Date
Do you support
prohibiting GasPowered Leaf Blowers
in Monte Sereno? Comments:
4/19/2023 Yes
4/19/2023 No
4/19/2023 Yes
4/20/2023 No
If gas blowers are banned how can gardeners do their work on the larger properties, especially the acre properties. It isn't practical or even feasible to use electric blowers on large lots. Certainly the town can't expect gardeners to spend hours raking or sweeping by hand. This ban would hurt the livelihood of gardeners! They can barely eke out a living as it is. Have some compassionate for them. Put yourself in their shoes!
4/20/2023 Yes
4/20/2023 No Not by private residents, Only by contractors 4/20/2023 Yes
4/20/2023 no
Forces all gardeners to invest in batteries and at large properties, the gardeners will need some place to recharge battery.
4/21/2023 No
We are a residential city with many residents using outside help for maintaining their homes. So, then what's next .. no lawn mowers, no chain saws for trimming trees and on and on. 4/21/2023 No
4/22/2023 Yes
Please PROHIBIT GAS-POWERED LEAF BLOWERS in Monte Sereno. They are a pollutant, terrible for the environment and incredible noise pollution. It's impossible to enjoy your backyard during the weekend, because the leaf blowers are in use constantly.
Please put an end to this.
Thank you
4/22/2023 No Allow gardeners to do their jobs.
4/22/2023 No Should have less regulationa and less taxes 4/25/2023 Yes The gas-powered blowers are so noisy. They disturb the peacefulness in the neighborhood. 4/25/2023 No
I support the current time and noise restrictions. I do not support proliferating local level ordinances on fashionable topics. Concentrate on maintaining existing infrastructure and effective oversight of constant utility/service provider cost increases and service reductions. 4/25/2023 No This is absurd. The City Council should stay out of our kitchens and out of our yards. 4/27/2023 No
They're too loud and pollute. Additionally, it would be great to have quiet days and days when electric blowers are allowed. Virtually every time I open windows to enjoy the nice weather the peace is disrupted by blowers which can be heard from quite a distance away. I understand enforcement is an issue but setting an expectation might elicit cooperation from many residents. 4/27/2023 Yes
Elderly, disabled, and stay-at-home citizens suffer during day fm noise, dust, and air pollution fm gas blowers
and have their peace and ability to quietly enjoy their homes disturbed. 4/27/2023 No
4/27/2023 No
4/28/2023 Yes They are too loud and contribute to the noise pollution continously bombarding our tranquil community 4/28/2023 No
This will not significantly reduce emissions. Plus, battery powered will require many batteries to be bought/used by the professional services providers (all made of plastic) that will not be recyclable - causing another environmental problem. Let's NOT support more plastic use. 4/29/2023 Yes
the noisy bastards kill my nap
and they DO use after 5pm even though prohibited kills cocktail hour 5/1/2023 Yes Heck, yes!!!!!
Date
Do you support
prohibiting GasPowered Leaf Blowers
in Monte Sereno? Comments:
5/1/2023 No
This does not seem to be a pressing issue in Monte Sereno. Landscape workers do not make much money and to ask them all to change their equipment and try to figure out how to get a reimbursement from the government puts a burden on a population of people that are likely already struggling. Let's put time toward more important matters.
5/1/2023 yes
5/1/2023 Yes Bad for air quality and too much noise
5/2/2023 No
Properties in Monte Sereno are larger in size and require larger CFM volume to efficiently clean and clear green waste. The cost associated with replacing gas powered blowers with electric are substantial to me as a homeowner as well as the professional gardening service providers. Further, the cost of additional batteries is approxiamtely $250 per battery. Lastly, if you physically walk around Los Gatos and Monte Sereno on any random morning, afternoon or evening you will observe every gardening service provider with a gas powered generator running all hours of service continuously charging banks of 10 to 20 back up batteries for all the electrical tools that are being used. Save homeowners and service providers the financial pain point which in the end proves that it takes the same if not more energy to produce and replenish these lithium ion batteries. Let each person make their own rational decision. End government overreach.
