The Ojai Post

I also suggested that there might be a third option allowing very limited use of the least noisy electrical models under certain circumstances. (Problematic, I admit, but I wanted to show support for a compromise.)

I spoke of my concerns for the health and safety of the workers. I mentioned how my father used to be a gardener (back in 1957, before leaf blowers were invented) and I would not like to have seen him with one of those packs on his back exposed to high levels of noise. There is ample anecdotal evidence that the workers suffer hearing loss and other serious health issues. (See resource link at end of this article)

One man (an attorney) said leaves were a fire hazard and for safety reasons we need leaf blowers to clean roofs and gutters.

Councilman Steve Olsen said it would be a hardship for the elderly who are too stiff to pick up a dustpan. (He has pulled the "hardship for the elderly "card on previous occasions, such as when I tried to recommended we remove parking on one side of Grand Avenue to create Safe Bike Lanes for kids on their way to school.)

To his credit Steve did say he operated an electric blower before the meeting to have some firsthand experience. (I suggested that all councilmembers operate the extra noisy gas powered models for a few hours, just to get a true picture of what it's like for the gardener. Or at least follow the gardeners around for a few hours.)

In the course of the discussion Mayor Devito rightly pointed out that it was wrong to have an ordinance on the agenda that affects the lives of so many people without adequately notifying the public.

There was nothing about this item coming up on the agenda in the Ojai Valley News which I will address in a moment.

Councilwoman Carol Smith expressed her support for a total ban in part because this makes enforcement much easier. No one has to try to figure out if the blower disrupting the peace is gas or electric or if it's 150 feet away from a commercial building or what.

After some discussion Councilwoman Betsy Clapp made a motion to ban all leaf blowers within the City.

40 cities in California alone and over 300 cities nationwide have a a total ban or strong restrictions on operating leaf blowers.

Mayor Joe Devito and Steve Olsen voted No!

Betsy Clapp and Carol Smith voted Yes!

Sue Horgan was absent so the vote was a tie.

And then, suddenly, it was over! The motion died on the floor.

Mayor Devito triumphantly moved on to the next item.

Many questions come to mind :

Whose responsibility is it to publicize items that so obviously require a public hearing?

Is it the City Managers responsibility? The mayor? The whole City Council?

Isn't it the City Manager responsible for writing press releases if an item of this nature is not mentioned in the Ojai Valley News.

The other question is:

When there is a tie, does the motion always automatically get dropped?

What would have happened if, for example, the Housing Element had been split 50% 50%?

Would they have had to bring it back?

If it was something Joe and Steve and the City Manager cared about would it would have died on the floor?

When there is a tie, under what circumstances can an item be revisited at a future meeting when all five council members are present?

Ojai is an internationally recognized tourist destination. It is world renown as a community of cultural, artistic and spiritual significance. It is the City's stated goal to become a model green sustainable community. I'm naturally disappointed that Joe Devito and Steve Olsen are unwilling to adopt a policy that would make our town a more peaceful environmentally healthy community in which to live.

I'm relieved that the current ordinance banning gas powered leaf blowers in residential neighborhoods still stands. But a town where tourists and residents alike come to enjoy peace and quiet should do everything possible to preserve that priceless asset.

Ojai Post Leaf Blower Resource Page with past articles:
http://www.ojaipost.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=leaf+blowers