TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Carrie Tai, Community Development Director
Stephanie Katsouleas, Public Works Director
Dana Murray, Environmental Sustainability Manager
Shawn Igoe, Utilities Manager & Acting Maintenance Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Receive Update on Gas-Powered Landscape Equipment and Recommendations from the Sustainability Task Force (Continued from the August 18, 2020, City Council Meeting) (Community Development Director Tai).
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive this update on gas-powered landscape equipment and provide policy direction, if desired.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications with receiving this update. However, should City Council give policy direction, there may be future fiscal implications.
BACKGROUND:
On May 21, 2019, City Council discussed Manhattan Beach's existing ban on mechanical blowers, which has been in place since 1998. Mechanical blowers are commonly referred to as leaf blowers. City Council also considered and denied the Manhattan Village Homeowner Association's request for an exemption to allow the use of electric leaf blowers in the Village, a private, gated community. While the City currently bans the use of mechanical blowers within its jurisdiction, there is no ordinance or policy prohibiting the use of other types of landscaping equipment.
City Council also directed staff and the Sustainability Task Force to evaluate and provide recommendations on prohibiting all gas-powered landscape equipment (e.g., mowers), and replacement with electric landscaping equipment through available exchange programs.
This report provides information about landscape equipment options, current policies enacted by the City and other local governments, and a summary of discussions and recommendations by the Sustainab...
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