5/3/2023 Yes The electrical one cleans as good.
5/3/2023 No
This puts an extra burden on landscapers to purchase another leaf blower if the gas powered ones are prohibited. Also, the noise of a leaf blower is just as noisy as yard edgers and lawn mowers. Will all of these be banned in Monte Sereno?
5/5/2023 Yes
Love the zero emission and less noisy way to blow leaves. It can better protect the rural life style in the small city.
5/6/2023 No
This would cause a large problem in helping clean up yards for the larger property homes and require additional expenses for each home owner
5/6/2023 Yes
Most polluting machinery still in legal use. Noise pollution as well. No serenity on weekends especially when having people over. We feel that home owners hiring gardners that work during the week only.
Home owners that need to do their own yard work during the weekend is understandable, but can we just get even one day with peace? People like to have parties and walk the neighborhoods on Saturdays and Sundays and to have leaf blowers and lawn mowers is horrible noise and pollution to be around.
Definitely, outlaw gas powered leaf blowers 100%. So glad only homeowners only and not hired gardeners can work on Sundays at least. Did not know this. Menlo Park where my brother lives does not allow any work to be done on weekends. Very peaceful to say the least. Thank you for addressing this issue and for allowing us to have our opinions listened to. We appreciate it and the work that you are doing. We grew up in MONTE SERENO and now at 60 are back living here. So lucky! 5/8/2023 Yes
I have a flag lot with 9 contiguous neighbors. Gas powered leaf blowers are a nuisance. Gas powered blowers are prohibited in Los Gatos and we all use the same gardeners, let's use the same rules. 5/8/2023 Yes These blowers are making not only air pollution even noise pollution too. 5/8/2023 No
I think many gardeners cannot afford buying new equipment and especially during the fall it would not be feasible to do this by hand in many Monte Sereno properties. It is not a big deal and I think we should not waste time on this. There are things way more important the council should focus on. The rules on the books are fine as is - do not change them.
5/9/2023 No
I don't think this restriction is needed. Gas-powered leaf blowers do not have a relevant impact on pollution.
5/9/2023 No
5/9/2023 No
no compelling reason to add relegations to citizens and small businesses who use these machines. The electric will replace the gas models soon enough.
Date
Do you support
prohibiting GasPowered Leaf Blowers
in Monte Sereno? Comments:
5/13/2023 Yes
Our house is almost completely surrounded by a chorus of leaf blowers run by gardeners. The leaf blower across the street is so loud that I wear ear protection if I am in my front yard when the gardener is there. At a minimum, there should be a maximum db rating for leaf blowers in use here. Enforcement then becomes the issue.
5/25/2023 No
Current regulations are fine. Homeowners with large properties are benefited by the use of gas powered blowers. Battery powered blowers need multiple batteries and are not as efficient as gas blowers, thus reduce the amount time it takes a battery powered blower to do the same job. Electric blowers have higher decibel limits, than gas blowers.
We are for maintaining the current regulations.
6/10/2023 Yes
We are disturbed several times a week by nearby usage of loud polluting leaf blowers in our neighborhood. It has gotten worse and worse over the many years we have lived in our home. I definitely support prohibiting gas-powered leaf blowers 6/23/2023 Yes
This has been such a noise nuisance especially at 5 p.m. when I can't even hear the news on tv because of gas leaf blowers.
From: Bonnie Noehr
To: Diana Perkins
Subject: Re: City Council Meeting to Consider Prohibiting Gas Powered Leaf Blowers Date: Friday, September 29, 2023 7:31:08 PM
Thank you, Diana. It continues to be a noise and dust nuisance forcing us inside and shutting the windows, especially with two going simultaneously. I would promote the practice one of your council members described last time. He keeps two battery packs charged in his garage for the use of his gardeners.
Appreciate your communication.
