The council, meeting in special session to work on the 2026 budget, tabled the idea until its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 15, when it will hold a public budget hearing.

Council member Mike Blessum asked the council to lift the mandate on participation in curbside recycling. At the launch of curbside recycling in July 2023, existing sanitation customers had a one-time opt-out window. Customers who didn’t opt out and new residents since then have been required to participate in the recycling pickup.

“I certainly understand that we had to get enough of a foothold to actually make it go. But I think we’re at the point now where it’s shaken out and it’s working for what was intended, and now it’s time to return the power to choose back to the people,” Blessum said.

Although the council tabled the motion, it accepted Blessum’s suggestion to have city staff look at whether a monthly fee increase might be needed for those who remain in the program due to reduced participation. Residents currently pay $2.60 a month for once-a-week pickup.

City council members talk with city engineering staff about the deteriorating condition of the Third Street Northeast Bridge roadway Tuesday, Sept. 9, during a tour of the ongoing bridge repair work. Council members, from left, are Mike Hayes, Mike Blessum and Mayor Mark Jantzer. City Engineer Lance Meyer is at right. Council member Rob Fuller, behind Meyer, also participated. The tour included the 16th Street Southwest street project and Puppy Dog Coulee storm district work.

Utilities Director Jason Sorenson said it would be difficult to calculate the drop-off in pickup without the mandate if price also goes up, which could prompt more residents to drop service. Blessum responded the city could leave the fee at its current level.

“I’m certainly open to that. My primary basis here is to get the choice back to the people,” Blessum said.

Garbage fees typically are set with the adoption of a budget. However, Sorenson said the recycling fee isn’t a large concern because it can be adjusted outside the deadline for setting a budget.

“If we have to pull out of reserves to supplement the program and we can readjust for 2027, we can do that as well,” he said.

In considering ease of program administration, the council discussed allowing an opt-out only at a certain time of year. With about 13,000 customers, a small percentage who opt out creates a lot of discarded containers that crews would need to collect, Sorenson said. Minot’s recycling program had an 80% participation rate after the opt-out period ended in 2023.

If the opt-out option comes back, the implementation date could be immediate, later this year or after Jan. 1, depending on the council’s preference. There was interest among some council members in removing the mandate before January.

Sorenson refrained from offering any logistical recommendations until consulting with staff.

Council member Paul Pitner said he has opposed the mandate but needs more information to determine whether removing it is the right course of action. Council member Lisa Olson also hesitated, saying she wants to hear from constituents first.

I’m very cautious in making this kind of policy change without hearing from people,” she said “Initially, when we put the mandate in place, we heard from some people who were concerned about losing a day of garbage pickup. Unless I misunderstand Alderman Blessum, you’re not getting that additional day back.”

The twice-a-week pickup for regular garbage dropped to once a week when recycling was initiated.

Although Blessum said he is not proposing other changes to the recycling program at this time, “there’s a lot of different ways that we could look at this that would adjust what we’re doing to better meet the needs of the public while also right-sizing our program.”

In addition, the council voted 6-1, with Olson dissenting, to reduce the 2026 preliminary budget’s allocation to road repairs from $12 million to $10 million, with the $2 million savings basically coming off the property tax.

Blessum proposed giving motorists a reprieve from this year’s level of roadwork. Storm sewer, street repair and major projects by the state and city have been impacting a number of major roadways.

“In a year where we’re looking for those dollars, this is a place where I think it makes sense to do that,” Blessum said.

A report from Finance Director David Lakefield noted the preliminary budget would need to be cut by $4.5 million to wind up with just a 3% increase from the current budget.

“This is where we have to make the hard decisions. And ultimately, in my mind, this is one of the areas where we can cut back a little bit now,” council member Rob Fuller said.

City Engineer Lance Meyer said the proposed street spending is based on having 80% of the system in a good or satisfactory condition, Whether that target can be lower depends on the council’s and community’s satisfaction level, he said.

The council also directed staff to look at other budget areas for potential reductions, including the use of outside consultants and dollars allocated to the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund.