CITY OF SAN MATEO
City Council Special Meeting
March 20, 2023
5:30 PM
City Hall Council Chamber
Entrance is on O’Farrell Street
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Amourence Lee, Mayor
Lisa Diaz Nash, Deputy Mayor
Rich Hedges
Adam Loraine
Rob Newsom Jr.
AGENDA
THIS MEETING CAN BE ATTENDED IN PERSON OR REMOTE BY JOINING ZOOM – SEE CODES BELOW.
PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BOTH IN PERSON AND REMOTEL Y.
SEE END OF AGENDA FOR OPTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
To join via Zoom – click here:
March 20, 2023 Zoom Meeting
To join via telephone: (408) 638-0968
Webinar ID: 861 9357 8718 Passcode: 889690
Council Member Rich Hedges will teleconference into this meeting from:
2405 Kalanianaole Avenue – PH-11 Hilo, Hawaii 96720
CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
CLOSED SESSION
The public will have an opportunity to comment before the consideration of these items. Following the meeting a report of action from Closed Session will be provided if required.
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: One case
STUDY SESSION
The public will have an opportunity to comment during the consideration of these items.
2. Leaf Blower Regulations
Receive a report and presentation on leaf blower regulations and provide feedback and guidance on potential leaf blower policy approaches.
CEQA: This informational report is not a project subject to CEQA, because it can be seen with certainty that it will not cause a physical change in the environment. (Public Resources Code Section 21065.)
ADJOURNMENT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDAS:
Agendas and material are posted on the City’s website on the Friday preceding each Council Meeting and can be viewed on the City's website at
www.cityofsanmateo.org
. Any supplemental material distributed to the Council after the posting of the agenda will be made part of the official record.
WATCHING A MEETING ON TV:
City Council meetings are broadcast live on Comcast/channel 27, Wave/channel 26, or AT&T/channel 99.
For transmission problems during the broadcast, please call (650) 522-7099. For all other broadcast comments, call (650) 522-7040, Monday-Friday,
1 of 68
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
WATCHING A MEETING ON A COMPUTER:
There are three ways to stream.
1) Public Meeting Portal
www.cityofsanmateo.org/publicmeetings
2) City YouTube channel and stream it on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/CityofSanMateo
3) Watch TV live stream:
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/193/Channel-San-Mateo-Live-Stream
PUBLIC COMMENTS/REQUEST TO SPEAK
Prior to the Meeting
Send comments to:
[email protected]
until 4 p.m. the day of the meeting.
During the meeting
By Zoom:
Click the link at the top of the agenda and you’ll be added to the meeting. All attendees are muted by default. When the item of interest is open for consideration, select the “Raise Your Hand” icon and you will be called on at the appropriate time.
By telephone:
Call (408) 638-0968 and enter the conference ID found at the top of the meeting agenda. When the item of interest is open for consideration, select *9 to raise your hand. When called upon, press *6 to unmute, state your name and provide your comments.
In Person:
At the meeting complete a “Request to Speak” form, submit a request at the speaker kiosk or scan the QR code.
ACCESSIBILITY:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, those with disabilities requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting may contact the City Clerk’s Office at (650) 522-7040 or [email protected]
. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will
enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
2 of 68
CITY OF SAN MATEO
3 9
9 1
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 2 Section Name: STUDY SESSION Account Number: 10-1311 File ID: 23-7247 TO: City Council
FROM: Drew Corbett, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Manager's Office
MEETING DATE: March 20, 2023
SUBJECT:
Leaf Blower Regulations
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a report and presentation on leaf blower regulations and provide feedback and guidance on potential leaf blower policy approaches.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the 2022-23 Strategic Plan, the San Mateo City Council asked staff to evaluate leaf blower policy options and best practices from other cities. Regulating leaf blowers can help address their environmental and greenhouse gas emission reduction impact, as well as noise and air quality impacts. This report provides an overview of leaf blower impacts and the City’s history with leaf blower regulations since this topic was extensively reviewed by City Council between 2011 and 2013 and revisited by the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission in 2020 and most recently in November 2022. This report reviews leaf blower policy approaches for the City Council’s feedback and consideration.
CITY HISTORY WITH LEAF BLOWER REGULATIONS
The City of San Mateo currently has time of day restrictions for leaf blowers in residential zoning districts and in areas bordering residentially-zoned neighborhoods. San Mateo Municipal Code Section 10.80 “Operation of Leaf Blowers” (Attachment 4) limits the use of leaf blowers to between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays and between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays. The use of leaf blowers is prohibited on Sundays and holidays. In addition, the code requires that leaf blowers run at low speeds and use nozzle extensions to minimize noise. These restrictions have been in place since 1997.
In 2011 through 2013, staff from the Community Development Department led a comprehensive exploration of leaf blower regulations in response to community complaints about noise and air quality impacts. Staff brought forward reports to City Council on five separate occasions. At a March 2013 City Council meeting, staff presented three options for updating the leaf blower ordinance:
1) Improve enforcement of current ordinance
2) Implement a certification and enforcement program limiting leaf blowers that meet a 65 decibel (dB) threshold 3) Implement complete ban on gas and electric leaf blowers Ultimately, the City Council did not move forward to any of the three options primarily because of concerns of the economic impact to commercial landscapers and challenges with enforcement. Many of the commercial landscapers in San Mateo are small businesses or sole-proprietorships and many are also minority-owned. A complete leaf blower ban would require landscapers to spend more time per job site, impacting the number of jobs they could complete and therefore potentially reduce their revenues. Establishing a new decibel limit on leaf blowers would require many commercial landscapers to purchase new equipment, another financial burden to landscapers. If commercial landscapers passed on
3 of 68
CITY OF SAN MATEO
3 9
9 1
the cost of the new equipment or job time to their customers, concerns were raised regarding affordability for those with fixed incomes who rely on landscaping services. Additionally, for all of the policy options, City Council was concerned about the financial commitment from the City to develop effective enforcement.
During the pandemic, as a result of many people working from home, the City received an uptick in complaints about leaf blower noise, which prompted the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission to request that leaf blower policy options be brought before them for consideration. At the November 12, 2020, the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission received a report on leaf blower regulations and different policy approaches to restricting gas leaf blower use. Staff presented four options for consideration:
1) Noise and/or time of day restrictions
2) Temporary leaf blower ban days
3) Gas leaf blower ban, and
4) Complete gas and electric leaf blower ban.
The majority of Commissioners declined to make a recommendation to City Council to update leaf blower regulations.
Commissioners acknowledged that commercial landscapers, who are also small businesses, would be significantly impacted by potential leaf blower restrictions and were likely already struggling to retain customers in the face of the pandemic. Commissioners were also concerned about recommending the Council take up leaf blower regulations at a time when there were so many other pressing COVID-19 issues and community concerns. Finally, Commissioners were interested to understand the State’s timeline to phase out the sale of new gas equipment to help evaluate potential leaf blower regulations. Commissioners directed staff to prioritize incentives for electric leaf blowers.
On July 1, 2021, staff launched the Electric Leaf Blower rebate program. The program provides a rebate of up to 75% of the purchase price (maximum $500) to commercial landscapers and up to 50% of the purchase price (maximum $100) to residents. Using the City’s business license information, mailers were sent to landscaping business in San Mateo to alert businesses about the rebate opportunity. The mailing list included roughly 150 businesses. Rebate information was also included in the City’s e-newsletter and social media channels. To date, the City has issued rebates to 8 landscaping businesses and 32 residents. The average rebate for a landscaping business is $375 and the average rebate for a resident is $75.
ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT AND CITY PARKS OPERATIONS
City Parks staff have been piloting electric equipment since 2018 and recognizing the State’s goal to prohibit the sale of two-stroke engine equipment and the City’s climate goals, is preparing for a transition to electric equipment and making a conscious effort to reduce reliance on leaf blowers. The Parks Department goal is to provide safe and attractive parks while maintaining current levels of debris removal. Parks Department maintains 280,890 square feet of parking lot and pathways.
During the fiscal year 2020-21, the Parks Department purchased $8,000 in electric equipment including backpack and handheld blowers, hedge trimmers, chain saws and weed trimmers. Using the electric equipment in the Japanese Garden and on Spare the Air Days has helped Parks staff identify challenges and limitations of electric leaf blower technology. One major challenge with electric leaf blowers is battery life limitations. In most park settings a blower with 2 batteries provides about 45 minutes of use and requires 2 hours for recharge. While electric leaf blowers work well for small sites, they have been challenging to use at larger park settings where staff would have to use multiple batteries. Another major limitation is the equipment performance, as electric leaf blowers are less powerful and therefore take staff longer to accomplish the same work compared to using gas leaf blowers.
Staff provided cost estimates for transitioning to electric blower equipment. Currently the Parks Department has an inventory of 12 gas blowers. An electric backpack blower costs $300 plus four batteries that cost $300 each, amounting to $1,500 for each replacement. The Parks Department estimates an $18,000 initial investment to replace the gas blower equipment and $14,000 every 2 years for battery replacements. Additionally, there is also the cost of electricity and charging infrastructure. For comparison, a typical gas-powered blower costs $375 plus the cost of fuel. Parks’ main shop
4 of 68
CITY OF SAN MATEO
3 9
9 1
area requires an estimated $20,000 of electrical upgrades for charging batteries to use electric equipment on a consistent basis. Additional upgrades to field shops will be necessary but have not yet been evaluated.
In addition to transitioning to electric equipment, the Parks Department is requesting a budget allocation for a multi- purpose sweeper that will be used for removal of pathway and parking lot debris and to reduce the use of leaf blower equipment. This budget request will be presented as part of a separate agenda item. The sweeper has certified 4-star containment of pollution, essentially eliminating the dust levels created by the blowers currently used. Additionally, the proposed sweeper would help create efficiencies in staffing, freeing highly-skilled landscape maintenance staff from backpack blower detail. At this time every Parks staff person has some part of their week dedicated to debris removal. This sweeper will efficiently complete the task of debris removal and eliminate more dust than possible with backpack blowers.
STATE REGULATIONS
In October 2021, California became the first state with a statewide ban on new gas leaf blowers and lawn mowers when Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1346 prohibiting the sale of new small off-road engines beginning January 1, 2024.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulates leaf blowers as part of small off-road engines (SORE) category. SORE are defined as spark-ignition engines rated at or below 19 kilowatts, primarily used for lawn, garden, and other outdoor power equipment such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and chippers. SORE smog-forming emissions are significant; CARB estimates that one hour of commercial leaf blowing activity emits the same pollution as driving a 2017 Toyota Camry for 1,100 miles. CARB recognizes that the cumulative volume of smog-forming emissions from SORE equipment now exceed those from passenger cars on an annual basis. It is important to note that the prohibition of the sale of new SORE equipment in 2024 will still allow for the use of older SORE equipment. As a result, local restrictions still make sense to evaluate.
POLICY APPROACHES
There are three main policy approaches local jurisdictions use to regulate leaf blowers: 1) time of day restrictions, 2) gas leaf blower ban, and 3) complete gas and electric leaf blower ban. The following details the different policy approaches and provides examples of cities that have taken on the policy approach. 1) Time of day restrictions
Enacting noise and time of day restrictions is the most common approach employed by jurisdictions to manage the noise impacts of leaf blower equipment. While time of use and noise restrictions are effective in managing noise pollution, they do not address environmental impact or smog forming emissions. Although the City of San Mateo currently has time of day restrictions and a nozzle extension requirement already in place, the City could explore establishing a schedule and zone system to manage leaf blowing activity and/or narrowing the time restrictions. In addition, the City may want to consider expanding the time of day restrictions to impact areas of the City currently not covered by the ordinance as more mixed-use development is constructed in formerly commercial-only zones.
An example of this approach is the City of Burlingame’s leaf blowing schedule and zone approach, which was adopted in 2012. This approach helps address noise pollution since it limits leaf blower activity to specific days of the week. Their ordinance requires the following:
Commercial blowers may be used on only ONE day per week, per area, with an extra day for R3 and R4 buildings on Fridays.
Residents may use their own blowers on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and Sundays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, as well as on their assigned weekday.
The City of Burlingame developed a map to delineate the different neighborhood zones and schedules. Implementation of this ordinance relied on residents informing their gardening services of the operational requirements.
Alternatively, some cities have narrower time restrictions than the City of San Mateo. For example, the Town of Atherton has a later leaf blower schedule for weekends: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturdays and 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Sundays. This is likely because many feel that leaf blower noise is a nuisance on weekend mornings.
5 of 68
CITY OF SAN MATEO
3 9
9 1
2) Gas leaf blower ban (allows electric leaf blower)
Banning gas leaf blowers helps reduce smog-forming emissions but only partially addresses the noise pollution aspect.
Electric leaf blowers can be as loud as gas leaf blowers and will have similar impacts in terms of kicking up particles and creating fugitive dust. However, electric leaf blowers do not create engine-related fumes and thus can help mitigate air quality concerns.
One of the primary concerns about electric leaf blowers include durability and battery life as discussed earlier in this report regarding City Parks operations. Electric leaf blowers can be cord-powered or battery-powered. Both types of electric leaf blowers can be easily adapted for most household personal use, but commercial landscapers must consider how long the equipment will last in the field. Cord-powered electric blowers are not viable on all types of property, limit the range of use, and are therefore impractical for commercial landscapers. Battery-powered electric blowers require commercial landscapers to purchase multiple batteries, increasing the costs to landscapers.
Over twenty cities in California have adopted gas leaf blower bans and recently, several Bay Area cities have taken up gas leaf blower bans:
The Town of Portola Valley adopted an ordinance in 2019 with an enforcement date of January 2021; The City of Oakland adopted an ordinance in October 2020 with and enforcement date of April 2021; and The City of Alameda adopted an ordinance in September 2021 with an enforcement date of January 1, 2023; and The City of Novato adopted ordinance in June 2022 with an enforcement date of July 2023.
In February 2022, the Atherton Town Council was divided on whether to move forward with a gas leaf blower ban and directed staff to do more research and outreach to residents. The Menlo Park City Council will consider a gas leaf blower ban in 2023 with a July 2024 enforcement date.
Staff reached out to the City of Alameda, Town of Portola Valley, and City of Los Altos and received feedback that enforcement is the primary challenge with gas leaf blower bans. Typically, this type of ordinance relies on community members to report violations to the city’s nonemergency phone number and enforcement is handled by the code enforcement division. Oftentimes, when a code enforcement officer goes to investigate the violation, the subject is gone or no longer using the device. Law requires the code enforcement officer to personally witness the Municipal Code violation in order to enforce the violation. Enforcement can range from a verbal warning with education on the municipal code to issuance of a citation. If the subject is still on-scene but not using the device, the code enforcement officer can take the opportunity to provide education about the ordinance.
The Town of Portola Valley does not have a full-time code enforcement officer and has relied on sending educational letters to addresses where violations are reported. Portola Valley staff receive a handful complaints each month and have not issued any formal citations. The City of Los Altos has had a leaf blower ban in place since 1991 and continues to face challenges with enforcement. According to a letter submitted by a citizen advocacy group, the City of Los Altos Police Department receives a high volume of complaints, roughly 350 per year.
