.
>>> THIS IS THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABLE RENTERS COMMITTEE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY IS FRIDAY
AUGUST 19, 2022.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
WOULD THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J.
LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE BUT WILL BE
PRESENTING A BILL FROM HIS
OFFICE.
TODAY WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE
AGENDA, THE RESOLUTION SPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN
REGARDING THE ENDING OF THE USE
OF GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS IN
SEATTLE.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE?
>> THERE ARE FOUR IN CHAMBERS
AND THREE REMOTE SO SEVEN TOTAL.
>> OKAY, SO WE HAVE SEVEN
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SPEAKERS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
EACH.
SORRY, TED YOU SHOULD READ OUT
THE NAMES FROM CHAMBERS FIRST
AND THEN WE WILL CALL ON THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE SIGNED
UP REMOTELY.
AND GO AHEAD.
>> SO IN CHAMBERS WE HAVE
MARGARITE, PEGGY, KATHLEEN
BAKER.
>> MY NAME IS MARGARITE RA
SHARD.
.
>> ONE MOMENT, I'M GETTING IT
CUED UP AND READY.
OKAY GO FOR IT.
>> YES MY NAME IS MARGARITE RA
SHARD AND I'M HERE AGAIN TODAY.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY
ABOUT THE LEAF BLOWERS.
I SEE RENTERS RIGHTS AND I FEEL
MY RIGHTS ARE CONTINUEDLY BEING
VIOLATED UP UNDER THE LAW AS FAR
AS PAYING MY RENT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE NOWADAYS YOU'RE
PAYING YOUR RENT TO BE
SABOTAGING AND KILLED AND IN
YOUR UNIT AND I DON'T APPRECIATE
THAT, OKAY?
I'M SPEAKING OUT ABOUT IT SO
ENOUGH PEOPLE REGULATING TIME
DOWN HERE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE
SITUATION AND SIT SHOULD HAVE
MOVED IN ON THE SITUATION BY
NOW.
SO I SEE WE HAVE TO TREAT THESE
SITUATIONS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED
WITH TRUMP.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD FEEL SORRY FOR
ANYBODY THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE
LOCKED UP IN PRISON OR JAIL.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY WOULD
LIKE THAT TYPE OF SITUATION,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE FEDERAL LAW
SAYS ABOUT DEALING WITH THE
HANDICAP AND DISABLED.
IF YOU INJURE THEM, YOU CAN HAVE
TEN YEARS AND IF THEY DIE FROM
THEIR INJURIES, YOU CAN GET LIFE
IN PRISON.
I AM READY FOR MYSELF, THAT'S
FEDERAL.
FEDERAL LAW.
SO I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A
MANDATE ALREADY SET IN A SYSTEM
ALREADY SET UP NOT ONLY FOR
HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE WHEN
PEOPLE GO OUT THERE THEY'RE
CLEANING UP MESS.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE GOD LOVES
EVERYBODY BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE STUFF GOING ON.
PEOPLE ARE OUT IN THE STREETS
OFTEN TIMES BECAUSE THEY LIVE UP
UNDER SLUM LORDS FOR SO LONG
THEY DIDN'T HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO
GO BUT THE STREETS.
AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY
TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM THAT IT
WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
NOT JUST TELLING THEM PEOPLE
THAT THEY CAN GO INTO A HOTEL
AND LIVE.
>>> CAROLYN FOLLOWED BY PEGGY
AND KATHLEEN.
>> I'M GOING TO STAND OVER HERE.
I CAN SPEAK LOUDLY ENOUGH, CAN
YOU HEAR ME?
I'M CAROLYN MALONE AND I LIVE AT
910 MARION STREET.
I'M A PRETTY CONFIDENT SPEAKER
SO MY VOICE SHOULDN'T BE
QUAVERING AS IF SOMEBODY HAS A
MACHINE ON ME.
SO I AM HERE TODAY AGAIN ABOUT
MY RENTERS RIGHT.
I AM UNDER SEED SURVEILLANCE AND
NICOLE KNEELS THE, THE PROPERTY
MANAGER OPERATES IN SECRECY.
SHE KEEPS ESCALATING MY RENT
PAYMENT YET TELLING ME A BALANCE
DUE OF $1,630 IS A CREDIT.
WELL, IT SHOULD SAY CREDIT.
BALANCE DUE ON STATEMENTS MEANS
YOU OWE THAT AMOUNT.
AND WHEN I INQUIRE OF THE
MANAGERS, I'M SIMPLY TOLD IT'S A
GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM AND THEY
ARE CORRECTING IT.
IT SHOULDN'T HAVE REACHED ME IF
IT'S A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON ON FOR
TWO MONTHS AND BECAUSE I PROTEST
AGAINST SEATTLE POLICE WHO ARE
LOUD AND FREQUENT AND LIVE ON
THE PREMISES, I AM OPERATED
AGAINST AND I THINGS HAPPEN TO
ME.
I SHOULDN'T LOSE MY TRAIN OF
THOUGHT.
WEIRD THINGS IN MY APARTMENT
HAPPEN.
I'M LOCKED OUT OF MY APARTMENT
OFTEN EACH DAY.
IT FLASHES RED.
I SMELL PEPPER SPRAY IN MY
APARTMENT AND I'M FLED WITH
EVICTION CONSTANTLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU DON'T
COMPLETE A WORK ORDER CORRECTLY,
YOU WILL BE GIVEN A TEN DAY
NOTICE AND EVICTION, VACATE THE
PREMISES.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
ANYONE WHO CALLS ME A LIAR, I
SAY LET'S GO PUBLIC AND TALK
ABOUT IT.
STOP ACTING AGAINST ME IN
PRIVACY AND AGAINST MY RENT.
I WON'T CONTINUE TO COME HERE
AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE CRIMES
COMMITTED AT CHANCERY.
>> PEGGY PRINCE FOLLOWED BY
KATHLEEN BAKER AND THEN ANOTHER
PERSON SIGNED UP, JAKE MALONE.
>>> HELLO I'M PEGGY PRINCE.
AS A CO-FOUNDER OF QUIET CLEAN
SEATTLE, I'M DELIGHTED TO
SUPPORT RESOLUTION 32064 PHASING
OUT GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS.
HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS AND
THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL
MEDIA SHARE MY ENTHUSIASM.
I AM WELL AWARE THE RISKS OF
ACUTE AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS
THAT BLOWERS CAUSE FOR THE
WORKERS WHO USE THEM.
AND THIS AS WELL AS NOISE SHOULD
BE AT THE TOP OF LIST OF HARMS
AS WE CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION.
THEN WITH THE MANY ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES THESE MACHINES PRESENT.
USING TWO STROKE ENGINES MAKES
THEM SERIOUS SOURCES OF AIR
POLLUTION.
RUNNING ONE EMITS AS MUCH SMOG
FORMING POLLUTION AS DRIVING
FROM HERE TO LA ACCORDING TO THE
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES BOARD.
FURTHER MOTHER, THE GREEN HOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS WHILE
COMPARATIVELY MINOR ARE
MEASURABLE.
ANOTHER CALIFORNIA STUDY SHOWS A
TYPICAL GAS BLOWER EMITTING
150 METRIC TONS OF CO2 A YEAR.
MY MAIN GRIEVANCE IS THEIR
THREAT TO WILDLIVS.
BLOWERS FRIGHTEN BIRDS AND
BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND DISRUPT
OR DESTROY THEIR HABITAT.
LEAVE THE LEAVES.
IT'S BECOME A WATCH WARD FOR
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING.
YARD WORKERS WILL STILL HAVE
PLENTY TO DO PRUNING, WEEDING
AND TRIMMING, SWEEPING AND
RAKING.
THEY WILL BE SAFER AND
HEALTHIER.
AND THEY WILL SAVE MONEY.
NOT FILLING THEIR GAS TANKS.
YOUR WISE AND TIMELY RESOLUTION
ENCOURAGES THE CITY TO
EVENTUALLY PHASE OUT BOTH KINDS
OF LEAVE BLOWERS GAS AND
ELECTRIC.
