Gas Powered Leaf Blowers in Los Altos Hills AGENDA ITEM #10.A
What are the key issues with gaspowered leaf blowers? Anyone who stays at home in Los Altos Hills during working hours is blasted all day with leaf blower noise, so much so, that one can not even work outside or have lunch on your back deck, it is so disturbing. It is time to let us hear the birds again and get rid of that noise. -Jean Denver (NextDoor.com comment) Gas powered leaf blowers have become ubiquitous in Los Altos Hills, with nearly every homeowner employing a landscape company that uses blowers for an average of 20 minutes every visit. Noise and air pollution from leaf blowers does not respect property lines, and can be very disruptive to neighbors - even those far away - due to the way noise travels in the hills. Several neighboring towns (Los Altos, Palo Alto, Los Gatos) have implemented bans on gas-powered leaf blowers in response to protect their residents Other neighboring towns (Mountain View, Portola Valley, Sunnyvale, Burlingame, and others) are exploring or have explored bans on gas-powered blowers Los Altos Hills should begin to explore whether restrictions on gas-powered blowers are appropriate
Noise Pollution The LAH Exterior Noise Level Standard for machines, tools or appliances is 50 db (measured at property line) during the day. No gas-powered leaf blower meets this standard. Two-stroke engine blowers, typically used by landscape companies, can exceed 100 db, more than 100,000 times louder than the LAH ordinance Noise Sources Machines, tools or appliances Exterior Noise Level Standard (dba) Daytime Nighttime 50 40 However, existing LAH noise ordinances are not enforced. Calls to code enforcement are referred to the sheriff s office, which states that it does not have the manpower to investigate offenders
Air Pollution California Air Resources Board Report [link] Exhaust emissions from leaf blower engines consists of ozone-forming hydrocarbons; carbon monoxide; fine particulate matter; and other toxic air contaminants including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde. Fugitive dust [from blowing] is a mixture of many subclasses of pollutants, each containing many different chemical species. Many epidemiological studies have shown statistically significant associations of ambient particulate matter levels with a variety of negative health endpoints, including mortality, hospital admissions, respiratory symptoms and illness, and changes in lung function. Hydrocarbon emissions from one-half hour of leaf blower operation equals about 2,200 miles of driving, at 30 miles per hour average speed. Most landscapers use leaf blowers with two-stroke engines, which are light enough to carry but produce significant exhaust and noise. The gas and oil mix together, and about a third of it does not combust. As a result, pollutants that have been linked to cancers, heart disease, asthma and other serious ailments escape into the air. -The New York Times, March 2017 [link]
Costs vs Benefits We accept noise and air pollution from some activities, such as road and home construction because we understand them to be ultimately adding value to the community AND we understand them to be temporary Do leaf blowers add commensurate value to the community for the disruption they cause residents? Are leaf blowers a temporary disruption (as sometimes claimed) when they are used every week at every home within earshot? Is permitting gas-powered leaf blowers in keeping with LAH environmental commitments? General Plan Conservation Element (Policy 4.1) Mayor s Climate Protection Agreement (2006) ICLEI Membership Resolution (2008)
Poll of Residents A poll was conducted via NextDoor.com in October 2017 with the following question: Nearby towns such Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Los Gatos all have bans in place on gas-powered leaf blowers. Would you like to see similar action in Los Altos Hills? 79 responses, 40 respondents supported action on leaf blowers Comments in favor of taking action primarily cited noise and inability to enjoy one s own property Comments opposed to taking action primarily cited a need to blow acorns uphill and greater worries about North Korea (that apparently preclude action on any other issue) Donna Santistevan, Los Altos Hills-Zone 14 The noise drives me nuts. Between that and the construction, it's hard to enjoy the nature up here. Ben Goodger, Los Altos Hills-Zone 8 What's next? A ban on lawnmowers or construction equipment? I agree it's sometimes annoying, but so are barking dogs and other things we can't legislate away. I use mine maybe once every couple of months to clean up before a party. Banning them seems like government overreach.