The City of Palo Alto enacted a gas leaf blower ban in 2005 and enforcement has fluctuated over the years. Palo Alto staff report the same challenges with enforcement as other cities have experienced. In 2022, Palo Alto made two recent updates regarding leaf blowers. The Palo Alto City Council voted to in increase fines ($250 for the first violation, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for subsequent violations). The City of Palo Alto also hired a code enforcement officer whose full- time role is dedicated to leaf blower education and enforcement. The code enforcement officer has prioritized proactive engagement with landscapers and homeowner associations and has been in the role for 10 months. For reference for the City of San Mateo, a code enforcement officer I salary and benefits costs an estimated $116,000 annually. 3) Complete gas and electric leaf blower ban
Five jurisdictions in California adopted ordinances to ban both gas and electric leaf blowers altogether. An outright ban on all mechanized blowers is probably easiest to enforce since it is clear when a user is in violation, as opposed to
6 of 68
CITY OF SAN MATEO
3 9
9 1
distinguishing when a blower is in compliance with a decibel noise limit regulation or if it is gas or electric-powered.
However, it would still be necessary to witness the leaf blower being used in order to issue a citation. A complete ban on gas and electric leaf blowers addresses all concerns related to noise, emissions and air quality, however, an outright ban would have significant impacts to commercial landscapers and City operations. By banning all leaf blower use, residents and commercial landscapers would need to rely on manual methods (i.e., raking, sweeping). This would greatly increase the time it takes for commercial landscapers to complete jobs.
There are a limited number of cities in Southern California that have a gas and electric leaf blower ban including Santa Monica, Del Mar, Hermosa Beach, Laguna Beach and Manhattan Beach. As mentioned in an earlier section of this report, in 2013 City Council debated this policy option in depth and decided not to move forward with a ban because of the impact to commercial landscapers and also to City staff ability to maintain our parks and landscaping.
SUSTAINABILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMISSION FEEDBACK
On November 9, 2022, staff presented leaf blower regulations to the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission requesting feedback and direction on the policy options presented above. During the discussion, there were a variety of concerns raised about gas leaf blower regulations. Commissioners voiced concern that a ban on gas leaf blowers might not fully address noise concerns since electric leaf blowers still generate some noise and concern about the use of gas generators to charge batteries. One commissioner was opposed to the adoption of a leaf blower ban because of the financial implications and economic impacts to small landscaping businesses.
Most commissioners were in favor of a gas leaf blower ban with a delayed implementation date, possibly aligning with CARB’s phase-out date in 2024. Some commissioners were also interested pairing the gas leaf blower ban with limiting leaf blower use on specific days in certain zones (like Burlingame’s approach). Commissioners expressed support of gas leaf blower ban and regulations because of noise impacts to the community and health impacts to leaf blower operators.
All commissioners recommended staff engage directly with landscapers to understand the impact of potential regulations prior to bringing policy option to City Council for consideration.
LANDSCAPER FEEDBACK
To solicit feedback from commercial landscapers, staff sent a mailer to 180 landscaping businesses that have a registered business license with the City. The mailer included a letter with an overview of the potential leaf blower regulations, a survey on leaf blower use, information about the City’s Electric Leaf Blower Rebate program and a stamped envelope to facilitate return of the surveys. All materials were provided in English and Spanish. Recipients could provide feedback in three ways, participate online via Survey Monkey, mail the paper survey with the stamped envelope, or call or email staff directly. In addition, staff attempted to contact 10 businesses for phone interviews. This included the businesses that participated in the City’s electric leaf blower rebate and other contacts made through the Parks Department.
The City received 8 online survey responses in English, 9 paper survey responses in English, and 1 paper survey response in Spanish. Paper surveys were manually inputted into Survey Monkey for analysis. Overall, the survey showed the majority of respondents oppose a gas leaf blower ban with a diverse amount of feedback. Most survey respondents (70%) use gas leaf blowers and only 27% report using exclusive electric products; 47% of respondents use both gas and electric products.
Of the 11 people who responded to why use electric products, the most popular benefit was related to noise and due to local regulations in other cities. Survey respondents identified battery life, equipment strength, and cost as the leading disadvantages with electric leaf blower equipment.
The open-ended question showed that most survey respondents were opposed to a gas leaf blower ban. Respondents expressed concern about the increased amount of time jobs would take without gas leaf blowers. Respondents were concerned about being able to increase costs to clients to cover the increased time. Multiple respondents cited the faultiness with equipment and need for expensive repairs as a barrier to electric equipment. Finally, there is also a concern about the enforcement of the current ordinance and that a new regulation would be ignored by businesses without thorough enforcement.
Survey respondents were split regarding the time of use restrictions similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations. 56%
7 of 68
CITY OF SAN MATEO
3 9
9 1
were opposed, arguing that this limitation would constrain their schedules and that clients already have preferences for their gardening services. One landscaper said they had too many client schedules, which resulted in negative and upset clients so they let go all of their Burlingame clients.
Phone interviews with electric leaf blower rebate participants revealed that rebate participants were more supportive of electric leaf blower use and already relied on electric leaf blowers. One landscaping company cited horticultural best practices as a driving reason to reduce blower use overall.
CITY COUNCIL FEEDBACK NEEDED
This report presents a high-level overview of the different policy options that can be considered to address community concerns over leaf blowers. Feedback is needed if City Council is interested in pursuing any of the three policy options presented in this report:
1) Time of day restrictions
2) Gas leaf blower ban (allows electric leaf blower)
3) Complete gas and electric leaf blower ban
Potential leaf blower regulations would impact personal household leaf blower use, commercial landscaping businesses, and City operations. It is important to consider that each of the policy options have varying impact in terms of addressing leaf blower related noise pollution, air quality and greenhouse gas emission reduction. If the City Council is interested in pursuing any of the proposed policy options, staff would then initiate a robust community outreach process to both residents and commercial landscapers to get additional feedback prior to bringing any potential ordinance to City Council for consideration.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Receiving this informational report does not result in any fiscal impact. Adoption of leaf blower regulations would have a fiscal impact on City operations that would be evaluated at the time of consideration.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This informational report is not a project subject to CEQA, because it can be seen with certainty that it will not cause a physical change in the environment. (Public Resources Code Section 21065.)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Public Comment
Att 2 – Summary of Survey Responses
Att 3 – Individual Survey Responses
Att 4 – Municipal Code Section 10.80
STAFF CONTACT
Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst
[email protected]
(650) 522-7007
8 of 68
From:
To: Andrea Chow
Subject: Re: Leaf Blower Survey Reminder
Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:03:40 PM
Attachments: image013.png
image014.png
image015.png
image016.png
image017.png
image018.png
ANDREA. sorry for reply late.
i
received
your
letter
regarding
your
request
for
feedback
on
the
new
policy
concerning
electric
leaf
blowers.
i
think
this
is
NOT
a
good
idea
for
gardeners
or
their
customers
for
the
following
reasons:
.
Electric
blowers
are
three
times
the
cost
of
a
gas
blower
which
will
add
expense
back
to
the
customers.
.
Batteries
for
leaf
blowers
only
last
approximately
30 minutes
Wich
would
require
a
Gardner
to
carry
additional
batteries
and
chargers
again
adding
additional
expense.
.
Gardners
who
have
tried
electric
blowers
say
there
is
a
very
short
life
span
for
this
equipment
and
poor
quality.
.
