Vancouver City Council

3. Leaf Blower Regulation - Prohibition in the West End (File 3755)

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated June 21, 2004, in which the Director of Health Protection - Vancouver Coastal Health Authority in consultation with the General Manager of Parks and Recreation sought clarification from Council on the boundaries delineating the area of the West End where leaf blowers will be prohibited, in preparation for adoption of the enacting by-law, and put forward two options for Council’s consideration. The City Manager submitted for Council’s consideration the choice between Recommendation A and B, noting that there are additional operational costs to the Park Board if Council wishes to maintain current park maintenance standards. The costs are substantially higher if A is adopted. The City Manager also noted that the Director of Legal Services prepared two versions of the enacting by-law for Council’s consideration later that day.

Nick Losito, Director of Health Protection – Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, explained the rationale for staff’s recommended options.

The following spoke in opposition to the by-law prohibiting leaf blowers and offered suggestions Council could consider in managing leaf blower noise:

Jane Stock, BC Landscape Nursery Association (Blower Taskforce Recommendations on file)
Linda Pasacreda, BC Apartment Owners and Manager’s Association (CHOA brief on file)
Tony Cox, STIHL Ltd.
Bill Crowley, ECHO Power Equipment (Canada)
Betty Cunnin, Foxglove

A summary of speakers’ comments follows:

· delay this decision and give staff the opportunity to assess the recommendations put forward by the blower taskforce;
· banning leaf blowers is not the solution - there are more practical approaches to managing yard maintenance;
· refer this challenge to a joint stakeholder planning committee comprised of staff, industry representatives, manufacturers and other stakeholders – we deserve a chance to provide instructive input;
· consider the process the industry has put forward today in working towards sound and emission reductions;
· re-examine the motion passed to ban leaf blowers in the West End, specifically, allow provisions for when blower use is required and in the Fall.

Roy Silverson, Right to Quiet Society, spoke in favour of banning leaf blowers and described the leaf blower as a debris distribution device which moves grass clippings, paper, trash, sand, animal excrement and other debris from the host property elsewhere.

Mr. Losito, together with Judy Rogers, City Manager, responded to questions related to the blower taskforce’s recommendations, enforcement and budgetary implications.

MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT the area of the West End, where the use of leaf blowers is prohibited, will generally conform with the area outlined in black on the map attached as Schedule F (Option 2) to the Policy Report dated June 21, 2004, entitled “Leaf Blower Regulation – Prohibition in the West End”, thereby conforming more closely to the City definition of West End (stopping at the mid-line of Georgia Street, from the centre line of Burrard Street to Stanley Park, on the North) and excluding the property south of Beach Avenue.

B. THAT the Park Board annual operating budget be increased by $39,000, with the 2004 amount being pro-rated from the effective date of the bylaw.

postponed

POSTPONEMENT MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council postpone consideration of the Policy Report dated June 21, 2004, entitled “Leaf Blower Regulation – Prohibition in the West End” to allow staff to consult with the industry on a strategy to address issues related to leaf blowers and report back in September 2004.

CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed