PORTAGE | The City Council will consider raising the trash fee for the first time in 16 years when it meets Tuesday night.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall council chambers.

The council will be presented an ordinance boosting the monthly fee from $5 to $12. There are no changes or reductions in service being proposed at this time.

City officials have been struggling with the idea of raising the fee or changing service for several months. The fee was first instituted in 1992.

Costs for trash collection have increased dramatically, according to officials. The $5 per month fee collects $660,000 per year for the city. Last year the city paid $1.6 million in landfill fees.

Other agenda items include:

- Amendments to the tax abatement ordinance that will require businesses receiving either real estate or personal property abatements to begin improvements within one year of the abatement or face the loss of the abatement. It also will require companies to remain at the location of the abatement for the term of the abatement, which is 10 years for real estate and five years for personal property, plus an additional five years or face the repayment of any tax savings gained during the term of the abatement. The new language would also require the business to "work diligently" to obtain the level of wages and number of employees it has set forth in its application and if it does not reach the 90 percent level, could face revocation of the abatement.

- Annexation of a small parcel of property at the corner of U.S. 6 and Anthony Drive. The approximate 1-acre parcel is proposed to be the home of a retail/commercial center. The annexation will be the subject of a public hearing.

- An ordinance amendment that would set new regulations for the maintenance of open and outdoor storage and compost piles on private property.

- An ordinance amendment that expands setback restrictions on the placement of swimming pools on residential property.