ALL BLOWERS ARE POWER HUNGRY AT
A TIME WHEN WE MUCH MAKE GREATER
TO RESERVE ENERGY.
THIS RESOLUTION IS AN ESSENTIAL
FIRST STEP FOR A QUIET AND CLEAN
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
.
>> KATHLEEN BAKER FOLLOWED BY
JAKE MALONE.
>>> HI I'M CAG LEAN BAKER AND I
HATE LEAF BLOWERS.
I HATE THE NOISE THROUGHOUT THE
DAY, THE DAMAGE TO THE
ENVIRONMENT AND I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE
LANDSCAPE WORKERS THAT USE THEM.
SEATTLE IS BEHIND.
CITIES IN COLORADO, CALIFORNIA,
TEXAS AND ILLINOIS,
MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW JERSEY,
NEW YORK AND VERMONT HAVE BANNED
OR LIMITED THEIR USE.
JAY ENSLY BANNED THEIR USE AT
THE CAPITOL IN 2014 SAYING
THEY'RE TOO LOUD AND NOT GREEN
ENOUGH.
CARLISLE BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE
PROPOSED A CASH FOR LAWN CLUN
KERS BILL WHICH WOULD PROVIDE
$200 TO PURCHASE CLEANER
MACHINES.
I JUST DON'T SEE THE DOWN SIDE.
LANDSCAPERS WILL STILL HAVE JOBS
HEALTHIER ONES AND I HAVE A
FEELING OPRAH'S YARD IN
SANITIZER BARBARA WHERE THEY'RE
BANNED IS STILL LOVELY.
THANK YOU.
.
>> JAKE, OUR LAST IN CHAMBERS
SPEAKER AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO
THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> MY NAME IS JAKE.
GAS BLOWERS RUIN COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION
32064.
WHETHER YOU ARE YOUNG, OLD, POOR
OR RICH, THERE'S A GAS BLOWER
NEARBY YOU'RE NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED BY THE NOISE, DUST AND
FOS SUL FUEL EMISSIONS.
THE EMISSIONS ARE ESPECIALLY BAD
BECAUSE MOST GAS BLOWERS ARE TWO
STROKE ENGINES MEANING THEY BURN
A MIXTURE OF MOTOR OIL AND
GASOLINE ALL WITH 0 EMISSION
CONTROLS LOOK YOUR CAR.
ULTRA FINE PARTICULAR MATTER
EMITTED FROM FOSSIL FUEL
COMBUSTION CAUSES NUMEROUS
HEALTH ISSUES AND RESPONSIBLE
FOR 300,000 DEATH ACE YEAR IN
THE U.S.
MORE THAN COVID IN EACH OF THE
LAST THREE YEARS AND MOST ARE
FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
LANDSCAPERS INHALE THESE
POLLUTANTS MORE THAN ANYONE
ELSE.
NO ONE HAS EVER ADDED THE WORDS
BRING THAT GAS BLOWER OVER
TOWARDS ME.
ALWAYS THE OPPOSITE.
I HOPE THEY GO THE OTHER WAY OR
STOP SOON.
THROUGH DOUBLE PAIN WINDOWS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR HOME I CAN
HEAR THE WAILING CHASING LEAVES
OFF THE GAS.
THIS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A FAR
GREATER LOW FREQUENT SOUND AND
TRANSMIT OVER LONG DISTANCES.
A GAS BLOWER CAN BE HEARD BY THE
NEAREST 90 HOMES AND THAT'S EVEN
MORE WITH MULTIUNIT DWELLINGS
BUT WON'T LANDSCAPERS LOSE JOBS?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IN FACT, IT WILL BE THE
OPPOSITE.
THEY WILL SAVE MONEY.
ANYONE WHO CLAIMS ELECTRICS
AREN'T POWERFUL ENOUGH MUST NOT
BE AWARE THE FASTEST PRODUCTION
CAR IN THE WORLD AT 0-60 MILES
IN 2 SECONDS IS 100% BATTERY
POWERED.
A RECENT JUNE 2022 STUDY SHOWED
ONLY A TEN MONTH PAY BACK FOR AN
EXTREMELY POWERFUL LEAF BLOWER
AND WE CAN AGREE MOST
LANDSCAPERS COULD CUT BACK ON
BLOWING.
DO WE REALLY NEED TO BLOW EMPTY
PARKING LOTS?
THE CALIFORNIA BOARD BANNED ALL
GAS BLOWERS IN THE ENTIRE STATE
AND OTHER EMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY
EMIT MORE POLLUTION THAN THE 16
MILLION CARS.
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
ALEX PEDERSEN RESOLUTION 32064,
THANK YOU.
>>> OUR SPEAKERS SIGNED UP
ONLINE ARE MICHAEL RUBY FOLLOWED
BY WOOD Y WHEELER, NICOLE GRANT
AND SHEILA BISHOP WHO IS NOT
PRESENT.
SO MICHAEL RUBY.
.
>>> GOOD MORNING, MIKE RUBY FROM
WALLING FORD.
TODAY I'M ADDRESSING THE
PROPOSED RESOLUTION ON THE
PHASED OUT OF GASOLINE LEAF
BLOWERS.
I'M THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF
SEATTLE'S NOISE CONTROL
ORDINANCE.
ONE OF OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS WAS
A REQUEST THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD
NEWSPAPERS FOR FOLKS TO SUBMIT A
COUPON WITH THEIR NOISE ANNOY
YANSS AND REMEMBER IN THE EARLY
1970S EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN
SEATTLE HAD A LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
I REMEMBER ONE OF THE MOST
FREQUENT COMMENTS WAS THE NOISE
FROM LEAF BLOWERS ESPECIALLY
EARLY ON A WEEKEND MORNING.
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.
ALL THESE YEARS LATER, TWO CYCLE
LEAVE BLOWERS ARE STILL ONE OF
THE MOST ANNOYING NOISE SOURCES
IN THE CITY.
I SUSPECT ALL OF YOU HAD THE
FOUR CYCLES OF AN INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINE DESCRIBED TO
YOU.
THE LAST CYCLE IS THE EXHAUST OF
THE COMBUSTION GASES BUT THE TWO
CYCLE SKIPS THE STEPS TO CREATE
A MUCH CHEAPER TO BUILD ENGINE.
THE EXHAUST CONTAINS FOR MORE
UNBURNED HYDRO CARBONS AND IT'S
JUST DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS.
TODAY WE ARE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT
THE GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
CAUSING THESE HEAT WAVES WE ARE
ENJOYING THIS SUMMER.
EMISSION INVENTORY STUDIES HAVE
FOUND THESE SMALL ENGINES ARE
ACTUALLY A MAJOR SOURCE OF GREEN
HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN LARGE
PART BECAUSE OF THEIR TWO-CYCLE
DESIGN.
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION THIS
MORNING IS A TIMID SEATTLE
PROCESS STEP ALONG THIS ROAD.
THE DATES FOR ACHIEVING CHANGE
ARE FAR IN THE FUTURE BUT AT
LEAST IT DOES ASK THE EXECUTIVE
TO RESPOND THIS YEAR WITH A
PROGRAM FOR ACHIEVING THE PHASE
OUT.
I URGE YOU TO MOVE THIS TIMID
BUT IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD TODAY
BY VOTING THIS RESOLUTION OUT OF
COMMITTEE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WOODY
WHEELER FOLLOWED BY NICOLE
GRANT, FOLLOWED BY SHEILA BISHOP
WHO IS STILL NOT PRESENT.
>>> WOODY YOU'RE SHOWING UP AS
MUTED.
HIT STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
.
>> HELLO?
>> GOOD YOU'RE READY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS, MY
NAME IS WOODY WHEELER AND I
SUPPORT ENTHUSIASTICALLY
RESOLUTION 3206.
CONSIDER THIS.
HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS FROM JUST
HALF AN HOUR OF YARD WORK WITH A
TWO STROKE GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWER ARE ABOUT THE SAME AS A
3,000 MILE DRIVE FROM TEXAS TO
ALASKA IN A 6,000 FORD F-150 SVP
RAPTOR ICK UP TRUCK.