Electric
blowers
do
not
have
the
same
power
as
a
gas
blower,
therefore.
requiring
more
manual
labor
and
more
customer
expense
in
order
to
do
the
job
correctly.
.
Designated
days
for
gas
blowers
only
make
the
problem
worse
and
require
more
scheduling
which
could
amount
to
less
business
for
the
gardeners
and
additional
expense
for
customers
Hopefully,
this
will
help
your
survey
and
the
people
it
serves.
Sincerely,
Jose
l
hernandez.
De: Andrea Chow <[email protected]>
Enviado:
viernes,
3 de
febrero
de
2023
01:22
p.
m.
Asunto:
Leaf
Blower
Survey
Reminder
9 of 68
Hello,
The City of San Mateo is considering new rules that could affect your business and would like to learn more about the use of gas and electric leaf blowers by landscaping businesses. Your feedback will be shared with the San Mateo City Council as they consider leaf blower policy options at an upcoming City Council Meeting (tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 20 at 5:30 pm). A start date for potential regulations has not been determined and businesses will be given time to transition and prepare for new rules. Your feedback is very important and urgently wanted about leaf blower use. Please share your feedback by February 17, 2023.
Regulations being considered include:
Only allowing leaf blower use during certain days/times of the week Prohibiting gas leaf blowers and only allowing electric leaf blowers Complete gas and electric leaf blower ban
The online survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/leafblowersm. Feel free to call or email me with your feedback.
Sincerely,
Andrea
Andrea Chow
Sustainability Analyst | City Manager’s Office
330 W. 20th Ave. San Mateo, CA 94403
650-522-7007 | [email protected]
* PRIVILEGE AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message, together with any attachments, is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. It may contain information that is confidential and prohibited from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or copying of this message or any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the original sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail and delete this message along with any attachments from your computer. Thank you.
10 of 68
11 of 68
12 of 68
13 of 68
14 of 68
15 of 68
16 of 68
17 of 68
18 of 68
19 of 68
20 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
70.59% 12
17.65% 3
41.18% 7
Q1 What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that apply) Answered: 17 Skipped: 1
Total Respondents: 17
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Gas
Electric-corded
Electric
battery-powered
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Gas
Electric-corded
Electric battery-powered
1 21 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
45.45% 5
72.73% 8
45.45% 5
36.36% 4
54.55% 6
9.09% 1
Q2 If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Answered: 11 Skipped: 7
Total Respondents: 11
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Environmental
concerns
Noise,
electric...
Health
impacts
Client
preference
Other areas
I work have...
Other (please
specify)
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Environmental concerns
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas equipment Health impacts
Client preference
Other areas I work have banned gas leaf blowers
Other (please specify)
2 22 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
70.59% 12
58.82% 10
58.82% 10
23.53% 4
23.53% 4
Q3 What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Answered: 17 Skipped: 1
Total Respondents: 17
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Battery
charge does ...
Electric
leaf blowers...
Cost of
purchasing n...
There are no
disadvantage...
Other (please
specify)
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Battery charge does not last long enough
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf blowers Cost of purchasing new electric equipment
There are no disadvantages of electric leaf blowers
Other (please specify)
3 23 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
37.50% 6
25.00% 4
18.75% 3
6.25% 1
12.50% 2
Q4 How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
Answered: 16 Skipped: 2
TOTAL 16
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
I do not
work in any...
I purchased
electric lea...
I already
use electric...
I have not
changed my...
I no longer
serve areas...
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
I do not work in any cities where there has been a gas leaf blower ban I purchased electric leaf blower equipment to meet gas leaf blower ban requirements I already use electric leaf blowers and did not need to change my business practices I have not changed my business practices to accommodate changes in regulations I no longer serve areas where gas leaf blowers are banned 4 24 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
41.18% 7
58.82% 10
Q5 Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
Answered: 17 Skipped: 1
TOTAL 17
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
No
Yes, please
explain
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
No
Yes, please explain
5 25 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
Q6 Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
Answered: 14 Skipped: 4
# RESPONSES DA TE
1 *Porque no trabanjan con el fabricante y no con el pobre trabajador? *Tengan en cuenta que fall y winter es desagradable usar electric super batt tools. *Please don't do like Burlingame, is a headedge to re schedule our long time routes. English Translation: * Why don't they work with the manufacturer and not with the poor worker? *Keep in mind that fall and winter is unpleasant to use electric super batt tools.
2/27/2023 9:52 AM
2 Battery powered saws and blowers are not available enough to replace gas powered equipment 2/24/2023 8:33 AM 3 While watching the 11/09/22 Sustainability + Infrastructure Commission meeting I learned about the California CORE program. I just started the process in January. I was told it has been taking 3 months to have it finalized. The current enforcement of the leaf blower ordinance is a joke. If you want any new regulation to work you will have to have a new team that just handles the leave blower ordinance and actually do enforcement. In the past I would report leaf blower ordinance violations but I stopped after seeing the same crews continuing with the same violations.
2/22/2023 1:04 PM
4 I am all for battery operated blower w/ good batteries!! 2/22/2023 1:01 PM 5 I'm a landscape architect so I design landscapes. I don't install or maintain them. 2/22/2023 12:58 PM 6 I use my gas leaf blowers to not only clean residential yards, but the streets and clear the drains near my clients' homes, as I know the majority of other gardeners do. We keep the streets clean and if I have to use a battery/electric leaf blower, it would take too much time of my battery and time to continue to do the same amount of work. 2/22/2023 12:57 PM
7 It does not surprise me how dumb California is turning, yet how people will allow all of our tax money to go towards a city - that will soon look and feel disgusting, wanting to push for an "all" electric environment yet landscaping to only be done once a week? Ridiculous! Wake up CA.
Allowing this will only make San Mateo appear as Oakland. 2/22/2023 12:55 PM
8 This isn't the time for half measures. Ban all gas yard tools. The businesses can adapt. 2/22/2023 12:51 PM 9 I think the council is biased to banning as blowers. This is a wasted effort. 2/22/2023 12:49 PM 10 I think electric blowers are fine and should be allowed to be used any day of the week. In general, I think leaf blowers should be used less frequently than they are - raking is a better way to remove targeted debris and leave beneficial organic matter in garden beds. However, blowers are important for thoroughly cleaning hardscaped surfaces like patios, driveways and sidewalks. I am a professional horticulturist and have strong opinions about the overuse of blowers and their detriment to garden health, but they have their place and should be allowed. 2/6/2023 12:31 PM
11 The cost of a new tools and the time extended to blow the costumer won’t pay as many people do garden maintenance is ease to find some work for less, and the situation is crossing in the country everything goes up food,gas and items necessities, it has doble or more than use to cost before pandemic but if you rise up the cost of the service they say you only can rase up 5% of the cost of the service that percent don’t cover the cost of new equipment 2/3/2023 2:32 PM
12 I support electric because of reduced noise and 2 stroke gas engine pollution 1/29/2023 2:47 PM 13 Palo Alto’s policy for electric leaf blowers only have already shown stress on landscapers.
