'Put Your Garbage Cans Away,' City Urges

For months, citizens and city leaders have been discussing, brainstorming and moving forward with stricter code ordinances in an effort to improve curb appeal in Gulfport. During Tuesday night's meeting the Gulfport City Council voted on second reading for three code enforcement issues: trash can placement, prohibiting indoor furniture outdoors and shortening special pick-up times.

Trash Can Placement

Ordinance 2012-01, which affects trash can placement, was passed during second reading, with a vote of 4-1, with Council Member Sam Henderson casting the "no" vote.

"What we have is an issue where people leave them out days at a time," City Manager Jim O'Reilly said.

During discussion City Manager Jim O'Reilly simply stated that the goal of the ordinance was to make people "put the garbage cans away." Prior to the vote, O'Reilly suggested that instead of using the wording that specifically states that the cans be placed in the "side or rear of yard and behind the front of the primary structure" that people be required to put them "out of sight, out of view of the front yard."

Council member Jennifer Salmon followed the discussion with an amendment to the ordinance that simplified the wording but still required people to "put the garbage cans away."

Her amendment was to insert "placed out of sight or adjacent to a structure" instead of "placed in the side or rear yard and behind the front of the primary structure."

The following is the original wording:

"Garbage and trash containers shall be placed where easily accessible to the city's solid waste collector. Such containers shall not be kept upon neighboring property not owned or leased by the person by whom  the garbage and trash was accumulated, whether such neighboring property be vacant or improved. Garbage and trash containers shall be placed at the edge of the property adjacent to the alley fo all properties adjacent to an alley. If alley pickup is impractical, containers shall be placed at curbside on the day the garbage and trash is to be collected. In no case shall the containers or garbage be placed on the street before 5:00 p.m. of the day preceding collection. All containers must be removed from curbside of the property on the day of collection and placed in the side or rear yard and behind the front of the primary structure."

The following is the amendment and ordinance that passed:

"Garbage and trash containers shall be placed where easily accessible to the city's solid waste collector. Such containers shall not be kept upon neighboring property not owned or leased by the person by whom  the garbage and trash was accumulated, whether such neighboring property be vacant or improved. Garbage and trash containers shall be placed at the edge of the property adjacent to the alley fo all properties adjacent to an alley. If alley pickup is impractical, containers shall be placed at curbside on the day the garbage and trash is to be collected. In no case shall the containers or garbage be placed on the street before 5:00 p.m. of the day preceding collection. All containers must be removed from curbside of the property on the day of collection and placed out of sight or adjacent to a structure."

Salmon's amendment was second and council voted 4-1 passing the ordinance.