Five Percent Fee to be Assessed. Based on key fiscal management guidelines outlined in Missouri City’s Fiscal Year 2013 General Fund Budget, a 5 percent solid waste franchise fee will be assessed to all commercial and residential customers later this year. The fee will appear on the statement they receive from their billing entity.

“When we initially started discussions in 2007 about a solid waste contract program, we determined that after the program was firmly established, we would add a franchise fee for all residential and commercial customers in the City, similar to other cities,” said Assistant City Manager Bill Atkinson.

Currently, Missouri City manages franchise agreements with utility companies, such as Comcast, UVerse and CenterPoint, for the use of the City’s public roadways. The agreements generally require the utility company to compensate the City based on a percentage of gross receipts.

The new franchise fee for the City is estimated to generate $376,000. “Proceeds from the income will be instrumental in helping staff to meet the essential priorities of public safety, economic growth and infrastructure improvements set by City Council and our citizens,” explained Atkinson.

Residents and business owners can expect to see the service charge reflected in their statements starting with the second quarter of fiscal year 2013.

Time to Review Service Selections. Citizens who participate in the City’s Municipal Solid Waste Program are reminded that the boards of directors for homeowners associations and municipal utility districts have until Aug. 31 to review and make any changes to their current service selections for their subdivisions.

Adjustments can include moving from automated to manual service, adding recycling or adding an extra bulk pick-up day. The new level of service and the annual price changes become effective Jan. 1, 2013.

HOA and MUD boards must submit ‘Change of Service’ forms by Aug. 31. However, if HOAs and MUDs are satisfied with the present level, no form is required and service will remain the same. To obtain a copy of the form, email a request to solidwaste@missouricitytx.gov or call 281-403-8500.

Subdivisions that receive the service are: Black Creek Village, Bolton Estates, Bradford Village, Camden Park, Colony Lakes, Craven Village, Creekmont, Crestmont Place, Estates of Silver Ridge, Estates of Waterford, Fieldcrest, Fifth Avenue Estates, Fondren Park, Garden Park Village, Glen Park, Hunters Glen I, II, III, IV and V, Hunters Green, Hunters Park, Hunters Point Estates, Knanaya Homes, Lake Olympia, Lake Shore Harbour, Lexington Grove, Lexington Place, Lexington Square, M.N. Brown, Manors at Silver Ridge, Meadowcreek, Meadowcreek Townhouses, Missouri City Townsite, Newpoint Estates, Oak Pointe, Oakwick Forest Estates, Olympia Estates, Oyster Creek Farms, Pamela Lane, Parkway Trails, Pebble Beach, Pine Meadow, Quail Green, Quail Green South, Quail Green West, Quail Valley East, Quail Valley Townhomes, Riverstone, Rustlers Crossing, Silver Ridge, Thunderbird North, Waterbrook, Waterbrook West, Westpoint Estates, Woodland West, and The Woods.

To ensure pickup, residents are encouraged to set garbage and recyclable materials out by 7 a.m. the day of pickup. For more information on the City’s collection service, please visit www.missouricitytx.gov and click on “Solid Waste” under “QUICKLINKS” on the homepage.

Change in Solid Waste Collection Days. Responding to resident feedback, Republic Services will change regular solid waste pickup days from Wednesdays and Saturdays to Mondays and Thursdays in the following subdivisions: Hunters Glen I, II, III, and IV; Hunters Green and Quail Green West. Heavy trash pickup days in the subdivisions will remain the same.

With the new schedule, collections will take place during the week, improving public safety as fewer large service trucks will be in neighborhoods during the weekend when children are out of school. Also, homeowners will have more access to Republic’s customer service center, 713.937.9955, to have pickup issues resolved. The center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and operates from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Homeowners will be notified of the new schedule in advance of implementation: on Wednesday, Aug. 15 and Saturday, Aug. 18, carts will be tagged with a notice outlining the schedule changes. A reminder notice will be placed on any carts left out on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

The first day of pickup on the new schedule will take place on Monday, Aug. 20 and the second day of pickup will be on Thursday, Aug. 23.

For more information regarding the Municipal Solid Waste Program, please visit www.missouricitytx.gov.

Holiday Pickup Timeline.Participants in the municipal program will receive regular collection from Republic Services on the following holidays: Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 3); and Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 22). For Christmas (Tuesday, Dec. 25), solid waste will be collected the following day, Wednesday, Dec. 26. And, service for New Year’s Day 2013 (Tuesday, Jan. 1) will occur on the following day, Wednesday, Jan. 2.