They are paying out of pocket to repair and buy new electrical equipment and struggle to keep up with buying expensive batteries due to their lack of longevity. Most have stuck to only raking making their hours longer and more physically draining. 1/26/2023 11:36 PM
14 Setting aside my landscape use of an electric blower, only periodically, I find myself barraged in my neighborhood by loud, smelly leaf blowers at all hours of the day, early morning, into the 1/26/2023 6:52 PM
6 26 of 68
L
andscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
evening when my family wants to enjoy quiet time in the garden....I would love for them to be used only at certain times, especially gas, but both if possible. 7 27 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
1 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Electric battery-powered
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Environmental concerns,
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Health impacts,
Client preference
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
There are no disadvantages of electric leaf blowers
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I already use electric leaf blowers and did not need to change my business practices
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
No
#1#1
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Thursday, January 26, 2023 6:49:11 PMThursday, January 26, 2023 6:49:11 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Thursday, January 26, 2023 6:52:03 PMThursday, January 26, 2023 6:52:03 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:02:5100:02:51
IP Address:IP Address: 135.180.130.226135.180.130.226
28 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
2 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
Setting aside my landscape use of an electric blower, only periodically, I find myself barraged in my neighborhood by loud, smelly leaf blowers at all hours of the day, early morning, into the evening when my family wants to enjoy quiet time in the garden....I would love for them to be used only at certain times, especially gas, but both if possible.
29 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
3 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas,
Electric battery-powered
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Other areas I work have banned gas leaf blowers
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment,
Other (please specify):
Batteries when used for long periods of times drain and damage cells within the batteries resulting in replacing $200 batteries regularly.
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I purchased electric leaf blower equipment to meet gas leaf blower ban requirements
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
My schedule is based on efficiency and not by city. Most of my clients hve set days they prefer me and this would
ultimately ruin my schedule and make unecessary trips
back in forth.
Yes, please explain:
#2#2
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Thursday, January 26, 2023 11:25:47 PMThursday, January 26, 2023 11:25:47 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Thursday, January 26, 2023 11:36:09 PMThursday, January 26, 2023 11:36:09 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:10:2200:10:22
IP Address:IP Address: 76.226.87.10576.226.87.105
30 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
4 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
Palo Alto’s policy for electric leaf blowers only have already shown stress on landscapers. They are paying out of pocket to repair and buy new electrical equipment and struggle to keep up with buying expensive batteries due to their lack of longevity. Most have stuck to only raking making their hours longer and more physically draining.
31 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
5 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Electric-corded
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Health impacts,
Other areas I work have banned gas leaf blowers
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
There are no disadvantages of electric leaf blowers
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I already use electric leaf blowers and did not need to change my business practices
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
No
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
I support electric because of reduced noise and 2 stroke gas engine pollution #3#3
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Sunday, January 29, 2023 2:41:51 PMSunday, January 29, 2023 2:41:51 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Sunday, January 29, 2023 2:47:00 PMSunday, January 29, 2023 2:47:00 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:05:0800:05:08
IP Address:IP Address: 45.26.53.17645.26.53.176
32 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
6 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I do not work in any cities where there has been a gas leaf blower ban
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
No
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these
potential regulations:
Respondent skipped this question
#4#4
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 01, 2023 6:16:34 PMWednesday, February 01, 2023 6:16:34 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 01, 2023 6:20:15 PMWednesday, February 01, 2023 6:20:15 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:03:4000:03:40
IP Address:IP Address: 24.5.182.22724.5.182.227
33 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
7 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I do not work in any cities where there has been a gas leaf blower ban
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
This would limit how much I can work and my livelihood. I have too many clients to be limited to one day a week.
Yes, please explain:
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these
potential regulations:
Respondent skipped this question
#5#5
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Thursday, February 02, 2023 8:20:19 PMThursday, February 02, 2023 8:20:19 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Thursday, February 02, 2023 8:27:35 PMThursday, February 02, 2023 8:27:35 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:07:1500:07:15
IP Address:IP Address: 107.131.72.247107.131.72.247
34 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
8 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I have not changed my business practices to
accommodate changes in regulations
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
The costumer some times don’t understand to change the
service day
Yes, please explain:
#6#6
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Friday, February 03, 2023 2:10:52 PMFriday, February 03, 2023 2:10:52 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Friday, February 03, 2023 2:32:16 PMFriday, February 03, 2023 2:32:16 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:21:2300:21:23
IP Address:IP Address: 70.236.211.7570.236.211.75
35 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
9 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
The cost of a new tools and the time extended to blow the costumer won’t pay as many people do garden maintenance is ease to find some work for less, and the situation is crossing in the country everything goes up food,gas and items necessities, it has doble or more than use to cost before pandemic but if you rise up the cost of the service they say you only can rase up 5% of the cost of the service that percent don’t cover the cost of new equipment
36 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
10 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Electric battery-powered
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Environmental concerns,
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Other (please specify):
easier to use, cheaper than gas, just as effective
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I already use electric leaf blowers and did not need to change my business practices
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
I work 5 days a week and am only at clients homes 1x per week. I would have to do every client's blowing in one day which leaves 4 days when I could not work. Also, for
construction, leaf blowers are used for daily cleanup.
Jobsites would get messy if they could only be used one day.
Yes, please explain:
#7#7
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Monday, February 06, 2023 12:25:24 PMMonday, February 06, 2023 12:25:24 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Monday, February 06, 2023 12:30:43 PMMonday, February 06, 2023 12:30:43 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:05:1900:05:19
IP Address:IP Address: 142.254.109.200142.254.109.200
37 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
11 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
I think electric blowers are fine and should be allowed to be used any day of the week. In general, I think leaf blowers should be used less frequently than they are - raking is a better way to remove targeted debris and leave beneficial organic matter in garden beds.
However, blowers are important for thoroughly cleaning hardscaped surfaces like patios, driveways and sidewalks. I am a professional horticulturist and have strong opinions about the overuse of blowers and their detriment to garden health, but they have their place and should be allowed.
38 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
12 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Electric-corded,
Electric battery-powered
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Environmental concerns,
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Health impacts
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I purchased electric leaf blower equipment to meet gas leaf blower ban requirements
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
No
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these
potential regulations:
Respondent skipped this question
#8#8
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:46:06 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:46:06 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:46:56 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:46:56 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:00:4900:00:49
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
39 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
13 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas,
Electric-corded
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Other areas I work have banned gas leaf blowers
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I no longer serve areas where gas leaf blowers are
banned
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
No
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
I think the council is biased to banning as blowers. This is a wasted effort. #9#9
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:46:59 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:46:59 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:49:01 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:49:01 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:02:0200:02:02
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
40 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
14 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Electric battery-powered
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Environmental concerns,
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Health impacts
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
There are no disadvantages of electric leaf blowers
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I do not work in any cities where there has been a gas leaf blower ban
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
No
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
This isn't the time for half measures. Ban all gas yard tools. The businesses can adapt. #10#10
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:49:04 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:49:04 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:50:57 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:50:57 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:01:5300:01:53
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
41 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
15 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment,
Other (please specify):
in the near future your electric product will cause more toxic radiation than gas
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I do not work in any cities where there has been a gas leaf blower ban
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
This is ridiculous how do you expect a city to be well kept and clean to be done only once a week with with an
"electric" product.
Yes, please explain:
#11#11
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:51:00 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:51:00 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:54:42 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:54:42 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:03:4200:03:42
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
42 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
16 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
It does not surprise me how dumb California is turning, yet how people will allow all of our tax money to go towards a city - that will soon look and feel disgusting, wanting to push for an "all" electric environment yet landscaping to only be done once a week? Ridiculous! Wake up CA. Allowing this will only make San Mateo appear as Oakland.
43 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
17 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment,
Other (please specify):
Battery charge - I wouldn't be able to do all of my clients.
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I no longer serve areas where gas leaf blowers are
banned
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
When I would work in Burlingame I'd have to move around too many clients schedules which resulted in negative/upset clients so I had to let go all of my Burlingame clients Yes, please explain:
#12#12
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:54:46 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:54:46 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:57:17 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:57:17 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:02:3100:02:31
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
44 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
18 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
I use my gas leaf blowers to not only clean residential yards, but the streets and clear the drains near my clients' homes, as I know the majority of other gardeners do. We keep the streets clean and if I have to use a battery/electric leaf blower, it would take too much time of my battery and time to continue to do the same amount of work.
