www.papd.org/topics/leaf_blower_faqs.html
Official City Website:
Leaf Blower Ordinance - Frequently Asked Questions
On June 13, 2005, the Palo Alto City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of a particular type of leaf blower in residential zones of the city.
Read Public Comments at City Council Hearing
Following are some frequently asked questions regarding the ordinance:
Q. What exactly is banned? A. Gas-powered leaf blowers may not be used in any residential zones by anyone including residents.
Q. How is “residential area” defined? A. Residential zones are determined and defined in the Municipal Code. Click on this LINK to see the map (use the back button on your browser to return to this page).
Q. What kind of leaf blowers may be used and when?
A.
• Residential zones
• Electric leaf blowers (no internal combustion engines) may be used only during the following hours:
Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Sundays and Holidays not allowed* (see * below for list of holidays)
• Non – residential zones
• Electric and gas-powered blowers may be used only during the following hours:
Monday – Friday 8 am – 6 pm
Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Sundays and Holidays not allowed*
*"Holiday" means and includes New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Day (the third Monday in January), Washington's Birthday (the third Monday in February), Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (the first Monday in September), Columbus Day (the second Monday in October), Veteran's Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (December 25).
Q. What about City maintenance of parks? A. City staff will not be using leaf blowers. This will result in less frequent maintenance to the parks and a diminished level of cleanliness since work will be done using rakes/brooms.
Q. When does the ban become effective? A. July 1, 2005 (Note: Extended to Dec. 31, 2005)
Q. How will the leaf blower ban be enforced? A. Citizens who believe they observe a violation will be asked to call in to the Police Department on the non-emergency number or via the Police Department’s web page. Citizens will be required to identify themselves, provide contact information, and answer a few questions about their observations. Anonymous complaints will not be investigated. Police officers will not normally respond to complaints in person, but information received from citizens will be directed to our Community Service Officer who will follow up with appropriate enforcement efforts.
Q. Besides their name and contact information, what other specific information does someone making a complaint need to provide? A. Persons calling or reporting online should provide the location of the violation including the exact address whenever possible, as well as any vehicle license plate number or name of the gardening company on the truck (when applicable). All of this information will be very important if a citation is required.
Q. Will police officers be taking sound meter readings on suspected violations? A. No, as officers usually will not be responding at the time of the violation.
Q. Is there a grace period? A. Yes, there is a one-month grace period, the month of July 2005, before violators will be cited.
Q. How do I report a violation of the ban? A. The best first step to take is to speak to the gardener or to the homeowner to see if they are aware of the ban. Reports of violations may be made by calling the Police Department at 329-2413 or violations can be reported on-line. Click on this LINK to go to the on-line report form.
Q. Where can I find the entire noise ordinance? A. The entire ordinance is online at the City’s web site at www.cityofpaloalto.org. Click this LINK to go to there (use the back button on your browser to return to this page).
Q. Will there be any exemptions given to residents/homeowners? A. No, all residents are also prohibited from using gas-powered leaf blowers.
Q. Are gas-powered generators permitted to provide current for electric blowers? A. Yes, as long as they do not exceed the noise ordinance.
Q. Will gardeners still need to be certified to use electric blowers? A. No.
Q. If the violator is not the resident (i.e., the gardener), who receive the citation, the violator or the resident? A. If the violator is the resident/ homeowner they will receive the citation, but if the violator is the gardener then they will receive the citation.
Q. I have some concerns that are not covered in these FAQ's. To whom may I speak? A. Call Community Service Officer Stacy Henderson at 329-2210.
Council upholds blower ban
Palo Alto Weekly - June 15, 2005
www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2005/2005_06_15.council15ja.shtml
by Jocelyn Dong
Rather than blowing off a proposed ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, the Palo Alto City Council decided Monday night to move forward with the plan -- to the dismay of professional gardeners and the elation of vocal residents.
As of July 1, the combustion-fueled machines will be forbidden in residential areas.
The decision was propelled more by the council's desire to follow through on a prior council's direction than by a debate over decibels or the costs to gardeners and their customers of giving up the blowers.
Opponents and foes of the ban showed up in force to the council meeting, packing the chambers inside the Civic Center. Speaking before the council members, both sides tossed data and opinions about like leaves, each trying to depict the potential impact of the ban.
Speakers presented conflicting information about everything from how much longer it would take to rake or use an electric leaf blower to whether the electric machines were noisier, quieter, less or equally powerful, or hazardous.
The police department, which enforces the noise ordinance, had recommended a six-month postponement of the ban, set to go into effect July 1, to revise the ordinance if necessary and to gain additional public feedback. Staff had suggested four possible council decisions: proceed with the ban; prohibit all types of leaf blowers in residential areas; prohibit only city crews and commercial gardeners from using blowers in residential areas; or prohibit only commercial gardeners, but not city crews, from using them in residential areas.
But council members, with a few exceptions, seemed skeptical of a delay, saying they could see little point to waiting another six months.
The history of the city's leaf-blower regulations date back to 1987, when staff first recommended three ways to ease public complaints over the noisy machines. One possibility: a ban on the gas-powered blowers. The council opted instead for restricting the noise levels between certain hours, an approach that is still in effect.
In 2000, a revision to the ordinance added a requirement that commercial gardeners undergo training and certification on the proper use of leaf blowers, as well as using only city-approved machines.
A ban was scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2002, but was put off for three years in hopes that the industry would develop quieter instruments. Prohibiting blowers would also have a negative impact on the city's bottom line -- costing city crews time and money if they had to rake, it was predicted.
Councilmember Yoriko Kishimoto seemed to voice the thoughts of a number of her colleagues in her remarks Monday: "Given we are not able to enforce a complicated ordinance and because we've given many years' notice for people to prepare for this ... I won't be supporting staff's recommendation."
She also noted that Los Altos' ban on gas-powered blowers seems to have had no ill effects on either gardeners' livelihoods or the beauty of residents' yards.
Mayor Jim Burch wanted to push the ban even further, recommending an outright prohibition on leaf blowers -- gas or electric. He said that both stir up dust and other pollutants, such as chemicals and fecal matter on the ground.
He proposed a motion that a comprehensive ban would take effect on Dec. 31, but did not receive support from his colleagues.
Councilmember Beecham likewise didn't feel the ban on gas-fueled blowers completely addressed the issues.
In the end, the scheduled ban, with a report after one year from staff, passed 7-1, with Beecham opposing and Councilmember Dena Mossar absent.
According to a city report, keeping city parks and facilities clean will cost the city about $540,000 more with the ban in place.
In addition to the substance of the leaf-blower ban, the issue of racism crept into the discussion Monday night.
Elizabeth Lee, an active ban proponent who has asthma, said, "The ban isn't racism. What is racist is continuing to exploit the immigrant population by expecting them to expose themselves to hearing loss and respiratory disease for the sake of cheap labor. We need to protect them from themselves."
Juan Carlos Prado of the Bay Area Gardeners Association, which runs the certification course and protested the ban, took issue with those comments.
"I don't appreciate condescending remarks that we are too ignorant" to judge the hazards of leaf blowers, Prado said. Several council members agreed.
Lee later said that she regretted her offensive remarks, saying that she meant to be compassionate, not disrespectful, and should have put more time into crafting her statement.
Now that the ban is assured, Lee hopes to put her efforts into educating the community about the benefits of natural, rather than more manicured yards.
The president and vice-president of the Bay Area Gardeners Association refused to comment on the council's decision.
Senior Staff Writer Jocelyn Dong can be reached at jdong@paweekly.com