THIS SHOCKING ANALYSIS CAME FROM
JASON CAVANAUGH, ENGINEERING
EDITOR AT EDMUND'S CAR COMPANY.
MARGARET WRINKLE OPP ED WRITER
IF THE NEW YORK TIMES WROTE,
"THE GASOLINE POWERED LEAVE
BLOWER EXISTS IN A CATEGORY OF
ENVIRONMENTAL HELL ALL ITS OWN.
SPEWING ALONG WITH DEAFENING
NOISE AND CLOUDS OF DUST, OTHER
POLLUTANTS, CARBON MONOXIDE SMOG
FORMING OXIDED AND CARSON
GENERALIC HYDRO CARBONS".
GAS POWERED LEAVE BLOWERS INVADE
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WEEKLY FILLING
THE AIR THE NOISE POLLUTION.
MY WIFE AND I WORK AT HOME BUT
CANNOT MAKE CALLS OR PARTICIPATE
IN ZOOM MEETINGS WHILE THEY ROAR
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.
WE OFTEN LEAVE HOME TO GET WAY
FROM THEM.
WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF BANNING
THIS EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE
TECH NOL IN SEATTLE.
FORTUNATELY ALTERNATIVES EXIST
TO GAS POWERED LEAVE BLOWERS
SPECIFICALLY ELECTRONIC LEAVE
BLOWERS BUT ALSO OLD FASHION
RAKES AND BROOMS WHICH I STILL
USE IN OUR YARD WORK.
80% OF THOSE SURVEYED IN
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN'S
DISTRICT AGREE THAT WE SHOULD
BAN GAS POWERED LEAVE BLOWERS.
MORE THAN 100 OTHER CITIES HAVE
ALREADY DONE SO AT A TIME WHEN
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING HERE
AND NOW, SEATTLE SHOULD BAN THEM
TOO.
VOTE YES ON RESOLUTION 3206.
THANK YOU.
.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER WHO IS
PRESENT IS NICOLE GRANT.
.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
EL HELLO EVERYBODY THIS IS
NICOLE GRANT FROM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF 350 SEATTLE.
WE'RE A CLIMATE ACTIVIST
ORGANIZATION.
WE'RE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS --
SUPPORTING SOCIAL HOUSING, WE'RE
ABOUT NO AMAZON WAREHOUSE ON
RAINIER AVENUE, WE'RE ABOUT A
PARKS LEVY THAT BUILDS CLIMATE
RESILIENCE HUBS IN OUR PARKS FOR
CLIMATE EMERGENCIES LIKE HEAT
WAVES AND WILDFIRE SMOKE, AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF ADMIRATION FOR THE
ACTIVISTS THAT WERE ARRESTED IN
SENATOR PATTY MURRAY'S OFFICE
LAST NIGHT STANDING UP AGAINST
OIL TYCOONS.
SO A LOT OF THINGS AND WE'RE
ALSO ABOUT NUMBER 32064 BILL
ENDING LEAF BLOWERS.
IF SOMEONE KICKED ONE OFF IN OR
NEAR COUNCIL CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW
IT WOULD BE SO UPSETTING.
THEY ARE EXCRUCIATINGLY LOUD.
THEY PUT OUT AN EXHAUST THAT IS
TOXIC.
AND WHEN THERE ARE ELECTRIC
ALTERNATIVES 350 SEATTLE DEMANDS
THEM.
I WAS A WORKER AT KING COUNTY
PARKS PREVIOUSLY IN MY CAREER
AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT I
PERSONALLY IN MY HEART DON'T
LIKE LEAVE BLOWERS.
THE GAS ON YOUR HANDS WHEN
YOU'RE FUELLING AND REFUELLING,
SEEPING INTO YOUR SKIN, THE
WEIGHT ON YOUR BACK, THE NOISE
IN YOUR EARS.
AND THE EXHAUST IN YOUR LUNGS
AND WE'RE OVER THAT TECHNOLOGY.
WE DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT THIS
EFFORT, THANKS.
>>> OUR FINAL SPEAKER, SHEILA
BISHOP IS NOT PRESENT SO SHEILA,
IF YOU'RE LISTENING YOU CAN
EMAIL COUNCILMEMBERS COUNCIL AT
SEATTLE.GOV.
IF THERE ARE NO MORE PRESENT
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>>> OKAY THANK YOU TED AND THANK
YOU TO ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO SPOKE IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE DISCUSSION
OF THE GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWER
RESOLUTION.
I WILL READ THE RESOLUTION INTO
THE RECORD NOW.
RESOLUTION 32064 A RESOLUTION
DECLARING THE CITY COUNCIL'S
INTENTS TO PHASE OUT GAS POWERED
LEAF BLOWERS ESTABLISHING GOALS
AND IDENTIFYING ACTIONS TO MEET
THESE GOALS.
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN HAS
SPONSORED THIS LEGISLATION,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW
WORDS TO BEGIN THIS DISCUSSION
AND THEN INTRODUCE THE
PRESENTERS?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR KSHAMA
SAWANT.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
ENABLING US TO DISCUSS AND
HOPEFULLY VOTE TODAY ON THIS
RESOLUTION TO PHASE OUT GASOLINE
POWERED LEAF BLOWERS.
WHILE INCREASING COMMUNITY
SAFETY, I'M CONFIDENT CITY HALL
HAS THE BAND WITHTO ADDRESS THIS
TOO.
THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR.
THESE FOSSIL FUEL MACHINES WITH
THEIR TOXIC FUMES AND DIRTY
DEBRIS HARM THE WORKERS WHO
OPERATE THEM AND THE COMMUNITIES
THAT ENDURE THEM.
WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF
INFORMATION SOURCES ATTACHED TO
TODAY'S AGENDA AND I WANT TO
THANK THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON EVANS SCHOOL GRADUATE
STUDENTS FOR SKILLFULLY
SUPPLEMENTING OUR RESEARCH.
THE PUBLIC OPINION IS CLEAR.
IN JUST THE PAST 48 HOURS OVER
100 RESIDENTS TOOK TIME FROM
THEIR BUSY DAYS TO SEND E-MAILS
AND MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IN FAVOR
OF THE RESOLUTION.
INFORMAL SURVEY OF MY
CONSTITUENTS LAST MONTH SHOW 82%
OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED WANT TO
OUTRIGHT BAN GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWERS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT
THE RESOLUTION.
THE TREND ACROSS THE NATION IS
CLEAR.
OVER 100 JURISDICTIONS HAVE
BANNED OR PHASING OUT GAS
POWERED LEAVE BLOWERS WHILE
SEATTLE PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A
LEADER ON MANY ISSUES, WE ARE
BEHIND ON ADDRESSING THE HARMS
OF LEAF BLOWERS.
ALL OF CALIFORNIA AND VERMONT
HAVE LEFT US IN THE DUST.
WE'LL BE HEARING FROM ONE
JURISDICTION TODAY ON HOW THEY
GOT IT DONE.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT OUR SEATTLE
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT CARE
ABOUT REDUCING POLLUTIN AND
CARE ABOUT PROTECTING WORKERS
AND HAVE THE POWER TO STOP USING
GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS WILL BE
INSPIRED TO ACT ON THIS JOINT
RESOLUTION.
TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS ON THIS
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERN.
AND AS WE MAKE THE CITY
GOVERNMENT LEAD BY EXAMPLE,
THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME FOR
THE PRIVATE MARKET TO FOLLOW.
WHETHER THAT'S SWITCHING TO
ELECTRIC AND BATTERY POWERED
LEAF BLOWERS OR JUST USING A
RAKE.
TO BE CLEAR, THE RESOLUTION
CALLS FOR ENDING THE YOOS OF GAS
POWERED LEAF BLOWERS IN CITY
GOVERNMENT BY JANUARY 2025 AND
ENDING THE USE OF GAS POWERED
LEAF BLOWERS ELSEWHERE IN THE
CITY BY JANUARY 2027.
