CC 10-20-2020 Item No. 10 Leaf Blower Regulations_Staff PresentationOctober 20, 2020Leaf Blower RegulationsCC 10-20-20 Item No. 10
Background●FY 20/21 CC Work Program Item●Noise concerns●Policies and ordinances in other cities
Current Regulations●No specific regulations re: leaf blowers●“Landscape maintenance activities” regulated under CMC Chapter 10.48 Community Noise Control●Exemptfrom noise standards:●Daytime: 60 decibels; Nighttime: 50 dBA●Hours of operation: As specified in the Code
Complaints –Data Jan. 2015 – Jul. 2020Complaints –Data Jan. 2015 – Jul. 2020Leaf BlowersCommercial/OfficeSingle-Family ResidentialMulti-FamilyTotalToo Loud 2 1 0 3Too Early 4 2 1 7Loud & Early 2 3 0 5Total 8 6 1 15Other Landscape Complaints (maybe Leaf Blowers)Commercial/OfficeSingle-Family ResidentialMulti-FamilyTotalToo Loud 1 1 0 2Too Early 0 9 1 10Loud & Early 0 0 0 0Total 1 10 1 12
Comparison of Existing Leaf Blower RegulationsComparison of Existing Leaf Blower RegulationsJurisdiction Residential Zones All other Zones Noise LevelPalo AltoGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowed65 dBA or less measured 50 feet from source*SunnyvaleGas and electric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowed65 dBA or lower at 50 feet on residential properties and non-residential sites adjacent to residential sites*Los AltosGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedLimited by zoning district (45 dBA in R1 zones to 60 dBA in Commercial zones)* SaratogaGas and electric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowed65 dBA or less measured 50 feet from source*Los GatosGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowed65 dBA or less measured 50 feet from source*Cupertino (Existing - No specific regs)Gas and electric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowedExempt from noise limits in Municipal Code*ANSI Methodology or equivalent
Comparison of Hours of OperationComparison of Hours of OperationJursidiction Weekdays Saturday Sunday HolidaysPalo Alto 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prohibited ProhibitedSunnyvale 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.Los Altos 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Saratoga 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prohibited No mentionLos Gatos 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prohibited ProhibitedCupertino (Current)8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Proposed Leaf Blower RegulationsNoise limitations:Limit noise to 65dBA at 50 feet by allowing only “Certified leaf blowers”Type of blower by use:Electric leaf blowers: Allowed in all zonesGas leaf blowers: Allowed in all zones except single family residences, duplexes and tri-plexesHours of operation: No changes proposed to hours of operation
Comparison of Proposed RegulationsComparison of Proposed RegulationsJurisdiction Residential Zones All other Zones Noise LevelPalo AltoGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowed65dBA or less measured 50 feet from source*SunnyvaleGas and electric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowed65 dBA or lower at 50 feet on residential properties and non-residential sites adjacent to residential sites* Los AltosGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedLimited by zoning district (45 dBA in R1 zones to 60 dBA in Commercial zones)*SaratogaGas and electric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowed65 dBA or less measured 50 feet from source*Los GatosGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedGas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowed65 dBA or less measured 50 feet from source*Cupertino (Proposed)Gas blowers prohibitedElectric blowers allowedGas and electric blowers allowed 65 dBA or less measured 50 feet from source**ANSI Methodology or equivalent
Proposed Effective Date●Two-year grace period (similar to Saratoga)●Education and understanding●Acquisition of new equipment●Outreach Plan:●Citywide postcard mailers●Local nurseries and landscape companies●Cupertino Scene●FAQ page on website
Planning Commission Review – 9.22.20●Voted against adoption of proposed regulations 0-4-1 (absent – Saxena) for following reasons: 1. Lack of necessity based on low number of complaints (~ three/year since 2015);2. Difficulties for Code Enforcement to regulate;3. Inequitably harm small business owners;4. Do not merit passage and is not worthy of advancing, and;5. Overregulation
Environmental Review●Exempt from CEQA by: ●Section 15061 (b) (3)●Section 15308
Public Noticing and OutreachNotice of Public Hearing,Site Notice & Legal AdAgendaLegal ad placed innewspaper (at least 10days prior to hearing)Display ad placed innewspaper (at least 10days prior to hearing)Posted on the City's officialnotice bulletin board (fourdays prior to hearing)Posted on the City ofCupertino’s Web site (fourdays prior to hearing)
Recommended Action ●Find that the proposed actions are exempt from CEQA, and; ●Conduct the first reading and consider adopting the Draft Ordinance.
Proposed Leaf Blower RegulationsProposed Leaf Blower RegulationsCertified Gas-Powered Leaf BlowersCertified Electric Leaf BlowersResidential (single family, duplexes, triplexes)Prohibited PermittedNon-Residential and Multi-family, or Mixed-UsePermitted PermittedCity PropertyPermitted Permitted
Enforcement –Historical DataEnforcement –Historical DataLeaf Blowers (Jan. 2015-Jul. 2020)Property where noise generatedType of ComplaintCommercial/OfficeSingle-Family ResidentialMulti-Family TotalToo Loud2103Too Early4217Loud & Early2305Total86115