Early garbage fine increase tabled

Monday, the City Council tabled the proposed increase in fines for folks who put their garbage out on the curb early. The increase will be considered again at the May 4 meeting, after the city has had the opportunity to more accurately assess the cost of enforcing the regulations in question. Pubic Works spokeswoman Jill Stedem said the department was working on putting together a more specific breakdown of the estimate, which was originally pegged around $40.

The original proposal was for first-time offenders to be fined $50, up from $25, and for repeat offenders to be fined $100, up from $45. In an e-mail, Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe, who is pushing for a more modest fine increase, said that repeat offenders actually cost the city more, as staff are required to research to determine whether their previous infraction fell within the past year.