City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 126,
ARTICLE VI OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MOUNT VERNON ESTABLISHING UPDATED
SEWER RENTS AND REFUSE SUSTAINABILITY FEES
Whereas, the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon enacted legislation on February 9, 2022, establishing a Refuse Sustainability Fee under Chapter 126, Article VI of the City Code to support sanitation system operations, infrastructure, and compliance; and
Whereas, the Refuse Sustainability Fee was designed to provide a dedicated revenue source to stabilize critical sanitation and sewer functions, address chronic underfunding, replace an aging fleet, and meet rising disposal and regulatory compliance costs; and
Whereas, the City continues to face significant and ongoing increases in disposal costs, equipment parts, fuel, and landfill/export costs, as well as inflationary pressures affecting operations and recycling contracts; and
Whereas, the Department of Public Works and Sewer Bureau are additionally required to meet federal and state regulatory mandates, including United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) compliance obligations at the Canal Street Facility; and
Whereas, the frequency and volume of waste generated by both residential and commercial properties have continued to rise, further increasing operational demands on the sanitation workforce, equipment, and disposal systems; and
Whereas, in order to maintain high-quality service levels, ensure worker safety, and sustain long-term environmental compliance efforts, adjustments to the City’s refuse sustainability fees are necessary; and
Whereas, the updated fee structure proposed herein remains aligned with regional standards while ensuring that the revenue necessary to provide uninterrupted essential sanitation operations is responsibly secured; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that the proposed amendments are in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and businesses of the City of Mount Vernon;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Title. This Ordinance shall be known as:
“2025 Amendment to Sewer Rents and Refuse Sustainability Fees - Chapter 126, Article VI.”
Section 2. Amendment to Fee Schedule. Chapter 126, Article VI of the Code of the City of Mount Vernon shall be amended to update the schedule of fees as follows:
|
Type of Fee |
Amount |
|
Sanitary Sewer Fee |
$1.25 per 100 cubic feet |
|
Sanitary Sewer Fee Minimum Charge (up to 1500 cubic feet) |
$18.75 |
|
Residential Refuse Fee (per unit) |
$225.00 |
|
Low Income Senior Residential Fee (per unit) |
$110.00 |
|
Non-Residential Refuse Fee |
$2,350.00 |
|
Non-Profit Refuse Fee (0.5 acre or less) |
$725.00 |
|
Non-Profit Refuse Fee (0.51 acre or more) |
$1,200.00 |
|
Non-Profit Dormitory (Family) Refuse Fee |
$110.00 |
|
Non-Profit Dormitory (SRO) Refuse Fee |
$55.00 |
Section 3. Purpose and Fiscal Impact. The updated fee structure will:
a. Support the dedicated sanitation and refuse capital fund;
b. Maintain full and uninterrupted sanitation operations;
c. Promote compliance with all applicable federal and state environmental regulations;
d. Improve fleet reliability and reduce emergency repair costs;
e. Offset increased export, disposal, and recycling expenses; and
f. Ensure consistent, safe sanitation services across all City properties.
Section 4. Conflicts With Other Laws. All ordinances, local laws, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
Section 5. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or section of this Ordinance is declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 6. Administration. The Department of Public Works and the City Comptroller are hereby authorized and directed to take all required administrative actions to implement the provisions contained herein.
Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract and shall take effect January 1, 2026, and shall apply to all billing cycles thereafter.