What Determines Sensitivity to Leaf Blowers? Factors leading to a resident who wants action on leaf blowers: Acoustic exposure to leaf blowers on multiple neighboring properties With an average use of 20-30 minutes per property, and an acoustic exposure to 10 properties, a resident is subjected to acute leaf blower noise 4-5 hours per week. Sensitivity to dust, allergens and other particulate matter blown into air At home during daytime hours Prefers to have open windows and/or be outside on property Occupies property significant amount of spring, summer, and fall months Environmentally minded and aware of environmental impacts of leaf blowers Factors leading to a resident for whom leaf blower use is not a concern: Not at home during day Owns a leaf blower and uses it him/herself Limited acoustic exposure to neighboring properties Limited occupancy during year
Nearby Towns That have banned gas-powered blowers: Los Altos (1991) Use or operation of portable gasoline-powered leaf blowers within the city for any purpose except testing noise levels is unlawful and shall constitute an infraction, punishable as provided by law. Los Gatos (2014) Gasoline leaf blowers prohibited from use in all residential, commercial, and industrial zones or public space. Electric leaf blowers in excess of 65 decibels, measured 50 feet from the source, prohibited from use in all residential, commercial, and public spaces. Palo Alto (2005) Gas-powered leaf blowers may not be used in any residential zones by anyone including residents. Other Northern California cities with gas-powered leaf blower bans: Berkeley, Claremont, Piedmont, Mill Valley Nearby towns that are exploring or have explored the issue but not moved to a full ban Portola Valley, Burlingame (specifies models of leaf blowers that meet its noise standards), Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Orinda, Walnut Creek Gas powered leaf blowers degrade the quality of life in Los Gatos by polluting the air, posing multiple health risks for operators and residents, generating high noise levels, and disrupting neighborhood tranquility. Los Gatos Ordinance [Link]
Lessons Learned from Neighboring Towns Gas-powered blower bans have been popular among residents. Los Altos considered loosening its ordinance in 2011 but popular support for the measure resulted in it being maintained as originally written Phased implementation important All did a phased implementation over 1 to 2 years, starting with education about the ban (a soft ban) leading to a a ban where citations could be issued Significant opposition expressed by landscapers via Bay Area Gardeners Association, with likely support of leaf blower manufacturers Enforcement is the key issue Without credible enforcement efforts, bans go unheeded and provide little relief Example: Palo Alto had a Code Enforcement officer, bur that position was cut during 2008 budget crisis. Now complaints go to police, for whom it is a low priority call, and number of citations dropped significantly. Officer needs to witness the violation, so by the time an officer arrives the gas blower user is usually done or gone. When a citation is given, there is no mechanism for follow-up if person does not pay the citation. When code enforcement position added in 2016, 400 complaints led to 250 notices and 7 citations When there is a citation, who is responsible? The homeowner or landscaper? Palo Alto s experience suggest it needs to be the homeowner Los Gatos allows for the fining of the property owner, potentially giving ordinance more teeth
Recommendations The City Council take meaningful steps to ensure that existing LAH noise ordinances are observed and enforced. This would effectively address gas-powered leaf blowers without the need for any new ordinances Requesting a subcommittee, such as the Environmental Initiatives Committee, or a special-purpose committee if a standing committee is not appropriate, take on the issue of leaf blowers Education could be a first step, via outreach to residents to about the disruption caused by leaf blowers and ask for their engagement with their landscapers Explore whether a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers would be appropriate Joining efforts with nearby towns on leaf blowers could potentially be a way to share work and costs Credible and fair enforcement is the key to success
Appendices
Leaf Blowers in the Local News
Leaf Blower vs Vehicle Emissions Source: California Air Resources Board (2000) Source: edmunds.com (2011) Hyrdocarbons NOx CO 2011 Ford Raptor 0.005 0.005 0.276 2012 Fiat 500 0.016 0.010 0.192 Ryobi 4-stroke leaf blower 0.182 0.031 3.714 Echo 2-stroke leaf blower 1.495 0.010 6.445 To equal the hydrocarbon emissions of about a half-hour of yard work with this two-stroke leaf blower, you'd have to drive a Raptor for 3,887 miles, or the distance from Northern Texas to Anchorage, Alaska.
Decibel Chart Each increase in 10 db represents a 10X increase in loudness Range of Leaf Blower Loudness
Relevant Ordinances in Nearby Towns (1 of 5)
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