H.14. 20-1132 ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 3202-20, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 4-24.507 OF ARTICLE 5, CHAPTER 24, TITLE 4 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, PROVIDING A TEMPORARY EXEMPTION TO THE BAN ON USING MOTORIZED LEAF BLOWERS ON PROPERTIES SIX ACRES IN SIZE OR LARGER. FOR SECOND READING AND OPTION.
Redondo Beach residents, as a community family, want and value healthier living conditions and an enhanced quality of life. We do not want noise, toxins, dust and carcinogens blown into the air we all breathe. Our City's Department Managers must work within the laws and directives the City Council has enacted, not the desires of City employees or of select entities. The adage, "give an inch and they'll take a mile" is really quite true. Approving any exemptions will signal an open door for gardeners, businesses, homeowners and City employees, tempting them to use leaf blowers on properties less than six acres, thereby making the ban confusing and more difficult to enforce. Allowing the use of leaf blowers on properties six acres or larger would, no doubt, create an inordinately vast amount of excessive noise and air pollution, which would just be despicable... period.
My name is Carlos Rubio and I have been the Teamster Union Representative in this City since 2009. We have been through it all in this City. In fact, we are behind, and have been. I must acknowledge that the working conditions in this City are the only thing left that we recognize as good and we are treated well by the Public Works management. The employees have grown tired and dissatisfied with the direction this City has gone in. Thankfully, like in any family; we unite behind our family. Please approve the temporary exemption to the ban. It is the right thing to do. The ordinance does not work and its putting pressure on your employees five (5) times more they were accustomed to (it has been two years). Please take care of your family (employees). You need to look at the data and the facts that pursue and support a balanced approach. Listen to the Public Works management as that is why you hired them as professionals. With lack of enforcement and the hundreds of complaints; the area/acres we cover; risk of bodily injury and liability to the City; lack of productivity and efficiency; staffing shortages; lack of motivation and support; on top of the risk of COVID 19 that our members who have been in the front lines providing vital and essential services without a break, face every single day; give us a break. We do not feel supported and think it is hypocritical that we have a law that does not work, and you are willing to change your stance. Find a mid-ground and take care of your employees since they take care of the City. We need the tools to get the job done. Do not spend a thousand dollars on a dollar problem. Lastly, we do not clean sewer lines by hand. You are asking us to clean by hand and this is unacceptable and despicable. Safety first. Family first. Do the right thing. With all due respect again Carlos Rubio and all the Teamsters who are proud to work for the City of Redondo Beach.
I am asking that the Council not approve the proposed exemption to the leaf blower ban. As was previously discussed at length by Council in 2018 when leaf blowers were banned, leaf blowers are a source of harmful particulate air pollution. While the hard work of our Public Works crews is certainly appreciated by residents, we don’t need more cancer causing air pollution in the beach cities or elsewhere. To allow this exemption would be particularly egregious given the current pandemic and health crisis and would be an extremely hypocritical action by Council.
To exempt all parcels of land in Redondo Beach six acres in size or larger from the leaf blower ban would be very misguided and most hypocritical. There would be a great loss of confidence, respect and trust that this City Council would experience by all the residents that want the entirety of this ban to remain in effect. Will the toxins, dust, pollutants and debris that would be hurled into the air by leaf blowers suddenly stop, drop and evaporate at the "six acres or larger" boundary line before wafting into residential areas abutting these privileged areas? Not likely. Voting for any exemptions to the leaf blower ban will open up a Pandora's box of bad feelings and rightful proclamations of hypocrisy to the City Council. This ban was passed to both protect and improve the health, well being and quality of life of ALL Redondo Beach residents and not to be disregarded for the sake of a select and chosen few.
tere is no reason for this exemption
Redondo Beach residents, as a community family, want and value healthier living conditions and an enhanced quality of life. We do not want noise, toxins, dust and carcinogens blown into the air we all breathe. Our City's Department Managers must work within the laws and directives the City Council has enacted, not the desires of City employees or of select entities. The adage, "give an inch and they'll take a mile" is really quite true. Approving any exemptions will signal an open door for gardeners, businesses, homeowners and City employees, tempting them to use leaf blowers on properties less than six acres, thereby making the ban confusing and more difficult to enforce. Allowing the use of leaf blowers on properties six acres or larger would, no doubt, create an inordinately vast amount of excessive noise and air pollution, which would just be despicable... period.
My name is Carlos Rubio and I have been the Teamster Union Representative in this City since 2009. We have been through it all in this City. In fact, we are behind, and have been. I must acknowledge that the working conditions in this City are the only thing left that we recognize as good and we are treated well by the Public Works management. The employees have grown tired and dissatisfied with the direction this City has gone in. Thankfully, like in any family; we unite behind our family. Please approve the temporary exemption to the ban. It is the right thing to do. The ordinance does not work and its putting pressure on your employees five (5) times more they were accustomed to (it has been two years). Please take care of your family (employees). You need to look at the data and the facts that pursue and support a balanced approach. Listen to the Public Works management as that is why you hired them as professionals. With lack of enforcement and the hundreds of complaints; the area/acres we cover; risk of bodily injury and liability to the City; lack of productivity and efficiency; staffing shortages; lack of motivation and support; on top of the risk of COVID 19 that our members who have been in the front lines providing vital and essential services without a break, face every single day; give us a break. We do not feel supported and think it is hypocritical that we have a law that does not work, and you are willing to change your stance. Find a mid-ground and take care of your employees since they take care of the City. We need the tools to get the job done. Do not spend a thousand dollars on a dollar problem. Lastly, we do not clean sewer lines by hand. You are asking us to clean by hand and this is unacceptable and despicable. Safety first. Family first. Do the right thing. With all due respect again Carlos Rubio and all the Teamsters who are proud to work for the City of Redondo Beach.
I am asking that the Council not approve the proposed exemption to the leaf blower ban. As was previously discussed at length by Council in 2018 when leaf blowers were banned, leaf blowers are a source of harmful particulate air pollution. While the hard work of our Public Works crews is certainly appreciated by residents, we don’t need more cancer causing air pollution in the beach cities or elsewhere. To allow this exemption would be particularly egregious given the current pandemic and health crisis and would be an extremely hypocritical action by Council.
To exempt all parcels of land in Redondo Beach six acres in size or larger from the leaf blower ban would be very misguided and most hypocritical. There would be a great loss of confidence, respect and trust that this City Council would experience by all the residents that want the entirety of this ban to remain in effect. Will the toxins, dust, pollutants and debris that would be hurled into the air by leaf blowers suddenly stop, drop and evaporate at the "six acres or larger" boundary line before wafting into residential areas abutting these privileged areas? Not likely. Voting for any exemptions to the leaf blower ban will open up a Pandora's box of bad feelings and rightful proclamations of hypocrisy to the City Council. This ban was passed to both protect and improve the health, well being and quality of life of ALL Redondo Beach residents and not to be disregarded for the sake of a select and chosen few.