THE RESOLUTIONS CONSISTENT WITH
PAST POLICY STATEMENTS FROM THE
CITY COUNCIL BUT A RESOLUTION
IMPLY FEWS THEM AND HOPEFULLY
LOUDER THAN THE NOISE OF LEAF
BLOWERS AND THE RESOLUTION ALSO
UPDATES AND EXPANDS THIS EFFORT
TO FINALLY SPUR ACTION.
FALL IS COMING.
THE SEASON OF FALLING LEAVES IS
COMING AND WITH IT, THE HARMFUL
SOUND, TOXIC FUMES AND FILTHY
DEBRIS OF THESE TERRIBLE
MACHINES.
THIS ISSUE IS DELAYED FOR FAR
TOO LONG BY THE PANDEMIC.
OUR RESOLUTIONS CONSISTENT WITH
PAST POLICY STATEMENTS AND IT'S
NEEDED TO MAKE PROGRESS TO WORK
OUT THE DETAILS TO FANLLY RID
OUR CITIES OF THESE DIRTY FOSSIL
FUEL MACHINES.
PLEASE VOTE TODAY AND VOTE YES,
THANK YOU.
.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN FOR THAT DESCRIPTION.
YOLANDA?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR KSHAMA SAWANT
AND I AM HAPPY TO INTRODUCE
THOSE WHO ARE HERE AT THE
COMMITTEE AS WELL.
>> PLEASE DO.
>> FIRST OF COURSE WE'LL HAVE
YOLANDA HULL FROM CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF WHO WILL BE HERE.
WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL FROM
WASHINGTON D.C. THAT HAS
SUCCESSFULLY BANNED LEAF BLOWERS
ALREADY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHO WE HAVE
TODAY.
I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO HEAR WHAT
OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE SO WE
HAVE A PERSON FROM DC WHO KNOWS
THE MOST.
WE CAN START WITH CENTRAL STAFF
AND HER PRESENTATION, IF THAT
MAKES SENSE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOLANDA COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, LET ME GET MY
PRESENTATION ON THIS SCREEN.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE ARE HERE TODAY
TO TALK ABOUT RESOLUTION 32064
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW
OF WHAT I WILL BE GOING THROUGH,
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWING THE
CONTENT THAT WAS IN THE MEMO I
PROVIDED YESTERDAY TO THE
COMMITTEE.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS
MANY OF WHICH YOU HEARD THROUGH
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND TALK ABOUT
SOME OF THE CITY'S EFFORTS
RELATED TO GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWERS AND CURRENT REGULATIONS
AND JUST GENERALLY HOW MANY ARE
OWNED BY THE CITY AND BRIEFLY
TOUCH ON OTHER JURISDICTIONS
INCLUDING JUST A KICK OVERVIEW
OF DC'S EFFORTS AND THEN PROVOUD
AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESOLUTION
AND SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORK
REQUESTED.
SO FOR DECADES GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWERS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A
SOURCE OF NUISANCE AND NOISE
EVER SINCE THEY WERE INVENTED I
THINK IN THE 70s.
SO IT HAS RESULTED ON
RESTRICTIONS OF USE IN MANY
MUNICIPALITIES.
MORE RECENTLY RESEARCH REVEALED
IT CAN HAVE ADVERSE IMPA PACTS.
NATIONALLY LANDSCAPE WORKERS ARE
DISPORTION NATALIE IDENTIFY AS
LATINO OR HISPANIC AND 46% IN
THE LANDSCAPING SERVICES VERSES
18% IN THE TOTAL WORK FORCE.
AS NOTED BY ONE OF THE
COMMENTERS, GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWERS PARTICULARLY THE MOST
COMMON, THE TWO-STROKE ENGINE
PRODUCES A LOW FREQUENCY SOUND
THAT ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS DO
NOT THAT CAN TRAVEL THROUGH
BUILDING WALLS AND IS PERCEIVED
BY THE HUMAN EAR AS PARTICULARLY
DISRUPTIVE AND CAN BE QUITE
DISTRACTING IN TRYING TO DO YOUR
DAY-TO-DAY WORK IF THERE'S A
LEAF BLOWER OPERATING NEARBY.
THEY ARE ALSO LOUDER THAN
ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS SO SOMEONE
WHO IS OPERATING THE EQUIPMENT
WITHOUT PROPER HEARING
PROTECTION COULD END UP WITH
PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE.
IN REGARD TO THE EMISSIONS OF
GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS, THEY
DO CONTRIBUTE GREEN HOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS BUT COMPARED TO
BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORTATION,
IT'S PRETTY NEGLIGIBLE BUT
AGAIN, NOT USING LESS GAS WILL
ERGO FEWER GREEN HOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS.
BUT MORE IMPACTFUL ON PEOPLE'S
HEALTH IS THAT THEY DO EMIT
EMISSIONS FROM THE BURNT AND
UNBURNT GAS WHICH CAN PRODUCE
OZONE AND RELEASE TOXINS LIKE
CARBON MONOXIDE AND FORMALDEHYDE
THAT CAN CAUSE CANCER AND
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.
ADDITIONALLY, ALL LEAF BLOWERS
WHETHER GAS OR ELECTRIC LIFT
PARTICULATE MATTER INTO THE AIR
AND EXPOSURE TO THAT ALSO KNOWN
AS PM 2.5 HAS BEEN SHOWN TO
CAUSE NEGATIVE CARDIOVASCULAR
HEALTH THAT CAN LEAD TO
PREMATURE DEATH AND LINKED TO
ADVERSE BIRTH OUTCOMES AND
CANCER.
SO ON TO SOME PREVIOUS POLICY
EFFORTS BY THE CITY.
COUNCIL INTEREST IN FURTHERING
RESTRICTION OF THE USE OF GAS
LEAF BLOWERS WAS INITIATED IN
2014 WITH THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT
REQUESTED THAT THEN THE
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS NOW THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REDUCING EMISSIONS AND NOISE
FROM GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS.
THE DEPARTMENTS WE CALL THE
STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
SLIDE SO THE SLIDE RESPONSE
PROVIDED ND EVALUATION OF THE
POTENTIAL PROS AND CONS OF
RESTRICTING USE OF GAS POWERED
LEAF BLOWERS AND ULTIMATELY
RECOMMENDED REGULATORY CHANGES
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT EFFECTIVE
FOR COMMERCIAL USE.
THEY NOTED PROHIBITING THE USE
OF GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS
WOULD CREATE RACIAL EQUITY
ISSUES.
THEY SUGGESTED THEY MODIFY
PROCUREMENT PRACTICES AND
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
DEPARTMENTS AND THE GENERAL
PUBLIC ABOUT BEST PRACTICES FOR
LEAF BLOWERS.
SO FOLLOWING UP ON THE SLY, FOUR
YEARS LATER THE COUNCIL ADDED
FUNDING FOR A POSITION IN SDCI
TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROJECTS
INCLUDING A RECOMMENDED ACTION
FROM THE 2014 SLY RESPONSE
RELATED TO COMMUNICATING THESE
BEST PRACTICES TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AND IN THE LANDSCAPING
INDUSTRY WHICH RESULTED IN THE
CREATION OF A BEST PRACTICES
GUIDE TO ENCOURAGE MORE
RESPONSIBLE COURTEOUS LEAF
BLOWER USE.
MORE RECENTLY AS PART OF THE
2022 ADOPTED BUDGET, THE COUNCIL
INCLUDED A SLY BY COUNCILMEMBER
ALEX PEDERSEN REQUESTING THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT AND PARKS AND
RECREATION DEVELOP A PLAN TO
PHASE OUT THE USE OF ALL GAS
POWERED LEAF BLOWERS IN SEATTLE
IN TWO YEARS AND THAT RESPONSE
IS DUE LATE NEXT MONTH.
SO CURRENTLY, THE CITY REGULATES
LEAF BLOWER USE THROUGH ITS
NOISE CODE WHICH IS ADMINISTERED
BY SDI.
USE OF LEAF BLOWERS IS LIMITED
TO CERTAIN HOURS THAT VARY BY
ZONING CATEGORY.
