Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, March 17, 2022, 11:22 AM
https://almanacnews.com/square/print/2022/03/17/environmental-committee-member-is-disheartened-atherton-tabled-ban-on-gas-powered-leaf-blowers
Town Square
Environmental Committee member is 'disheartened' Atherton tabled ban on gas-powered leaf blowers
Original post made on Mar 17, 2022
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, March 17, 2022, 11:22 AM
Comments
Posted by David Roise
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Mar 17, 2022 at 4:29 pm
David Roise is a registered user.
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Mar 17, 2022 at 4:29 pm
David Roise is a registered user.
I know there was some back-and-forth about leaf blowers in Menlo Park 15-20 years ago, but there is still an ordinance on the books that prohibits the use of any gas-powered leaf blower that isn't a "certified leaf blower" (meaning only those leaf blowers measured at sixty-five (65) dB(a) or less at a distance of fifty feet (50’)). See Web Link .
As far as I know, there are very few leaf blowers meeting this standard, so most gas-powered leaf blowers being used in Menlo Park violate this ordinance. It would be great if the Almanac reporter could look into this and clarify the situation. If it were up to me, I would ban ALL leaf blowers.
Posted by CyberVoter
a resident of Atherton: other
on Mar 22, 2022 at 6:57 pm
CyberVoter is a registered user.
a resident of Atherton: other
on Mar 22, 2022 at 6:57 pm
CyberVoter is a registered user.
To be clear, there are over 7,000 residents in Atherton. A poll that had ~ 200 people "vote" about 54/46 from their computer" on a "yes" or "No" question is totally skewed toward "Friends of the Environmental Committee". In my "poll" of many Atherton residents I learned that they:
1) Did NOT vote for the Town Council to establish an "Atherton EPA"
2) Want fewer specific ordinances & not more
3) Do NOT want an extra paid enforcement group policing the neighborhood & certainly don't want neighbors reporting neighbors for low level items
4) Ask WHY would Atherton Town Council waste time & money & create angst and discontent when the State (& its real EPA) have scheduled a ban in less than 2 years! - Don't they have better things to do that would Atherton safer & even with more streamlined permitting?
5) Want the Town Council to Educate, but NOT Legislate; Why not have a "Battery operated Fair" in Holbrook Palmer where companies demonstrate their models that are cleaner & quieter?
Finally. IF the Environmental Committee really wants to help the Atherton residents, EDUCATE them on alternative landscaping, pool designs & "Graywater" methodology, etc. that will address our greatest environmental issue - Almost no water & extremely high costs for the little water available.
Please help the residents by education & not by edit & legislation.
