 February 9, 2004 These items are unsightly when placed in front of houses, rather than behind them. He urged using alleys for the purpose intended. He thinks there should be a policy to govern the parking of service trucks behind houses, as well. Shirley Richman, 840 Oakbrook Lane, and Joan Botwinick, 511 Westview Drive, came to share information about the National Housing Trust Fund initiative with the City Council in hopes of winning their support. This fund's purpose is to develop additional Iow-cost housing, focusing upon housing production by means of rehabilitation, preservation and new construction. Funding is through the Federal Housing Administration surplus of FHA mutual mortgage insurance. In Missouri, it is expected that funds would be administered through grants. It is a bi-partisan measure. It is widely endorsed. They asked that University City be added to this list of supporters. Elsie Glickert, 6712 Etzel, said the Northeast Plan addressed the trash collection pilot program issues because this is an important matter, to which she finds little thought has been given. The matter needs to be studied, in her opinion. Too many people share too few dumpsters, despite the increase of trash collection fees. She favors roll-out carts being placed in the alleys. She mentioned the problem of itinerant trash collectors dumping trash in her alley, and suggested that perhaps camera surveillance should be installed. She also suggested moving dumpsters to the other side of the alleys, so that everyone has the opportunity to "host" one and experience the problems which accompany that role and the hazards they present. She reiterated that the entire process needs to be reviewed. Councilmember Welsch agreed that this issue is a problem and that the system needs to be examined; however, the City is actively trying to limit the constantly growing cost of refuse collection. She said that it would be necessary to consider options, to try out pilot programs, and to consider what the best way is for the long term. Ms. Glickert, 6712 Etzel, responded that the people who have alleys have different issues than ones who do not: car damage and recycling costs to name tow, and that everything should be in the alley. Mayor Adams then commented upon Ms. Welsch's comment about the cost factors and the importance of managing them effectively, because other cities have found it necessary to implement less desirable and expensive collection procedures involving the use of bar codes and individual charges. Mr. Sharpe added that the City Manager and the staff agreed that reducing collection expenses was an important issue and one that affected the citizens greatly and needed to be shared with them. Mr. Munkel commented that recycling efforts raised money and that University City had managed to remove 25 to 30 per cent of materials from the waste stream by undertaking efforts to recycle. He stated that refuse removal is not a problem ignored, but one which requires an on-going effort to improve service. He noted that new efforts need to be tried, and there needs to be a partnership with citizens, and that perhaps a delay at this juncture will enable City Council and citizens to solve this problem. Beverly Williams, 6509 Corbitt, attended this evening's meeting to validate and to lend Page 8