MOST RESTRICTIVE IN THE
RESIDENTIAL ZONINGS.
AND NORMAL OPERATION OF GAS
POWERED LEAF BLOWERS DURING LOUD
HOURS IS GENERALLY IN
COMPLIANCE, JUST AS A RIGHT.
ONLY SOMEONE OPERATING A LEAF
BLOWER OUTSIDE OF THE HOURS IS
LIKELY TO BE IN VIOLATION.
SDCI WILL ONLY INVESTIGATE
COMPLAUNTS AGAINST LANDSCAPING
COMPANIES BUT WILL NOT RESPOND
TO COMPLAINTS BETWEEN NEIGHBORS.
THE 2014 RESPONSE NOTED THAT THE
CITY RECEIVED FEW LEAF BLOWER
COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEAR AND
CURRENTLY NO LONGER TRACKS LEAF
BLOWER COMPLAINTS BUT NOTED A
GENERAL INCREASE IN NOISE
COMPLAINTS OVER THE PAST COUPLE
YEARS AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AT
HOME MORE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
THIS TABLE SHOWS THE CITY'S
CURRENT INVENTORY OF GAS AND
ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS AS
COMPARED TO WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN
THE 2014 SLY RESPONSE.
YOU WILL NOTE THAT WE HAVE
GENERALLY INCREASED OUR NUMBER
OF BLOWERS AND YOU HAVE MORE
ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS AS
COMPARED TO 2014 BUT ALSO MORE
GAS POWERED.
THE LARGEST INVENTORY AND
INCREASE IS SEEN IN SEATTLE
PARKS AND REC.
IT'S USED BY STAFF TO MAINTAIN
OUR VARIOUS LANDS AND COURTS AND
DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO RELY ON
GAS LEAF BLOWERS BECAUSE THEY
ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND CAN BE
BETTER TO USE THAN ELECTRIC
VERSIONS WHICH CONTINUE TO HAVE
LIMITED BATTERY LIFE.
IN 2019 PARKS CONDUCTED A PILOT
PROGRAM TO TEST BATTERY POWERED
ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS AND FOUND
THE TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED SUCH
THAT THEY WORK WELL IN DRY
CONDITIONS ON HARD SURFACES OR
THE HEAVY WET LEAF LITTER IN THE
FALL CONTAINED TO BE SLIGHTLY
BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF THIS
EQUIPMENT SO THUS STAFF ARE
CONTINUING TO USE THE GAS
VERSIONS.
BUT PARKS HAS ALSO COMMITTED TO
TRANSITIONING TO MORE ELECTRIC
LEAF BLOWERS WITH THE GOAL OF
REACHING 50% ELECTRIC BY 2026.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, GAS
POWERED LEAF BLOWERS BECAME
POPULAR IN THE 1970S AND NOT
LONGER AFTER, RESTRICTIONS
FOLLOWED.
MANY JURISDICTIONS AND DOZENS OF
STATES HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO
REGULATE LEAF BLOWER NOISE.
MOST OF THEM LIMIT THE HOURS OR
SEASONS IN WHICH LEAF BLOWERS
MAY BE USED.
A SMALLER NUMBER HAVE BANNED THE
USE OF GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS
AND HALF HAVE BANNED IT
ENTIRELY.
A FEW EXAMPLES ARE IN WASHINGTON
D.C., THE COUNCIL OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PASSED A
BILL IN 2018 TO BAN THE USE OF
GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS IN
JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
IT WAS TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO
TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC LEAF
BLOWER IN ADVANCE OF THE LAW
GOING INTO AFFECT.
THERE'S A FINE OF $500 PER
OCCURRENCE.
CLOSER TO SEATTLE, MULTINOMA
COUNTY INCLUDING THE CITY OF
PORTLAND ADOPTED A RESOLUTION
LATE LAST YEAR COMMITTING TO
TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC BY
DECEMBER 2024 AND CONVENING A
WASHG GROUP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PORTLAND TO DEVELOP AN EQUITABLE
STRATEGY THAT WILL RESULT IN A
COUNTY WIDE PHASE OUT OF LEAF
BLOWER.
>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOUR FLOW.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF THE
TIME FRAME THAT THESE
JURISDICTIONS GAVE TO THEIR OWN
CITY DEPARTMENTS TO PHASE THIS
OUT?
>> SO FOR MULTIINOMA COUNTY,
THEY HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 2024
THEY HAD A GOAL OF 2025 SO THEY
ARE ACCELERATING BY A YEAR.
SO THEY ARE GIVING THEIR
DEPARTMENTS A COUPLE YEARS AT
THIS POINT.
BUT FOR OTHERS I'M NOT SURE
ABOUT.
I THINK SOME ARE AROUND THE TWO
OR THREE YEAR MARK.
SEEMS TO BE THE STANDARD.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> AND IN TERMS OF THE STRATEGY
FOR A COUNTY WISE PHASE OUT OF
GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWER NO TIME
FOR THAT WITH PORTLAND BECAUSE
THAT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY.
AND LAST YEAR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA PASSED A BILL TO BAN
THE SALE OF NEW GAS POWERED LAWN
AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT IN 2024.
THIS DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE USE
OF EXISTING GAS POWERED
EQUIPMENT BUT INTENDED TO LEAD
TO THE FULL ELECTRICFICATION OF
EQUIPMENT.
AND ON TO THE RESOLUTION.
SO THIS RESOLUTION 32064 IS
INTENDED TO ELEVATE AND
REINFORCE THE WORK REQUESTED BY
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN IN
THIS YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET AND
WOULD ESTABLISH TWO GOALS THAT
THE CITY AND CONTRACTORS PHASE
OUT THE USE OF GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWER BY JANUARY 2025 OR LATER
AND SEATTLE BUSINESSES OPERATING
IN AND SEATTLE RESIDENTS WILL
FAUZ OUT THE YAUS OF GAS POWERED
LEAF BLOWERS BY JANUARY 2027.
DEPARTMENTS THAT USE GAS POWERED
LEAF BLOWERS EVALUATE CURRENT
PRACTICES REGARDING THE USE AND
EXPLORE OPTIONS TO REDUCE
RELIANCE ON THE EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ALLOWING
LEAVES TO REMAIN IN PLACE RATHER
THAN CLEARING THEM OR USING
RAKES.
SO ALSO THAT THESE DEPARTMENTS
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENT PLANS
TO INSURE FACILITY EMPLOYEES ARE
ADEQUATELY EQUIPPED TO USE THEM
AND THEY CAN CHARGE BATTERIES
AND ARE TRAINED TO USE THE
EQUIPMENT.
AND OTHER REQUESTED ACTIONS ARE
FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S LISTED ON
THE SLIDE HERE TO DEVELOP AND
IMPLEMENT A CULTURALLY AND
LINGISTICLY OUTREACH AND ENL
OCCASION STRATEGY AND COMMUNITY
THE NG TIVE IMPACTS OF GAS
POWERED LEAF BLOWER USE AND
ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO USE
QUIETER ALTERNATIVES AND SDCI TO
DEVELOP PROPOSAL TO PHASE OUT
AND EVENTUALLY BAN THE USE OF
ALL GAS LEAF BLOWERS IN SEATTLE
AND THAT IS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE
A PROPOSED WORK PROGRAM TIME
LINE AND BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL
DECEMBER 2ND OF THIS YEAR.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE SOME
CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE
REQUESTED WORK.
NOTE DEPARTMENT STAFF INDICATED
THEY DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES TO CONDUCT THE
REQUESTED ACTIONS AND THAT
ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION
COULD RESULT IN DEPARTMENTS
EITHER SHIFTING STAFF AWAY FROM
WORK ON OTHER CITY PRIORITIES TO
CONCENTRATE ON THIS PROPOSAL OR
POTENTIALLY FOR WORKING ON ON
THE GAS LEAF BLOWER PHASE OUT
EFFORT.
TO ENCOURAGE DEPARTMENTS TO
PRIORITIZE THIS WORK KOUN SUL
MAY WANT TO CONSIDER ADDING
RESOURCES FOR THIS EFFORT IN THE
FORTH COMING DELIBERATIONS.