Bonnie
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 29, 2023, at 5:56 PM, Diana Perkins <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello. This email is being sent to you as you completed the City’s online survey regarding gas powered leaf blowers and requested to be kept updated on this topic. The City Council will consider a prohibition gas powered leaf blowers as well as revised hours of operation for leaf blowers on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at the regular City Council meeting. The meeting begins at 7:00pm and is in-person at City Hall, 18041 Saratoga Los Gatos Road, and also available online through Zoom. The meting agenda, Zoom log-in information, and the staff report are available online at:
https://montesereno.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx? Org=Cal&Id=297
Let me know of any questions.
Thank you,
Diana Perkins | City Planner
City of Monte Sereno, California
18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road | Monte Sereno, CA 95030
Office 408.498.5283
[email protected] | www.cityofmontesereno.org
From: Leslie Fotion
To: Diana Perkins
Subject: Re: City Council Meeting to Consider Prohibiting Gas Powered Leaf Blowers Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 6:43:02 PM
Hi Diana
I am so sorry I’m unable to attend the meeting tonight.
I would love to have gas blowers banned in Monte Sereno. The exhaust is very unhealthy and they are extremely loud. Electric blowers are much quieter and are very efficient.
Of course, the good old broom is probably the best option, but of course, is more time intensive.
Thank you
Leslie Fotion
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 29, 2023, at 5:56 PM, Diana Perkins <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello. This email is being sent to you as you completed the City’s online survey regarding gas powered leaf blowers and requested to be kept updated on this topic. The City Council will consider a prohibition gas powered leaf blowers as well as revised hours of operation for leaf blowers on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at the regular City Council meeting. The meeting begins at 7:00pm and is in-person at City Hall, 18041 Saratoga Los Gatos Road, and also available online through Zoom. The meting agenda, Zoom log-in information, and the staff report are available online at:
https://montesereno.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx? Org=Cal&Id=297
Let me know of any questions.
Thank you,
Diana Perkins | City Planner
City of Monte Sereno, California
18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road | Monte Sereno, CA 95030
Burton Craig
Highlights of the California League of Cities Annual Conference "The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act" • Missed '22 ballot, but made '24 ballot
• Reprises a measure Big Soda traded for a ban on local soda taxes till 2031 • Seems to be backed by development interests and the target seems to be VMT taxes / fees on new development
• AMR donated $3m in 2023
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act is an initiative that will appear on the November 2024 ballot. The initiative would increase the requirements for implementing taxes, fees, and other government charges. It is expected to take billions of dollars away from local governments.
Housing and local control
• Was not a major topic
• Woven into a lot of the specific presentation
AI in Government
• Can AI help in storing and retrieving public records
• This could be a double-edged sword for cities
Wildlife Urban Interface Issues
• Major insurers are no longer writing new policies
• Homeowners are looking to FAIR more than ever
• Everyone needs to participate in making the community safer from wildfires Cybersecurity
• Not only are big cities but smaller cities
• Smaller cities especially since they usually do not have the budget to adequately set up good cybersecurity
• Review your IT policies
• Get cybersecurity insurance
Finances
• What is a CSA (County Service Area)
MS Council Report Mekechuk 23 10 02 Page 1
COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION REPORTS
MAYOR BRYAN MEKECHUK
10/03/23
Sundry Meetings
▪ Attended swearing in of five officers with Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police on 09/27/23 – Met an Officer who was sworn in that lives in Monte Sereno! ▪ To attend:
– White House tour on Wednesday 10/11/23
