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Alder Santana at Tuesday’s meeting.
New Haveners can now obtain resident parking permits and book first-time bulk trash collections each year for no cost.
Officials held a City Hall hearing this week to get that message out about the new rules, which took effect July 1.
The city decided to waive the $50 fee for residents who schedule bulk trash pick-up for the first time. This elimination applies only to one appointment per unit, meaning if tenants live in a three-family unit, they have to coordinate. Bulk trash refers to waste too large to fit in regular trash collection, such as household furniture, scrap wood and appliances.
Public Works Director Jeff Pescosolido briefed the Board of Alders City Services & Environmental Policy Committee about the change at Tuesday night’s hearing. Pescosolido said annual revenue from bulk trash collection totaled about $47,000, but acknowledged that the process probably cost more.
“I’ve always told the kids trash can become cash,” public space inspector Honda Smith said.
Westville Alder Adam Marchand asked if the department anticipates any increase in appointment due to the fee elimination and how it would accommodate the increase in demand.
Pescosolido said while it is hard to predict, the street division will review its use of machinery and hopefully turn less labor-dependent.
The conversation soon turned from the fee update to illegal dumping. Smith is in charge at the public works department of dealing with any violation and issuing warnings.
Fair Haven Heights Alder Rosa Santana noted that it is impossible for Smith to chase after every case on a daily basis. She suggested using SeeClickFix to issue citations from the office, instead of showing up to the scene.
Lynnwood Dorsey, Jeff Pescosolido, Honda Smith from public works.
In response, Pescosolido said his department has been exploring various enforcement tools, including the use of cameras.
“Our biggest job is to educated before enforcement,” Smith stressed. Along the same line, Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez urged the department to look into the “thinking” behind illegal dumping. She cited an example where people just leave items outside for others to use.
The elimination of the annual $20 residential parking zone fee came after residents complained about the fee being an unfair burden on top of existing property taxes, city transit chief Doug Hausladen said at the hearing.
Other changes include an additional visitor permit (now three available instead of the prior two per citizen), as well as a new category of landlord permit. Landlords who do not live in the residential area can pay $30 to park there.
The city currently has 16 residential parking zones. It previously received $43,000 in revenue from parking permit in those zones.
The transit department is also keeping closer watch on misuse of permits, according to Hausladen. It is employing better enforcement to ensure that people do not make money off visitor permit. For example, if a car parks in a residential zone for 10 consecutive days using a guest pass, the department will follow up, Hausladen said.
“If you are a resident and you are coming back from your second shift, or second job, we want to make sure there’s parking space waiting for you,” Hausladen stated. “You own the streets.”
He wrapped up his presentation with information on Go!New Haven, a new mobile app that will allow drivers to pay for parking from a cell phone. It will not replace Park Mobile, an existing app with similar functions. Eventually, the department hopes to turn Go!New Haven into a multipurpose app that link to various mobility programs in the city, such as Bikeshare, CT Transit and Zip Car. It also looks to incorporate live shuttle tracking.
Would be nice to have better enforcement of residential zone parking. Would also be nice to have some enforcement of illegal dumping. In the past I tried reaching out to Honda Smith regarding dumping issues in my neighborhood but her voicemail was always full and the NHPW telephone personnel always told me that they were passing the information along to her, but nothing was ever done about it so I gave up after a few months of effort.
What in the world does this mean?: "I've always told the kinds trash can become cash," public space inspector Honda Smith said.