WITH THAT, I AM DONE.
.
>> THANK YOU, YOLANDA
>> YES, CHAIR KSHAMA SAWANT AND
YOLANDA AND CHAIR KSHAMA
SAWANT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS
A GOOD TIME.
IF SHE'S HERE THE WHOLE TIME IN
CASE WE HAVE QUESTIONS BUT WE DO
HAVE THE SENIOR POLICY ANALYST
FROM WASHINGTON D.C. WHO CAN
TELL US HOW THEY GOT IT DONE
THERE.
MICHAEL PORCELLO IS HERE WITH US
AS WELL AS A PANELIST IF THE
CHAIR WOULD BE OKAY HEARING FROM
HIM.
>> YES, DEFINITELY, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>>> HI EVERYONE, AS THE
COUNCILMEMBER SAID, MY NAME IS
MICHAEL PORCELLO AND I SERVE AS
COMMITTEE DIRECTOR FOR THE
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND
THE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHICH IS A
LEGISLATURE FOR THE CITY OF
WASHINGTON D.C. THE COMMITTEE
OF DISTRICT INCLUDING ARE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND
ENVIRONMENT WHICH ADMINISTERS
THE DISTRICT'S CLIMATE,
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY ON
THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
IT HAS BEEN NOTED IN 2018 THE
DISTRICT PASSED A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION CALLED THE LEAF
BLOWER REGULATION AMENDMENT ACT.
IT WAS INTRODUCED BY THE MEMBER
I WORK DIRECTLY FOR, MARY CHEH.
AS ENACTED IT PROHIBITED THE
SALE OR USE OF GASOLINE POWER
LEAF BLOWERS EFFECTIVE
JANUARY 1, 2022, SO IT
ESTABLISHED A $500 FINE FOR
VIOLATIONS AND STOOD UP A SMALL
ENFORCEMENT TEAM IN THE LOCAL
REGULATORY AGENCY WE CALL DCRA.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE
LEGISLATION, ALTHOUGH THE
DISTRICT'S NOISE ORDINANCE
ALREADY SETS A NOISE LEVEL
THRESHOLD THAT APPLIES TO
PRODUCTS LIKE LEAF BLOWERS, OUR
OFFICE AND OTHERS AT THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL
FREQUENTLY HEARD FROM RESIDENTS
ABOUT THE NUISANCE OF GAS
POWERED LEAF BLOWERS.
THE CURRENT NOISE ORDINANCE WAS
NOT SUCCESSFUL IN ADDRESSING
VIOLATIONS DUE TO DIFFICULTY OF
ENFORCEMENT.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW ENFORCEMENT
WORKS IN SEATTLE BUT IN DC,
SPECIFIC NOISE LEVEL LIMITS ARE
NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE MEASURED
BY A DISTRICT OFFICIAL AT THE
TIME THEY OCCUR USING A DECIMAL
METER.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HOUSE
PARTY THAT'S LASTING FOR HOURS
IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.
BUT IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR
LEAF BLOWERS GIVEN LANDSCAPE
WORK TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR AND
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COULDN'T
GET TO THE SITE ON TIME.
THERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO RATHER THAN RELY ON COMPLAINT
BASED ENFORCEMENT, THE
LEGISLATURE IN DC EXPLORED
WHETHER OUTRIGHT PROHIBITING THE
SALE AND USE OF THESE LEAF
BLOWERS COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
IT HAD SEVERAL BENEFITS.
FIRST, BANNING THE SALE HELPED
BECAUSE IT SIMPLY REDUCED ACCESS
TO THE PRODUCTS.
ANYONE SEEKING TO REPLACE OR
PURCHASE A NEW LEAF BLOWER AS OF
JANUARY NOW HAS ONE OPTION,
ELECTRIC.
OF COURSE THAT HAS LIMITATIONS
IN THE DISTRICT AS WE'RE
SANDWICHED BETWEEN VIRGINIA AND
MARYLAND AND RESIDENTS CAN GO
OUT OF STATE TO PURCHASE A
DEVICE THAT'S NOT LEGALLY SOLD
IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M GUESSING SEATTLE FACES
SIMILAR ISSUES WITH
JURISDICTIONS NEARBY BUT OUTSIDE
CITY LIMITS.
THIS IS AN ISSUE WE FACE WHEN WE
REGULATE PRODUCTS IN A MORE
RESTRICTIVE MANNER IN
NEIGHBORING STATES AND THERE'S
NO EASY ANSWER TO THAT.
WITH THAT SAID, WE FOUND
SOMEBODY HAS TO BE INTENT ON
GETTING A BANNED PRODUCT TO
TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT TO
PURCHASE IT.
THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO PICK UP
WHAT'S AVAILABLE AT THE FIRST
STORE THEY GO TO.
ALSO I NOTICED THIS IS PICKING
UP STEAM WITH FOLKS TALKING
ABOUT IN A NUMBER OF MARYLAND
COUNTIES AT LEAST ARE ALSO
CONSIDERING GAS POWERED LEAF
BLOWER FANS MEANING IT'S HARDER
FOR RESIDENTS TO PURCHASE A
DEVICE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
OF COURSE, THE LAWS WILL BAN
THEIR USE EVEN WHERE LEGALLY
PURCHASED ELSEWHERE.
SECOND, AS WE TOUCHED ON
EARLIER, OUR LAW EXTENDED TO
PUBLIC ACTORS MEANING DISTRICT
AGENCIES AND CONTRACTORS SO BY
JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, ALL
AGENCIES FULLY SHIFTING TO
ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS.
THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT AS WE OWN
AND MAINTAIN A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE.
THIS COSTS $55,000 FOR THE
DISTRICTS TO ACCOMPLISH.
I'LL NOTE THAT'S NOT JUST FOR
THE LEAF BLOWERS.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES IT UPGRADES
FOR THE 311 SYSTEM, VEHICLE
COSTS FOR ENFORCEMENT STAFF AND
SOME OTHER WHAT WE CALL
"NONPERSONAL" SO NONSALARY
RELATED COSTS SO IT WOULD BE
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THAT AND
NOT A LOT IN GENERAL.
THIRD, WE ALSO RETAIN THE
ABILITY OF RESIDENTS TO REPORT
NOISE VIOLATIONS AND
STRENGTHENED THE RESPONSE BY
CREATED A DEDICATED ENFORCEMENT
TEAM IN OUR AGENCY WHICH W TWO
NEW STAFF.
OBVIOUSLY STILL DIFFICULT TO
CATCH VIOLATORS IN THE ACT BUT
THIS NEW STAFF REALLY HELPED.
YOU MAY ASK WHY THE DISTRICT
FRAMED THIS LEGISLATION AROUND A
NOISE DISTURBANCE ISSUE RATHER
THAN EMISSIONS.
CERTAINLY REDUCING GREEN HOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS IS A CRITICAL GOAL
OF THE DISTRICT.
WE JUST CODEFI SHGSED CARBON
NEUTRALITY BY 2025 AND DISTRICT
GOVERNMENT BY 2040.
WE ESTABLISHED A GREEN BAN SHG
BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS AND ACQUIRED NEW
BUILDING TO BE NET SOER ROW
STARTING IN 2026.
THE USE OF GASOLINE POWERED LEAF
BLOWERS HAS A MEANINGFUL EFFECT
ON THE CLIMATE.
IT EMITS 23 CARBON MONOXIDE AND
NONME THAT I KNOW CARBONS AS A
PICK UP TRUCK AND THEY POLLUTE
THE AIR.
AIR QUALITY IS A BIG ISSUE FOR
THE DISTRICT WHERE ONE IN SIX
RESIDENTS SUFFER FROM ASTHMA.
THESE ARE DISPARITIES PRONOUNCED
IN AREAS OF THE DISTRICT, HOME
TO PERSONS OF COLOR SO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
ARE KEY.
WITH THAT SAID, WE FRAMED OUR
BILL AROUND REDUCING NOISE
DISTURBANCES BAZ IT'S OUR
UNDERSTANDING AND CLOSE TO THE
FEDERAL AGENCIES TO GET FEEDBACK
ON THIS.
IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
FEDERAL EPA HAS EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION OVER THE REGULATION
OF PRODUCT EMISSIONS AND THAT
BANNING THESE DEVICES BASED ON
THEIR EMISSIONS WOULD PUT OUR
LAW AND LIKELY ANY OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AT RISK OF LEGAL
CHALLENGE AND BEING OVERTURNED.
I'M FLAGGING THIS BECAUSE WE
WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND SEATTLE
TO CONSIDER THAT FACT WHEN
FRAMING THE RESOLUTION.
ONE FINAL CRITICAL PIECE OF THE
LEGISLATION ADOPTED IN THE
DISTRICT WAS TIMING OF
IMPLEMENTATION.
AS WAS NOTED EARLIER, THE LAW
WAS PASSED IN 2018 BUT DIDN'T GO
INTO EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 2022.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE FOUR YEARS IT
WAS ACTUALLY TWO BECAUSE NUANCES
ON HOW THE DISTRICT BUDGETS THE
LAW ISN'T EFFECTIVE UNTIL IT'S
FUNDED AND THE LAW DIDN'T GO
INTO EFFECT UNTIL OCTOBER 2019
SO A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AND
THAT DELAY PROVIDED WUS SEVERAL
BENEFITS.
A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME TO MESSAGE
ABOUT THE NEW LAW TO THE PUBLIC
AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND
CONSUMER AFFAIR AGENCIES
LAUNCHED AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
AND PROVIDED GUIDANCE ON THEIR
WEBSITES TO RESIDENTS AND WE
OFFERED UP YARD SIGNS FOR FREE
TO RESIDENTS GAS IS OUT AND
ELECTRIC IS IN AND HAD A LINK TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
OF COURSE THE DELAY PROVIDED A
CHANCE FOR LANDSCAPERS AND OTHER
BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS WITH TIME
TO TRANSITION TO THE ELECTRIC
DEVICES.
I WOULD SAY THOUGH EVEN AT THE
TIME OF PASSAGE AND ESPECIALLY
NOW, THE COST TO PURCHASE
ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS HAS FALLEN
SIGNIFICANTLY.
WHILE THE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS
IMPROVED, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ON
PAR COST WISE WITH THE GAS
POWERED LEAF BLOWERS AND
ELECTRIC IS TYPICALLY CHEAPER
THAN GAS.
DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE AND
EXPENSIVE HOW YOUR ELECTRIC IS.
OUR APPROACH IS THE CHANGE
SHOULDN'T PRICE ANYONE OUT OF A
LEAF BLOWER AND AS ONE OF THE
PUBLIC WITNESSES NOTED, RAKES
ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND
CERTAINLY MUCH CHEAPER THAN
EITHER.
STILL WE WANTED TO GIVE
RESIDENTS AMPLE TIME TO
TRANSITION.
I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THE
DISTRICT THROUGH OUR SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY UTILITY OFFERED A $50
REBATE DURING THAT PERIOD FOR
RESIDENTS TO PURCHASE.
SINCE IT'S BEEN 8 MONTHS SINCE
THE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT, I
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HARD DATA ON
COMPLIANCE TO DATE OR GREAT DATA
OPT NUMBER OF NOISE COMPLAINTS
WE RECEIVED BUT ANECDOTELY IN
TALKING TO AGENCIES, THE
TRANSITION SEEMS TO BE GOING
WELL IN TERMS OF BUSINESSES NO
LONGER OFFERING PRODUCTS AND
COMPLIANCE.
WE DO HEAR NOW AND THEN OF FOLKS
SEEING A LANDSCAPER USING THE
DEVICES.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF SEVERAL
JURISDICTIONS CONSIDERING LAWS
LIKE THIS AND I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO SEE EVEN MORE IN THE
COMING YEARS.
I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INVITING
ME TO SPEAK AND I'M ALSO HAPPY
TO TALK TO HOW WE GOT THE BILL
OVER THE FINISH LINE AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED
TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR
MR. MICHAEL PORCELLO OR YOLANDA
AT THIS POINT.
>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO THAT
THANK YOU, MR. MICHAEL PORCELLO
AND COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON
DID I SEE YOUR HAND UP?
I'LL HOLD MY QUESTIONS FOR A
SECOND.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
I DON'T SEE COUNCILMEMBER MORSE
MORSE OKAY GO AHEAD.
>> YOU'RE ON MUTE COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY J. MORALES.
>> SORRY.
THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR
YOLANDA AND I'M NOT SURE YOU
KNOW THE ANSWER BUT I WONDER IF
PARKS HAS CONTEMPLATED MULCHING
WET LEAVES AT LEAST THE ONES ON
THE GRASS RATHER THAN TRYING TO
BLOW OR RAKE THEM.
ONE OF THE COMMENTERS MENTIONED
ALTERNATIVES TO GETTING RID OF
THE LEAVES AT ALL.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S
CONTEMPLATED.
THE RESOLUTION REQUESTS THAT
PARKS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS
CONSIDER OTHER STRATEGIES SO
THAT'S CERTAINLY ANOTHER
STRATEGY OF ALLOWING THE LEAVES
TO BE ABLE TO MORE QUICKLY
DECOMPOSE IN PLACE.
SO YEAH.
>> OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY FIRST OF ALL
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN.
AND YOLANDA I APPRECIATE THE
SUMMARY OF PAST ACTIONS AS THE
COUNCIL HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO
THIS FOR SEVEN OR 8 YEARS NOW.
MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION AND I CAN
ALSO APPRECIATE THAT THE
TECHNOLOGY MAYBE WASN'T THERE IN
THE PAST.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS NOW.
SO I DO THINK THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT WE SUPPORT THIS
TRANSITION AND THEN IF THE GREEN
HOUSE GAS IMPACT ISN'T AS LARGE
AS TRANSPORTATION OR BUILDINGS,
THERE IS STILL THE HEALTH
DISPARITY TO CONSIDER.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WHETHER WOER
TALKING ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES
OR EVEN OUR OWN CITY PARKS
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, IT'S
PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE USING THE EQUIPMENT AND
WE KNOW THERE ARE HEALTH
IMPLICATIONS OF USING THESE
TOOLS SO I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP PUSHING.
AND TRY TO RESOLVE THIS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND I WILL SAY I'M ALSO A LITTLE
BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORK
THAT WE'LL BE ADDING TO SDCI
WITHOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES SO I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND AS
COUNCIL WHAT THE IMPACTS OF OUR
DECISIONS WILL BE ON THE CITY
WORKERS ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT.
WITH THAT SAID, I THINK IT'S
WISE FOR US TO MOVE THIS
DIRECTION AND TO JUST HAVE THE
CONVERSATION AND THE BUDGET
PROCESS ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT NEED
TO DO TO PROVIDE AT LEAST A
LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT TO SDCI TO
GET THIS DONE.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE
RESOLUTION EVEN UNDERSTANDING
THAT THERE'S SOME CONCERNS ABOUT
IT BUT I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE
FORWARD AND KEEP THE BALL
ROLLING SO WE CAN GET THIS DONE
SOONER.
.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY
J. MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
BASICALLY I HAVE TO SAY THAT
THIS SOUNDS FAIRLY
NONCONTROVERSIAL AND I HAVEN'T
GOTTEN ANY E-MAILS FROM ANYBODY
SAYING NO, WE HAVE TO KEEP THE
GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS SO
THANK YOU FOR
FORWARD AND I WILL SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION.
A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
FIRST, I HAVE SORT OF PICKING UP
ON WHAT COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES SAYS ABOUT MULCHING.
I DO HAVE TO NOTE THAT IF I WERE
TO GO OUT ON A LIMB, LEAVING
LEAVES ON THE GROUND COULD BE AN
OPTION ACCORDING TO A UW
PROFESSOR DAVID MONTGOMERY
LEAFING LEAVES ON THE GROUND NOT
ONLY CONTRIBUTES TO SOIL HEALTH
BUT THE MICROBES THAT DIGEST AND
FURTHER BREAK DOWN THE MATTER
REDISTRIBUTES NITROGEN, FOS
FORRUS AND POTASSIUM AROUND THE
SOIL AND ALSO TO THE PLANT ROOTS
MAKING TREES MORE HEALTHY.
