HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-06-03 Ordinance 4754follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 4754
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO AMENDING TITLE 9 (PEACE, MORALS, AND
SAFETY), CHAPTER 9.10 (NOISE), SECTION 9.10.60
OF THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE TO DEFER THE
PROHIBITION ON COMBUSTION-POWERED LEAF BLOWERS
The Council of the City of Palo Al to does ORDAIN as
SECTION 1. The Council hereby finds as follows:
(a) On May 1, 2000, the Council adopted
noise regulations for leaf blowers contained in
9.10, Section 9.10.60, Subsection 9.10.060(f),
of further restricting and regulating the
emissions of leaf blowers throughout the City.
revisions to the
Title 9, Chapter
wi th the intent
noise and dust
(b) Included wi thin these revisions was a prospective
prohibition on the operation of combustion-powered leaf blowers
in residential zones to become effective on July 1, 2002. The
purpose of that prohibi tion was to encourage the production and
usage of battery operated leaf blowers which were anticipated to
be near development and which would significantly lower noise
and pollution emissions compared to combustion-powered leaf
blowers.
(c) The Council now finds and determines that battery
powered leaf blowers cannot be anticipated to be commercially
available in acceptable products and quantities until at least
2005, and the Council therefore intends to defer the prohibition
on combustion-powered leaf blowers to July 1, 2005.
(d) Minor editorial changes are also required to clarify
the restrictions on leaf blower noise emission previously
adopted.
SECTION 2. Title 9 [Public Peace, Morals, and Safety],
Chapter 9.10 [Noise], Section 9.10.060 [Special Conditions],
Subsection 9.10.060{f) [Leaf Blowers] of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
(f) Leaf Blowers.
(1) No person shall operate any leaf blower which
does not bear an affixed manufacturer I s label indicating the
model number of the leaf blower and designating a noise level
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020513 cl 0044161
not in excess of sixty-five dBA when measured from a distance of
fifty feet utilizing American National Standard Institute
methodology. Any leaf blower which bears such a manufacturer's
label shall be presumed to comply with any noise level limit of
this chapter provided that it is operated with all mufflers and
full extension tubes supplied by the manufacturer for that leaf
blower. No person shall operate any leaf blower without
attachment of all mufflers and full extension tubes supplied by
the manufacturer for that leaf blower.
No person shall operate any leaf blowers within a
residential zone except during the following hours: nine a.m.
and five p.m. Monday through Friday and ten a.m. and four p.m.
Saturday. No person shall operate any leaf blower wi thin any
non-residential zone except during the following hours: eight
a.m. and six p.m. Monday through Friday, and ten a.m. to four
p. m. Saturday. No person shall operate any leaf blowers on
Sundays and holidays. No person shall operate any leaf blower
powered by an internal combustion engine within any residential
zone after July 1, 2005. Commercial operators of leaf blowers
are prohibited from operating any leaf blower within the city if
they do not prominently display a certificate approved by the
Chief of Police verifying that the operator has been trained to
operate leaf blowers according to standards adopted by the Chief
of Police. In addition to all authorizations and restrictions
otherwise provided in this chapter, public streets, sidewalks,
and parking lots in business districts and at the Municipal Golf
Course and all city parks may be cleaned between 4:00 a.m. and
8:00 a.m. using leaf blowers which bear an affixed
manufacturer's label indicating the model number of the leaf
blower and designating a noise level not in excess of sixty-five
dBA when measured from a distance of fifty feet utilizing
American National Standard Institute methodology.
SECTION 3. This ordinance does not constitute a project
having potential effects upon the environment and therefore does
not require environmental review under the California
Environmental Quality Act.
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020513 cl 0044161
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective on the
thirty-first day after the date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED: May 20 1 2002
PASSED: June 3 1 2002
AYES: BEECHAM 1 BURCH 1 KLEINBERG 1 LYTLE 1 MORTON 1 MOSSAR,
OJAKIAN
NOES: FREEMAN 1 KISHIMOTO
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:
~~.~ City Clerk
THIS DOCUMENT IS CERTIFIED TO BE AN
ORDINANCE DULY PASSED BY THE COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AND .i~
~HEREAl-TER POSTEDA~tH.C CDUNOIL '''''~,
Cl-IJ'.I.MBERS ON lL 1)1 1 U:y (WITHIN"
DJ.WS (W ITS PASSAGE) I
"I r;C'i',i!::1or (Jeclnre) under penalty
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020513 cl 0044161
Mayor /
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