SA N
City of San Mateo
City Council Meeting
CALIFORNIA
POST PACKET
PUBLIC COMMENT
From: Mignon Belongie
To: Clerk; Rich Kranz
Subject: comment for City Council meeting about leaf blowers Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 8:27:42 AM
I'm a long time resident of San Mateo, and I wholeheartedly support a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.
Thanks,
Mignon Belongie
From: Dustin Chase
To:
Subject: Blue Sky - Gas leaf blower ban
Date: Friday, February 21, 2025 1:12:37 PM
Good afternoon,
I am a former San Mateo resident. I was forced to move out under emergency circumstances because gas leaf blower pollution was ruining my health.
This matter no longer directly affects me. In my new home, I can walk freely about my neighborhood. I can also enjoy the city's parks and other public spaces without fear. I believe my former neighbors in San Mateo are owed the same freedom.
In the past, this city council has protected gas leaf blowers. By law, you can use a gas leaf blower all day, 6 days a week. In reality, you can use one whenever and wherever you wish.
Everyone else has no choice but to somehow adapt to the extreme pollution these tools spread.
Other businesses suffer. I rarely go to San Mateo because leaf blowers are virtually everywhere. I made the mistake of planning a day with my wife there recently, and was forced to abandon those plans because 2 people were running leaf blowers outside the spa we planned to use. I watched one of those people blowing a few grass trimmings all the way across the parking lot, breathing unburned gas and oil, toxic fumes and ruining his hearing, and knowing he would swear there was no other way to do his work. It's like watching someone repeatedly smack themselves in the head with a frying pan while insisting he has no other choice. The spa owner said they and the other businesses in the building had complained repeatedly about the noise and fumes because they disrupt therapy and other services. Those complaints are ignored. Too bad, other businesses. Gas leaf blowers are more important than you or your customers.
People simply trying to enjoy their own homes in San Mateo are struggling. Gas leaf blower noise is shockingly loud and virtually unblockable. My last resort before I moved away was wearing layers of ear defense 12 hours a day. I could not speak to my wife. We communicated with notes and hand signals. Is that fair? Obviously, no.
Businesses struggle. Other residents struggle. But these are necessary landscaping tools, right? Wrong.
First, the tool operators are facing hearing loss, serious disease and premature death all for the sake of clearing leaves. It's insane.
Second, safer, zero emission electric tools are a mature, proven technology. The need for leaf blowers is questionable, but if the industry insists on using them, the least it can do is use the much safer version. It will have to adapt its approach, but given the dangers and extreme damage gas leaf blowers are doing to San Mateo, it is very little to ask.
Not to mention businesses will benefit from the vastly lower operating costs of electric tools.
The upfront cost is diffused by San Mateo's own rebate program and rebate programs in Burlingame, Redwood City and, soon, another round of funding from the state of California.
Enforcement is largely solved with citizen affidavits, eliminating the need for on-site inspections. I believe you already have the necessary technical infrastructure to handle online complaints. I'm not sure what issues remain with enforcement, but I'm happy to help with them if I can.
I think outreach to property owners is the best first step. If they knew their landscaper was unwittingly poisoning them, property owners would quickly demand a change. No one wants to breathe lingering carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and a number of other toxic substances.
They should not have to.
I appreciate your consideration of this important environmental justice initiative. I hope I can report to the community that this initiative is finally moving forward.
Thank you,
Dustin
https://quietcleansanmateo.org
From:
To:
Subject: Gas gardening tools
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 11:31:01 AM
Hello,
I am a homeowner in San Mateo. I cannot attend the meeting this Saturday but would like to add my name to the list of people who would like to impose a band on gas powered blowers, leaf trimmers And string trimmers.
Mary Hargrove
From: Carolyn Healy
To: Clerk
Subject: Leaf blower elimination request
Date: Monday, February 17, 2025 7:02:53 PM
Dear City Council,
I am in favor of San Mateo getting rid of gas leaf blowers. Practically very day, including Saturdays, I am blasted awake in my neighborhood at 8:00 a.m. from the gardeners using gas blowers at the homes that surround my home (six homes). The blowers are unhealthy, make a lot of noise and air pollution and cause residential stress. The arguments in favor of continuing their use are outdated, and really not justifiable. Most of the surrounding cities have eliminated their use. Why can't we?
Regards,
Carolyn Healy
From:
To:
Subject: Ban on leaf blowers
Date: Monday, February 17, 2025 7:11:03 PM
We want our voices heard to support the ban even though we cannot attend the hearing. How can we hear about the results of the meeting?
Robert Kauser
Sent from my iPhone
From: Carol Wilhelmy
To: Clerk
Cc: Andrea Chow; City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Sat Feb 22 Blue Sky meeting public comment
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 1:33:36 PM
Dear City Council and City Manager,
Gas-powered leaf blowers, string trimmers and hedge trimmers create massive noise and air pollution, which cause all kinds of health problems for many people, pets and wildlife. But those most affected are the operators of the tools themselves.
I support Lisa Diaz Nash's proposal to "Develop and implement an ordinance to prohibit the use of gas leaf blowers within the City of San Mateo."
This morning I saw this [ slightly edited for brevity ] in the Tri-Valley Air Quality Climate Alliance (TVAQCA) newsletter:
"Switching to an electric leaf blower has the benefits of reducing air and noise pollution, protecting our health, and saving operating expenses over time. More electric models are available to do the job needed, so there's no compelling reason to continue using gas-powered leaf blowers. The City of Pleasanton made the responsibly proactive decision to counter air pollution in the airshed and protect the quality of life for its residents. It is said that we protect what we love, and for those who love living in Pleasanton, the choice is obvious."
TVAQCA also invited the community to help their landscapers make their transition. Let's follow their good example. Here are some ideas that would help to achieve our goal within a 6-month grace period:
• Tell your landscape professional about the city's electric leaf blower rebate program:
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4544/Electric-Leaf-Blower-Rebate • Use the city's residential rebate program to purchase an electric tool for use by your landscaper while on your property, or gift an electric tool to your landscaper.
• Pay your landscaper for service one or two months in advance to help finance initial electric tool costs.
• Invite your landscaper to recharge batteries at your property. • Offer to pay for your landscaper's City of San Mateo business license fee/renewal so they can take advantage of the rebate. https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/304/Business-License
• Or better yet, tell your landscaper that you do not want a sterile, leat-free yard. Ask them to clear the hard surfaces only, with a broom, and leave the leaves around the plants to improve soil health.
My cohorts and I can help reduce city staff's workload for this project. For example, we have already drafted clear ordinance language and outreach materials. We are ready to hit the ground running; please let us know how we can assist.
Let's protect what we love. Together as a community, we can move the needle toward public health and economic equity.
Sincerely,
Carol Wilhelmy
San Mateo resident, District 5
From: Cassie Zhu
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Subject: Blue Sky: Dog Park
Date: Monday, February 17, 2025 9:10:23 PM
Attachments: IMG 6303.HEIC
Hello
My name is Cassie Zhu and I live near Central Park in San Mateo. Please add making a permanent dog park to the main plans of Central Park to your agenda for this next year. It is necessary that Central Park has a permanent place for dogs and a well kept dog park. My dog Musubi needs the space as do many others. I also ask that in the interim you extend the baseball field hours to make it more usable and beneficial.
Please add the dog park to the Blue Sky meeting and make this a priority for the majority of the residents who live near Central Park.
IMG_6303.HEIC
Thank you,
Cassie & Musubi