N2 CC
aaay
Any alteration of the leaf blower ban will result in excessive and unnecessary noise and air pollution. in the Administrative Report it says that residents may benefit from the convenience of using battery operated leaf blowers. Why should this convenience for one resident come at the expense of a neighbor's health, quality of life and well-being?
The Administrative Report also states noise measurements of leaf blowers were taken 50 feet from the source and that the range was between 65-85 decibels. There are few residences in Redondo Beach that are 50 feet or further away from each other. Most are 20 feet or less, thus the noise of any kind of leaf blower is greatly magnified as the noise bounces off hardscapes, buildings and echoes in all directions.
Another glaring deficiency in this Report is the lack of information regarding the velocity strength of battery powered leaf blowers which can exceed 200 miles per hour. It is unrealistic to think that anyone is going to use their device at its lowest velocity level. It is quite safe to assume that all manner of toxins will be blown into the air, into homes, and into our lungs which creates an incalculable degree of harm to everyone and everything that breathes.
Also in the Report, Forestry.com states that electric blowers are a positive shift in how landscaping is approached in terms of environmental responsibility. How is blowing traces of particulate matter, pesticides, herbicides, animal feces, black carbon residues, in any way, reflective of environmental responsibility?
Be reminded that the leaf blower ban was passed to both protect and improve the health, well-being and quality of life of all Redondo Beach residents and should not be altered simply for the sake of economics.
Better now is the time for a comprehensive review and subsequent change to what City maintenance functions are necessary or not. Remember, we treasure living in a Blue Zone area; let us not compromise on the advances we've made.
The City of Redondo Beach unfortunately lost its most visible and fervent environmentalist, Mayor Bill Brand. I have no doubts that he would not only be disappointed at this proposal to allow leaf blowers but would quickly veto any attempt to do so. Shortly after September 20, 2022, when the council voted to make no changes to the Ordinance, Bill told Elaine and I, jokingly, that even if a proposal was suggested to use a straw as a leaf blower, he would still veto it. Mayor Brand adamantly believed that any additional costs of money or labor, could not be compared to the value of good health and the well- being of the citizens of Redondo Beach.
Approximately 2 weeks prior to Bill's passing, he returned my call concerning the issue at hand today and said, "you know how I feel about this issue". Saying without saying, Doug, don't worry about this.
Douglas Sieker, District 5 20 February 2024 Re: Leaf Blowers NZ CC
2b024
All leaf blowers, whether battery, electric or gas powered, produce air and noise pollution in one form or another. Battery and electric leaf blowers, with a range of 60 to 100 decibels, produce a disruptive and irritating noise especially when used on hardscape featuring long driveways and when used in between buildings closely abutted together, causes this noise to echo hundreds of feet throughout a quiet and peaceful neighborhood.
Allowing any leaf blowers will severely impact the city's environment with a heightened and increased amount of air and noise pollution. Although battery or electric leaf blowers eliminate emissions, the pervasive issues associated with particulates propelled into the air by the equipment still persists.
The ban on all motorized leaf blowers was passed to both protect and improve the health, well-being and quality of life of all Redondo Beach residents. Approving any type of leaf blower would open the door for some gardeners and residents to believe they can revert surreptitiously to using gas leaf blowers as well. This would also convolute the efforts of law enforcement making it more difficult to determine if a violator had been using an electric or gas- powered machine.
Zero emissions do not mean zero pollution. All leaf blowers force all kinds of debris into the air such as residues from dried animal feces, airborne diseases, microplastics, dirt, brake dust, road dust that contains black carbon which is a known carcinogen, fertilizers, molds and pollen, pesticides, chemical weed killers, and myriads of toxic particulate matter that lands on our clothes, skin, and hair, lodging deep into our lungs leaving everyone vulnerable to becoming seriously ill.
Electric and battery powered leaf blowers create pollution due to the velocity range of 120 to 250 mph, whipping up plumes of hazardous dust and debris, blowing toxic particulate matter that trespasses onto neighboring properties, adhering to everything and to everyone in its far- reaching path.
All leaf blowers can be shown to be damaging and destructive to the delicate ecosystem; they are completely unnecessary for the maintenance of landscaping for there are many other alternative ways of clearing debris. A small amount of debris left on the ground costs nothing compared to the high cost of harmfully impacting the health and well-being of all life forms.
Our neighborhood has complied with the Ordinance for more than 5 years. The neighborhood has a dense and diverse number of trees and shrubs all being maintained without the use of any type of leaf blower. There is no appearance of neglect or excessive debris. There has been, however, a distinct ambience of peace and quiet. Any change to the Ordinance will undoubtedly create unnecessary confusion and be quite upsetting to the thousands of residents throughout Redondo Beach who, since the inception of the ban on all leaf blowers, have been experiencing an unequivocable improvement in their quality of life.
What would Mayor Bill Brand say? 1 believe from his past assurances to us that he would have been against allowing any kind of leaf blower to come back into use. I am confident he would have voted against or vetoed this highly unnecessary, unhealthy and hazardous proposition. May he rest in peace.
Elaine Sieker/District 5 20 February 2024 Re: Leaf Blowers