The Manhattan Beach reporter states that residents are lobbying the
city of Manhattan Beach to consider a leafblower ban.
More than 20 California cities have already banned or restricted
leafblowers, including communities close in proximity to Manhattan
Beach. Total or partial bans limit or prohibit the use of gas or
electric leafblowers to certain times of the year or day. Most
ordinances carry fines, and manufacturers have strongly contested
these ordinances.
Manhattan Beach residents are pushing to extend the partial ban in
their own town. At this time, the city's noise ordinance limits the
hours of operation of gas-powered leaf blowers between the hours of 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ordinance does not address
electric-powered leaf blowers.
A preliminary meeting revealed that a majority of Manhattan Beach
city council members support the idea of a ban. Yet, council members
did not agree as to whether the resulting law should ban all
leafblowers or gas-powered blowers.
Tim Lilligren is one council member who does not support a
leafblower ban. Lilligren states, "I don't see justification for
the arguments against leaf blowers," he said. "There's a lot
of things that need to be done in the city; sometimes noise has to be
made."
Mayor Jack Cunningham is undecided as to whether he would support a
ban, although he is inclined to agree with ban supporters.
One hundred Manhattan Beach residents have signed a petition asking
the City Council to enact a leafblower ban. Residents object to the
noise and air pollution casued by leafblowers, especially gas-powered
blowers. Eight residents have testified before the city council to
call attention to these issues.
The council requested city staff to do more research and gather
more information about gas powered and electric leaf blowers, as well
as to produce a draft ordinance to ban leaf blowers.
The City Council requested that the city staff prepare its report
in time for the public hearing, to occur at the first September
council meeting.
|