45 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
19 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
Respondent skipped this question
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
Respondent skipped this question
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
I'm a landscape architect so I design landscapes. I don't install or maintain them. #13#13
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:57:18 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:57:18 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:58:12 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:58:12 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:00:5300:00:53
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
46 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
20 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas,
Electric battery-powered
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Client preference
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I purchased electric leaf blower equipment to meet gas leaf blower ban requirements
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
Yes, as a landscape contractor I need blowers 5 times per week.
Yes, please explain:
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these
potential regulations:
Respondent skipped this question
#14#14
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 12:58:14 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 12:58:14 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 1:00:04 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 1:00:04 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:01:4900:01:49
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
47 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
21 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Environmental concerns,
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Health impacts,
Client preference,
Other areas I work have banned gas leaf blowers
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
,
There are no disadvantages of electric leaf blowers
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I do not work in any cities where there has been a gas leaf blower ban
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
No
#15#15
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 1:00:08 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 1:00:08 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 1:01:04 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 1:01:04 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:00:5500:00:55
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
48 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
22 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
I am all for battery operated blower w/ good batteries!!
49 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
23 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Respondent skipped this question
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I do not work in any cities where there has been a gas leaf blower ban
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
I'm the boss and worker so that would mean I would have to let go some of my clients. I can only do so many yard per day.
Yes, please explain:
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
While watching the 11/09/22 Sustainability + Infrastructure Commission meeting I learned about the California CORE program. I just started the process in January. I was told it has been taking 3 months to have it finalized.
The current enforcement of the leaf blower ordinance is a joke. If you want any new regulation to work you will have to have a new team that just handles the leave blower ordinance and actually do enforcement. In the past I would report leaf blower ordinance violations but I stopped after seeing the same crews continuing with the same violations. #16#16
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 1:01:11 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 1:01:11 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 1:03:50 PMWednesday, February 22, 2023 1:03:50 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:02:3800:02:38
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
50 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
24 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Other areas I work have banned gas leaf blowers
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Cost of purchasing new electric equipment,
Other (please specify):
Short supply
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
Respondent skipped this question
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
Clients like their properties clean when we leave. 9 am to 5pm are reasonable hours
Yes, please explain:
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
Battery powered saws and blowers are not available enough to replace gas powered equipment #17#17
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Friday, February 24, 2023 8:29:26 AMFriday, February 24, 2023 8:29:26 AM Last Modified:Last Modified: Friday, February 24, 2023 8:33:08 AMFriday, February 24, 2023 8:33:08 AM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:03:4200:03:42
IP Address:IP Address: 12.218.214.3412.218.214.34
51 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
25 / 26
Q1
What type of leaf blowers do you use? (Check all that
apply)
Gas,
Electric battery-powered
Q2
If you use electric leaf blowers, why do you use electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Noise, electric equipment is quieter than gas
equipment
,
Client preference,
Other areas I work have banned gas leaf blowers
Q3
What are the disadvantages of using electric leaf blowers? (Check all that apply)
Battery charge does not last long enough,
Electric leaf blowers are not as strong as gas leaf
blowers
Q4
How has the banning of gas leaf blowers in other cities affected your business?
I purchased electric leaf blower equipment to meet gas leaf blower ban requirements
Q5
Do you think time of use restrictions (e.g. limiting leaf blower use to only 1 day per week in specific
neighborhood zones) would have an impact on your
business? This approach is similar to Burlingame’s leaf blower regulations.
Dias especiales es algo super ridiculo como en Burlingame, es un dolor de cabeza.
Yes, please explain:
#18#18
COMPLETECOMPLETE
Collector:Collector: Web Link 2 Web Link 2 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Monday, February 27, 2023 9:32:36 AMMonday, February 27, 2023 9:32:36 AM Last Modified:Last Modified: Monday, February 27, 2023 9:51:57 AMMonday, February 27, 2023 9:51:57 AM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:19:2100:19:21
IP Address:IP Address: 76.14.0.9876.14.0.98
52 of 68
Landscaper Leaf Blower Use Survey SurveyMonkey
26 / 26
Q6
Please provide any additional feedback about these potential regulations:
*Porque no trabanjan con el fabricante y no con el pobre trabajador? *Tengan en cuenta que fall y winter es desagradable usar electric super batt tools. *Please don't do like Burlingame, is a headedge to re schedule our long time routes.
English Translation:
* Why don't they work with the manufacturer and not with the poor worker? *Keep in mind that fall and winter is unpleasant to use electric super batt tools.
53 of 68
3/9/23, 8:45 AM City of San Mateo Law Library
about:blank 1/3
City of San Mateo Law Library / City of San Mateo Municipal Code. / Title 10 PEACE, SAFETY AND MORALS / Chapter 10.80 OPERATION OF LEAF BLOWERS
Chapter 10.80 OPERATION OF LEAF BLOWERS
10.80.010 PURPOSE.
It has been found that leaf blowers cause considerable noise and air pollution and have been the source of numerous complaints by San Mateo citizens living in residential zoning districts.
This chapter is intended to regulate the use of leaf blowers to minimize noise and air pollution in the City's residentially zoned neighborhoods and in areas bordering residentially zoned neighborhoods.
(Ord. No. 1997-2 § 1.)
10.80.020 LEAF BLOWER—DEFINITION.
Leaf blowers are defined as portable equipment that is powered by a self-contained fuel engine and used in any landscape, maintenance, construction, property repair, or property maintenance for the purpose of blowing, dispersing or redistributing dust, dirt, leaves, grass, clippings, cuttings and trimmings from trees, shrubs or other debris.
(Ord. No. 1997-2 § 1.)
10.80.030 HOURS OF OPERATION.
No person shall use or operate a leaf blower in a residential zoning district or in areas bordering a residential zoning district before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, nor prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Use of leaf blowers on Sundays or on the following
54 of 68
3/9/23, 8:45 AM City of San Mateo Law Library
about:blank 2/3
holidays is prohibited: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. (Ord. No. 1998-6 § 1; Ord. No. 1997-2 § 1.)
10.80.040 LIMITATIONS ON USE.
Any person who uses or operates a leaf blower in a residential zoning district or in areas bordering a residential zoning district shall use a blower nozzle extension and shall run the blower at a low speed to minimize noise. No more than one blower shall be operated at a residence at any time. (Ord. No. 1997-2 § 1.)
10.80.050 REMOVAL OF DEBRIS.
No material or matter blown by leaf blowers shall be blown upon neighboring properties or onto any portion of the public right-of-way, including but not limited to sidewalks and streets, without being immediately removed.
(Ord. No. 1997-2 § 1.)
10.80.060 VIOLATIONS.
It is unlawful for any person or entity to violate the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. No. 1997-2 § 1.)
55 of 68
3/9/23, 8:45 AM City of San Mateo Law Library
about:blank 3/3
10.80.070 CONSTRUCTION.
No section of this chapter shall impose a mandatory duty on the City, or on any officer, official, agent, employee, board, council, or commission of the City. Instead, if any section purports to impose a mandatory duty of enforcement, that section shall be deemed to invest the City, and the appropriate officer, official, agent, employee, board, council, or commission with discretion to enforce the section or not to enforce it.
(Ord. No. 1997-2 § 1.)
