pages: CityCouncil/2021-04-06.pdf, 16
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CityCouncil | 2021-04-06 | 16 | Councilmember Herrera Spencer inquired when the City of Alameda anticipates the start of a ban. The Assistant City Manager responded staff is trying to get new building electrification work completed, which will allow staff to turn to the next priority; if Council takes action on new building electrification this Summer, staff can move onto gas powered leaf blowers and other priorities in the CARP. Councilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the ban will begin in fall. The Assistant City Manager responded staff can start the process later in the year; the matter will come down to how Council wants to proceed in terms of timing; staff will work with the Planning, Building and Transportation Department; there will be a lot of community concerns; he does not want to put a date on the matter; however, the process will start later this year and move forward as efficiently as possible. Councilmember Daysog stated after the building electrification work is complete, Council should direct staff to focus efforts on the leaf blower issue. Vice Mayor Vella stated Council is now trying to place the leaf blower ban ahead of the Active Transportation Plan, the General Plan update and parking ordinance amendments; Council discussed the matter last month and came up with an ordering of priorities; she understands Council is hearing from people; however, Council is also hearing about issues related to safe, multimodal transit and the need for housing; she is not inclined to change the order of priorities Council set last month. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she would like clarification; noted Council might be discussing responsibilities of different departments; inquired whether the matter cuts across departments; stated Council will have to take a vote in order to reorder Council-set priorities. The Assistant City Manager responded the matter falls under the Planning, Building and Transportation Department; stated the matter will come through as an ordinance and will need to be regulated by Code Enforcement going forward; Vice Mayor Vella is correct; the annual report prioritized other topics ahead of gas powered leaf blowers; noted due to staff time and efficiency, staff prioritized gas powered leaf blowers lower; staff hears the Council concerns; placing gas powered leaf blowers higher as a priority would take away from other priorities being handled by the Department. Councilmember Daysog stated the matter was originally raised and approved in 2018; the matter has not been followed up on; looking at the matter from said vantage point shows other matters cut ahead in priority. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated Council must look at the matter from a number of different vantage points; there is more to consider than just chronological order; Council must consider what is known about global warming and climate change; buildings are a larger source of greenhouse gas emissions; significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions can occur the sooner building electrification begins; the Department is not as large as they could be and does a lot; Council will make smart choices. Councilmember Knox White stated some things take longer because they are a lower priority; Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 16 April 06, 2021 | CityCouncil/2021-04-06.pdf |