Pay station, trash can upgrades approved for downtown HR

Interim Public Works Director Adam Schmid said the current trash cans are 25 years old, are hard to clean and frequently overflow with trash. He added that the Hood River Garbage crews have a difficult time emptying the cans.

Additionally, Schmid said the plastic lids for the trash cans are obsolete. The city can no longer purchase replacements. City staff replaced three lids this year, and that depleted their spares.

These issues resulted in city staff evaluating options to replace the trash cans. City staff reviewed different vendors and various trash can options. After the review, city staff opted to replace the current trash cans with trash receptacles from SECURR.

Through the research, city staff learned that the City of Portland replaced trash cans from SECURR and had been pleased with the containers.

Schmid said the SECURR containers are metal and have a smaller hole. City staff hopes the smaller hole will help deter folks from placing large bags of trash. This has been an issue with the current trash cans and leads to overflowing.

The new cans have a powder-coat finish that makes it easier to remove graffiti and keep clean, he said.

More importantly, the new cans will fit poly carts. Schmid said the poly carts will be easier for Hood River Garbage to pick up. Crews can remove the carts from the container, allowing the truck arm to latch onto the cart and dump the trash. Schmid added that Hood River Garbage is very supportive of the idea and will provide poly carts for the new SECURR containers.

The size of the new containers will not impede the sidewalks or affect ADA compliance for the sidewalks, he said. They are slightly smaller and will take up less space.

Agency Member Megan Saunders asked about recycling downtown. Schmid said there are some recycling receptacles, but they are mostly full of garbage like plastic coffee cups. City Manager Abigail Elder added that this is “wish cycling,” where people think something is recyclable or it is something that is recyclable in their community but isn’t in Hood River.

The agency approved the expenditure unanimously.

Trash cans aren’t the only thing that will get a facelift downtown. The renewal agency approved spending $78,450 to upgrade door panels and pay screens for 22 parking pay stations.

Schmid explained the city installed the first 22 Flowbird parking pay stations in 2008. As a result of their age, they need upgrades because parts are harder to get, and the older pay station screens are harder to see in the sun.

The upgrade would replace the hand-operated panel with a new touchscreen model. Schmid added the upgrades would make the old pay stations match the new pay stations. The proposed upgrade includes installing a new outer stainless steel top door, a touchscreen, a coin system, and a card reader.

All agency members voted yes.