56 of 68
THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC
COMMENTS WERE SUBMITTED
FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION
OF THE AGENDA PACKET
57 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Peter Breining
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 3:09 PM
To: Clerk
Subject: Leaf blower support comment
Please do not change the current leaf blower regulations. The regulations are a good compromise as they currently exist.
Leaf blowers are a valuable tool. I use my gas-powered leaf blower to blow off dust and debris from public tennis courts before I play tennis, making them much less slippery and safer.
It would not be possible for me to sweep the tennis courts off each time.
Also, I recently noticed a park employee using a battery powered blower and it was much louder and much more shrill than my gas powered one. So there is no noise benefit of electric vs. gasoline, as far as I can see.
Thank you for your consideration of this safety-related use of leaf blowers and please do not change the current regulations.
Peter Breining
San Mateo
58 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Kristie Eglsaer
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:18 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo); Clerk
Cc: Stephanie Gindlesperger; Sang Hee Cho; Bethany Lopez; Sue-Ellen Atkinson; Azalea Mitch; Amourence Lee; Lisa Diaz Nash; Rob Newsom; Adam Loraine; Richard Hedges; Andrea Chow Subject: Comments for Mon 3/20 CC meetings
Dear City Council,
Here are my public comments for the meetings on Monday, March 20.
Slow Speed School Zone (Item #16)
Thank you so much for starting the slow streets around schools project!
Ped/Bike Priority List Action (Item #19)
I look forward to the City making changes to our streets this year, and I am wondering if that is what is meant by “Create a pedestrian master plan implementation plan” because a 2012 Ped Plan Implementation Plan already exists ✅ ‐ Ch 7 titled Implementation, with things like pedestrian scale lighting, curb extensions, and signal timing with specific locations and cost estimates. Many near term actions, like those also mentioned in the 2022 TOD Ped Access Plan, can't happen soon enough, like minimizing vehicle conflicts with pedestrians at signalized intersections via turn restrictions at El Camino Downtown (p.63). My neighbor was just telling me yesterday about a really scary near miss there due to the ped-vehicle signal conflict.
Add Pilot Installations as part of Complete Streets Community Engagement Plan (Item #22) Pilot Installations are designed to be temporary, allowing for modifications based on real-world and real-time feedback from users, allowing the community and City to engage in a cycle of action and feedback. The city has had some real success with pilot installations and community engagement recently. Now it’s about folding that practice into the Complete Streets Community Engagement Process.
Leaf Blowers and #LeaveTheLeaves (Special Session)
Does the City of San Mateo Parks Dept have a policy similar to what is laid out by the NYC Parks Dept to leave fallen leaves on the ground, like keeping leaves around tree bases or mulch mowing lawns? Thank you for the City listing alternatives to leaf blowing on the leaf blower webpage, like letting the leaves lie, and thank you for the electric leaf blower rebate program (and great flyer with QR code!).
Thanks very much!
Best, Kristie
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4566/TOD‐Pedestrian‐Access‐Plan
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/2218/Pedestrian‐Master‐Plan
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/10061/10‐‐‐Implementation?bidId=
https://www.nycgovparks.org/learn/trees‐and‐plants/leave‐the‐leaves‐why‐our‐parks‐gardeners‐may‐leave‐fallen‐ autumn‐leaves‐on‐the‐ground
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4544/Electric‐Leaf‐Blower‐Rebate
59 of 68
2 https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/85710/Electric‐Leaf‐Blower‐Rebate‐Flyer?bidId=
60 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Patrice Olds
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 1:56 PM
To: Martin McTaggart; Andrea Chow; Sue-Ellen Atkinson
Subject: Fwd: Comments for 3/20 meeting
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Lisa Rayle
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 1:22:16 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo) <[email protected]> Subject: Comments for 3/20 meeting
Dear Councilmembers,
As a resident of San Mateo, I am writing to comment on three items on tonight's agenda:
1. City Council Priority List ‐ Draft Review, item #32
On it
em #32, I urge council to be more specific.
"Refine programmatic timeline for future bike improvements" --> we should create a timeline to build all priority projects in the Bike Master Plan
" Create a pedestrian master plan implementation plan" --> Does it really take all year to make a plan to implement a plan? Can we also identify quick-build projects that can be implemented this year?
2. Complete Streets Plan ‐ Introduction & Community Engagement
I strongly support the design of streets that are truly complete, which means making streets safe and welcoming for people on foot and on bike. San Mateo roads are too often designed for cars with pedestrians and bicycles as an afterthoug
ht. It's past time to correct that imbalance by prioritizing design for people over design for cars.
3. Leaf blowers
Gas leaf blowers create air pollution hazardous to health, with few benefits. When I lived in Palo Alto, where gas leaf blowers are banned, the landscapers were fine using an ele ctric blower and the cost was basically the same. Why
continue to subject residents and workers to hazardous fumes when there are perfectly good alternatives available?
Thank you,
Lisa Rayle
61 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Patrice Olds
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 2:15 PM
To: Andrea Chow; Martin McTaggart
Subject: Fwd: Leaf blower ordinance.
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Rick
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 2:12:13 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo) <[email protected]> Subject: Leaf blower ordinance.
Good afternoon,
I never seen anyone using a leaf blower (gas or electric) collect the debris and take it away. Have you? The debris gets blown onto the street or the neighbors property. This ends up in the storm drain system and clogs it up and eventually the pollutants flow into the SF Bay which is a violation of the Clean Water Act. A bro
om and a rake are the Green zero
emissions alternative. If we are banning everything that is gas or gasoline powered allowing gasoline leaf blowers, that sends the wrong message to everyone.
sincerely
Rick Sakuda
San Mateo, CA
62 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Elaine Salinger
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:03 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Citizens Climate Lobby members' comments about Leaf Blowers Dear Mayor Lee, Deputy Mayor Dias Nash, Councilmembers Loraine, Newsom and Hedges,
The San Mateo County chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby has the following comments on Item 2 of the March 20 Special Meeting of the City Council related to Leaf Blower Regulations. We have 1000 members in SMC and 200 members living in the City of San Mateo.
Recommendations for Regulations of Leaf Blowers
1. Effective January 1, 2026 or sooner, ban use of all gasoline powered landscaping equipment in San Mateo (an expansion of policy option two in the staff report).
2. Immediately enforce the widely ignored operating hours for leaf blowers; and enforce the limits on noise levels.
3. Expand the electric leaf blower rebate program to include batteries.
4. Use alternative landscaping methods that include leaving the leaves on the ground, letting the grass grow longer, and/or trimming shrubbery less often and educate the public. (Please see this link. for a good explanation of why this is beneficial.)
5. Have the Parks Dept trial mulch mowing and other ways to leave fallen leaves, like placing leaf piles around tree bases to protect tree roots.
Discussion of Recommendations
After January 1, 2024, new gasoline powered leaf blowers and other new gasoline powered equipment such as hedge trimmers can no longer be sold in California. The staff report for the March 20 City Council meeting very correctly outlines the reasoning: the environmental damage done by one hour of gasoline powered leaf blowers is equivalent to the emissions from driving a Toyota Camry for 1,100 miles.
Besides creating annoying noise pollution and carbon pollution, gas leaf blowers blow away topsoil, blow away pollinator larvae that live in the leaf litter, and blow away annual flower seeds. Over time, the ground that has been blown is visibly eroded and barren. While electric blowers have the same problems, because they are no t as powerful, the environmental damage is less severe.
However, we do recognize that as long as landscapers are expected to remove every leaf, it will be economically challenging for them to cease operations of all leaf blowers. Although leaves, grass clippings and
63 of 68
2 other material can be hand raked and swept, very few, if any, homeowners or businesses would be willing to pay the higher labor cost such hand work would require. Actually, leaf litter is nature's best mulch. And about 3” of mulch is recommended to reduce water needs and keep plant roots cool . What is really needed is education of the public to accept landscaping that is more natural.