– Opening of West Valley College Visual Arts Building on 10/27/23 at 9:00 am – Ribbon cutting for Yellow Pine Solar + Storage project on 11/01/23 in Nevada ▪ Host Cub Scout Pack 556 on 10/19/23 in Council Chambers Silicon Valley Clean Energy
Director
▪ Last meeting was on 09/13/23
– SVCE wants to be the employer of choice – this includes maintaining the agency’s highperformance, innovative, and engaging work culture – A new CEO will be in place ahead of Girish Balachandran’s retirement in March 2024 ▪ Next monthly meeting is Wednesday, 10/11/23, in Cupertino – Due to my White House tour, Alternate Burton Craig will attend in my absence Chair, Audit Committee
▪ Next meeting is in January/February 2024
– Last meeting was on 09/19/23 at SVCE’s offices in Sunnyvale ▪ SVCE’s year end is September 30
Vice Chair, Executive Committee
▪ Last meeting was in person on 08/25/23
– September meeting on 09/22/23 was cancelled
▪ Next monthly meeting is Friday, 10/27/23 at SVCE’s offices in Sunnyvale Member, Legislative Ad Hoc Committee
▪ Last meeting was on 06/21/23 at 3:00 pm
▪ Next meeting is TBD in October 2023
Risk Oversight Committee
▪ Rescheduled September meeting for 10/04/23 at 1:00 pm – Next monthly meeting is 10/25/23 at 9:00 am
West Valley Clean Water Management Authority
Chair
▪ Next meeting is Thursday, 11/02/23 at Monte Sereno City Hall at 4:00 pm ▪ Last met on 09/07/23
MS Council Report Mekechuk 23 10 02 Page 2
– Introduced City Engineer Darryl Jordon to the JPA
– The polling consultant recommended that the JPA not go forward with a ballot measure for a rate increase
West Valley Solid Waste Joint Management Authority
Chair
▪ Next meeting is Thursday, 11/02/23 at Monte Sereno City Hall at 5:00 pm ▪ Last met on 09/07/23
– Introduced City Engineer Darryl Jordon to the JPA
– Received a presentation from Joint Venture Silicon Valley about the Authority's performance and participation in the county-wide edible food recovery program – Provided direction to the Executive Director to move forward with developing a Non-Exclusive Construction & Debris Program, regulating 10 collection contactors and allowing processing at facilities with third party certifications
– Approved a resolution authorizing the Authority to submit a regional SB 1383 grant application Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Commission
Member
▪ Next meeting is 10/25/23 at 5:30 pm (meets on fourth Friday of even numbered months) – Planning to attend remotely from City Hall Chambers
Valley Transportation Authority
Member, Policy Advisory Committee
▪ Attended monthly meeting on 09/14/23 in person
▪ Next monthly meeting is Thursday 10/12/23 at 4:00 pm
– Due to my White House tour, Alternate Burton Craig will attend in my absence either in person or remotely from Monte Sereno City Hall
West Valley Mayors & Managers
▪ Last meeting was on 09/28/23 in Cupertino
– James Lindsay described in detail the “Zoom bombing” that Saratoga experienced in its recent Council meeting on Wednesday 09/20/23 and how they dealt with the 15+ Zoom attendees that were well-rehearsed and acting together
– He believes that it was easier for the group to target Saratoga because their Council meetings are on Wednesdays
▪ Next meeting is 10/25/23
Santa Clara County Mayors Gathering
Matt Mahan Mayor of San Jose
▪ Third Santa Clara County Mayors Gathering is on 11/03/23 from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm in San Jose City Hall
– In partnership with the US Conference of Mayors
– To cover emerging national issues as well as opportunities for regional collaborations
MS Council Report Mekechuk 23 10 02 Page 3
Cities Selection Committee
Vice Chair
▪ Next meeting TBD in 2024
Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
Delegate Monte Sereno
▪ Annual General Assembly met on 06/16/23 in San Francisco – Approved budget, proposed dues and workplan for 2023
City of Monte Sereno
Liaison – Better Streets Commission
▪ Met on Thursday, 08/03/23 at 7:00 pm at Monte Sereno City Hall ▪ Next meeting is Thursday, 10/12/23
– Due to my White House tour, Alternate Burton Craig will attend in my absence either in person or remotely from Monte Sereno City Hall
Community Center Committee
▪ Met on 09/28/23 at 9:00 am at City Hall
▪ Next meeting is TBD
S-Curve Ad Hoc Committee
▪ Next meeting TBD
Youth Commission – Alternate
▪ Next meeting is 10/10/23 at 7:00 pm
– I will not be able to attend
Finance Ad Hoc Committee
▪ Next meeting TBD
IT Ad Hoc Committee
▪ No meetings to date