MY QUESTION WHEN I FIRST HEARD
OF THIS WAS ABOUT HOW THIS WILL
IMPACT NOT JUST THE WORKERS ON
CITY PROPERTY BUT ALSO IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
SO I DID REACH OUT TO MARCOS
JUAN PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE
METRO LATINO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TO ASK FOR HIS THOUGHTS AND I
KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN ALSO DID AS WELL AND
BASICALLY MR. JUAN IS GENERALLY
OKAY WITH THIS LEGISLATION.
HOWEVER, DOES BELIEVE LIKE I DO
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN
MITIGATING IMPACTS SO THIS
QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH PRIVATE
PROPERTY BUT ALSO CITY COSTS.
WHEN WE SWITCH OVER FROM GAS
POWERED TO ELECTRIC POWER LEAF
BLOWERS, MY QUESTION IS DO WE
KNOW WHAT THAT COST DIFFERENTIAL
IS?
AND THEN I KNOW THIS IS FOR THE
NEXT PHASE OF LEGISLATION BUT
HAS THAT WORK BEEN DONE BECAUSE
PARKS IS ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT
PHASING OUT BY 50% BY 2026 SO
THEY MUST HAVE SOMETHING IN
COSTS.
.
>> I AGREE, WE WILL HAVE THAT
INFORMATION READY IN TIME FOR
THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS THIS
YEAR AT LEAST.
I THINK UNDERSTANDING MAYBE A
LARNLER PICTURE VERSES JUST THE
UNIT COSTS, THERE MAY BE OTHER
COSTS JUST AS COLLEAGUES FROM DC
MENTIONED THAT MAY BE REQUIRED
FOR IMPLEMENTATION BUT GETTING A
SENSE OF WHAT THAT ALL WILL
ENTAIL WILL BE HELPFUL.
>> I THINK ANOTHER COST COULD BE
LABOR.
THE MEMO SAYS ELECTRIC LEAF
BLOWERS AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH YET
TO PICK UP LEAVES THAT COVER
DRAINS SO THAT WILL PROBABLY
REQUIRE HUMAN FORCE TO GET THOSE
UP AND OUT OF THE RIGHT OF WAY
SO THAT'S ONE THING TO CONSIDER
BUT YES, STILL A GOOD IDEA.
AND THEN FOR MR. MICHAEL
PORCELLO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I WAS WONDERING IS DID ANY OF
THE STORES THAT SELL GAS POWERED
LEAF BLOWERS IN DC, WHAT KIND
OF -- WAS THERE A BIG OPPOSITION
THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE GOING RUTH
OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS TO PURCHASE
THESE THINGS AND WAS THAT ONE OF
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT
CAME TO FRUITION?
>> SURE, THE ONLY CONCERN WE
REALLY HEARD FROM BUSINESSES WAS
GIVING THEM ENOUGH TIME TO GET
EXISTING STOCK OFF THE SHELVES
IN THE SENSE IF THEY WERE
SELLING LEAF BLOWERS, THEY HAD
GAS POWERED TO SELL AND FOR
EXAMPLE, IF THE PROHIBITION WAS
IMMEDIATE, THEY WEREN'T GOING TO
HAVE A WAY TO GET RID OF THE
STOCK.
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON FOR
THE DELAY.
OTHER WOIZ, THE UNDERSTANDING
FROM THEM WAS SOMEBODY IS COMING
IN TO BUY A LEAF BLOWER, IF IT'S
ELECTRIC OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO
PURCHASE IT ON SITE.
I'LL ALSO BE TOUCHING ON WE'RE
OFTEN MORE RESTRICTIVE IN TERMS
OF WHETHER IT'S EFFICIENCY
STANDARDS OR PRODUCTS THINGS
LIKE THAT OUR NEIGHBORING
JURISDICTIONS SO BUSINESSES ARE
USED TO -- I DON'T THINK IS
FREQUENT BUT THE RANDOM CUSTOMER
WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A VERY
INEFFICIENT FOR EXAMPLE WATER
HEATER BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER, AND
KNOWING THOSE FOLKS WILL TRAVEL
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY SO WE DIDN'T
GET A LOT OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
FROM THEM.
JUST THE DELAY.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL THE
QUESTIONS I HAVE, THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON, ANY
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS?
I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND I
AGREE WE SHOULD MOVE IT FORWARD.
SINCE I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, AND SINCE
COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN WHO
IS THE SPONSOR OF THIS
RESOLUTION IS NOT A MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE, AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE I'M MAKE THE MOTIONS
ON HIS BEHALF BUT ALEX PEDERSEN
DID YOU SAY ANY CLOSING REMARKS
BEFORE I DO THAT?
>> JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN
CHAIR FOR MAKING TIME TODAY TO
HEAR THIS RESOLUTION AND TO
PROVIDE AMPLE TIME SO WE CAN
HEAR FROM A JURISDICTION THAT IS
AHEAD OF US ON THIS AND HAS
PRACTICE ACL ADVICE ON HOW IT
CAN BE DONE, JUST LIKE A HUNDRED
OTHER JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE
NATION HAVE DONE THIS ALREADY.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THE BRUCE HARRELL ADMINISTRATION
TO GET THIS DONE.
OTHERS HAVE DONE IT AND WE ARE
PRIDING OURSELVES ON BEING AHEAD
ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC
HEALTH AND WORKER PROTECTION
ISSUES SO THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT
WITH THAT AND SHOULD BE DONE
EXPEDITIOUSLY.
SO FOLLOWING THIS RESOLUTION IF
IT PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE AND
GOES TO FULL COUNCIL AND PASSES
THERE, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO GET IT DONE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POWER TO
DO IT.
JUST GOING TO TAKE THE WILL TO
DO IT AND WE CAN GET IT DONE.
THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN.
SO WITH THOSE WORDS, I MOVE
RESOLUTION 32064 FORWARD.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS KNOW,
THERE'S A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT
ONE SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE
AMENDMENT ONE.
SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IS YOLANDA ARE YOU GOING TO
SPEAK?
I WILL SPEAK TO AMENDMENT ONE.
IT WOULD CORRECT A COUPLE ERRORS
IN THE RECITALS AND REMOVE A
RECITAL THAT WOULD BE REDUNDANT
AS A RESULT SPECIFICALLY THAT
LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS ARE
DISPORTION NATALIE HISPANIC AND
U.S. LABORS OF OCCUPATION AND
SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR RULES RELATED TO
SOUND THRESHOLDS, NOT THE EPA AS
CURRENTLY DRAFTED.
>> THANK YOU YOLANDA
I DON'T IMAGINE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT.
SO CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL ON THE
AMENDMENT?
>> FOR AMENDMENT 1.
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J.
LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU AND THE AMENDMENT
ONE PASSES WE'RE NOT READY TO
VOTE ON THE PASS OF THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.
SINCE WE HAD SPACE FOR COMMENTS
EARLIER AND COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PEDERSEN HAS GIVEN US CLOSING
REMARKS, I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK
TED TO CALL THE RESOLUTION ON
RESOLUTION 32064.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW J.
LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, FINALLY BECAUSE THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS ARE THE CITY COUNCIL'S
RECESS, THE CLERKS RECOMMEND WE
SUSPEND THE RULES TO MAKE CLEAR
THE RESOLUTION WILL APPEAR ON
THE SEPTEMBER 6TH CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
RULE WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW
THE RESOLUTION TO APPEAR ON THE
SEPTEMBER 6TH AGENDA.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THIS
RESOLUTION WILL BE UP FOR A
FINAL VOTE ON THE CITY COUNCIL
ON SEPTEMBER 6TH.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
COUNCILMEMBERS?
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU ALL AND
THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
TAKE CARE, BYE BYE.