We thank the City for their electric leaf blower rebate program, and the California Air Resources Board for their recent launch of a voucher incentive program for zero emission landscape equipment, referred to as the CORE program, available to landscape professionals. We understand that the leaf blower battery may not last the entir
e day and landscapers will need to carry extra batteries. One solution is to expand the landscape professionals' rebate for electric leaf blowers to include additional batteries.
In addition to air pollution, gasoline powered leaf blowers create significant noise pollution and thus, by San Mateo Municipal Code, may legally be operated only between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM in residential and adjacent areas. Please note that during hours of legal operation, the Municipal Code also sets some very clear noise level s
tandards. Unfortunately, in San Mateo, the hours of operation and sound level limitations are widely ignored, especially in commercial and office areas adjacent to residential properties.
An outright ban on gasoline powered landscaping equipment, effective January 1, 2026, gives landscape professionals almost three years to find electric battery powered alternatives. With financial assistance from the CORE program and the City’s rebates, this is an equitable and fair approach.
Finally, the problem of leaf blowers potentially could be addressed through alternative landscaping methods that involve less frequent use of leaf blowers, which would also yield other environmental benefits. The Parks and Recreation Department could try leaving the leaves on the ground to create natural mulch and provide habitat for the creatures . However, this was not on the objectives list from the City Council, and therefore, further awareness and public education of this option is needed.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Elaine Salinger, Group Co-Leader
San Mateo County Chapter
64 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Nancy Schneider
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:34 PM
To: Clerk
Subject: Revised letter on Leaf Blower regulations
Hello Patrice ‐‐
Would you please replace the letter I sent a few minutes ago with the one below. I made a change on the signature.
Thank you,
Nancy
Dear Mayor Lee, Deputy Mayor Diaz Nash, Councilmembers Loraine, Newsom and Hedges,
The San Mateo Climate Action Team has the following comments on Item 2 of the March 20 Special Meeting of the City Council related to Leaf Blower Regulations.
Recommendations for Regulations of Leaf Blowers
1. Effective January 1, 2026 or sooner, ban use of all gasoline powered landscaping equipment in San Mateo (an expansion of policy option two in the staff report).
2. Immediately enforce the widely ignored operating hours for leaf blowers; and enforce the limits on noise levels.
3. Expand the electric leaf blower rebate program to include batteries.
4. Use alternative landscaping methods that include leaving the leaves on the ground, letting the grass grow longer, and/or trimming shrubbery less often and educate the public. (Please see this link. for a good explanation of why this is beneficial.)
5. Have the Parks Dept trial mulch mowing and other ways to leave fallen leaves, like placing leaf piles around tree bases to protect tree roots.
Discussion of Recommendations
After January 1, 2024, new gasoline powered leaf blowers and other new gasoline powered equipment such as hedge trimmers can no longer be sold in California. The staff report for the March 20 City Council meeting very correctly outlines the reasoning: the environmental damage done by one hour of gasoline powered leaf blowers is equivalent to the emissions from driving a Toy ota Camry for 1,100 miles.
Besides creating annoying noise pollution and carbon pollution, gas leaf blowers blow away topsoil, blow away pollinator larvae that live in the leaf litter, and blow away annual flower seeds. Over time, the ground that has been blown is visibly eroded and barren. While electric blowers have the same problems, because they are no t as powerful, the environmental damage is less severe.
However, we do recognize that as long as landscapers are expected to remove every leaf, it will be economically challenging for them to cease operations of all leaf blowers. Although leaves, grass clippings and
65 of 68
2 other material can be hand raked and swept, very few, if any, homeowners or businesses would be willing to pay the higher labor cost such hand work would require. Actually, leaf litter is nature's best mulch. And about 3” of mulch is recommended to reduce water needs and keep plant roots cool. What is needed is education of the public to accept landscaping that is more natural.
We thank the City for their electric leaf blower rebate program, and the California Air Resources Board for their recent launch of a voucher incentive program for zero emission landscape equipment, referred to as the CORE program, available to landscape professionals. We also note that the experience of some of our members with electric leaf blowers has been like that of the San Mateo Parks Department: battery life makes switching from gasoline to electric a challenge. One solution is to expand the landscape professionals' rebate for electric leaf blowers to include additional batteries.
In addition to air pollution, gasoline powered leaf blowers create significant noise pollution and thus, by San Mateo Municipal Code, may legally be operated only between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM in residential and adjacent areas. Please note that during hours of legal operation, the Municipal Code also sets some very clear noise level standards. Unfortunately, in San Mateo, the hours of operation and sound level limitations are widely ignored, especially in commercial and office areas adjacent to residential properties.
An outright ban on gasoline powered landscaping equipment, effective January 1, 2026, gives landscape professionals almost three years to find electric battery powered alternatives. With financial assistance from the CORE program and the City’s rebates, this is an equitable and fair approach.
Finally, the problem of leaf blowers potentially could be addressed through alternative landscaping methods that involve less frequent use of leaf blowers, which would also yield other environmental benefits. The Parks and Recreation Department could try leaving the leaves on the ground to create natural mulch and provide habitat for useful creatures. However, this was not on the objectives list from the City Council, and therefore, further awareness of this option is needed.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Nancy Schneider and Elaine Salinger on behalf of the
180 Members of the San Mateo Climate Action Team
66 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Patrice Olds
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 1:20 PM
To: Andrea Chow; Martin McTaggart
Subject: Fwd: Ban gas-powered leafblower use
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Carol Steinfeld
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 1:01:03 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo) <[email protected]> Subject: Ban gas‐powered leafblower use
Councillors:
Please ban use of gas‐powered leafblowers—for at least residential use as an interim measure until a complete ban is enacted.
A study shows that gas lea
fblowers do not increase cost to the yard workers. But if if it did, this cost must be charged to the customers.
After all, yard maintenance is a discretionary cost, and I feel my neighbors should pay more for polluting the air, creating noise, and harming insects/plants/wildiife, as well as damaging ev eryone's health, including the yard workers'.
You might look at the Palo Alto regulations as a model.
Yard workers know the days of gas powered leafblowers are coming to an end.
Thank you.
Carol Steinfeld
67 of 68
1 Martin McTaggart
From: Maggie Trinh
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 9:22 AM
To: Clerk
Subject: Agenda Item #2 - Gas Leaf Blowers
To the City Council:
I am writing in my personal capacity to strongly urge a ban on gas leafblowers. We have in the past used landscaping services that used gas leafblowers and they created lots of noxious fumes that are unpleasant and dangerous to breathe in, similar to standing next to an idling pic kup truck (but much worse). We purchased an electric leafblower for the landscaping service to use, which was better from an environmental standpoint. The landscaper simply plugged it into an outlet on the side of our house using a long extension cord, which will be sufficient for the vast majority of residential jobs and will not require carrying a ba
ttery at all. I believe the fears of costs being passed onto the consumer are much exaggerated; electricity is much cheaper than gas, which customers are already paying for. And it will be much healthier for the people actually operating the leafbl owers who have to breathe in these fumes day after day. Banning gas leafblowers will be a step in the right direction ‐‐ we need to do everything we can to address the climate change crisis.
On a side note: I recognize that everyone will have different needs and preferences for how they clean up their yards, particularly commercial applications, but I have actua
lly stopped using these services altogether and my soil is much healthier and more productive and absorbs more rainwater, avoiding runoff/flooding.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Maggie Trinh
68 of 68