pages: PlanningBoard/2021-05-24.pdf, 8
This data as json
body | date | page | text | path |
---|---|---|---|---|
PlanningBoard | 2021-05-24 | 8 | 7-D 2021-953 Public Hearing to Consider Recommending the City Council Adopt an Ordinance to Amend Alameda Municipal Code Chapter XXIV (Public Health) to Impose a Citywide Prohibition of Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers, Effective January 1, 2024. The proposed amendment is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), where it can be seen with certainty that the proposed ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers will not have a significant effect on the environment. No further environmental review is needed. Staff Member Tai introduced this item. The staff report and attachments can be found at https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4953603&GUID=6B959E97- 9FEO-4BBE-B9F2-C96E85FC51B6&FullText=1. Vice President Saheba opened the board's clarifying questions. Board Member Ruiz wanted to know why they were not also addressing the noise pollution component. Staff Member Tai said that could be a point for discussion. They focused on this work because the California Air Resource Board (CARB) had specified this as an action item to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. If the board and the council believed that the noise should be front and center then they would need to redraft the ordinance. He explained the further changes and details they would need to address if they focused on the noise aspect of gas-powered leaf blowers. Board Member Cisneros asked if electric leaf blowers were quieter. Staff Member Tai said that was not the case. Board Member Hom asked if the city was currently using electric leaf blowers. Director Thomas said that the Parks Department was in the process of converting over to electric leaf blowers. However, some contractors who work for Public Works were still using gas. Staff Member Tai added that landscapers prefer gas-powered leaf blowers since they were much more powerful. The electric leaf blowers tend to be less powerful and less durable. Board Member Rothenberg pointed out that the staff report used data from the CARB report from 2000. She wanted to know if the staff had looked at any other updated statistics. Approved Planning Board Minutes Page 8 of 11 May 24, 2021 | PlanningBoard/2021-05-24.pdf |