Title
Highlights of the Rules Committee Meeting of February 10, 2016
Body
CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
CITY COUNCIL RULES COMMITTEE
February 10, 2016
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
San Leandro City Hall
835 East 14th Street
San Leandro, California
Sister Cities Gallery
HIGHLIGHTS
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 9:04 a.m.
1.A. Attendance
Committee members present: Mayor Pauline Cutter, Councilmember Deborah Cox, Councilmember Lee Thomas
City staff present: Community Development Director Cynthia Battenberg, Deputy Community Development Director Tom Liao, Assistant City Manager Lianne Marshall, Public Works Director Debbie Pollart, City Clerk Tamika Greenwood, City Attorney Rich Pio Roda
Public present: Tom Silva, Matt Eremko, Rich Robeson
1.B. Announcements
None.
2. DISCUSSION ITEMS
2.A. Review and Discussion of the Noise Ordinance as It Relates to Leaf Blowers
Assistant City Manager Lianne Marshall introduced Debbie Pollart to present the item.
Public Works Director Debbie Pollart provided a copy of the current noise ordinance and a spreadsheet of noise restrictions in other cities. The San Leandro Noise Ordinance was adopted in 2003 and was a joint effort between the Planning Department, the Police Department and the City Attorney's office. Initially, the ordinance was adopted to address noise complaints from the public that included construction work and loud music generated from cars.
One of considerations in drafting the noise ordinance was whether the noise concerns should be regulated by a stated noise maximum (decibels) or by hours. The final decision was to restrict noise based on hours and days rather than decibel levels because PD would not have a way to precisely measure decibel levels.
Noise concerns are covered in Section 4-1-510 of the Municipal Code which restricts the use of electric or gas powered motors or engines between the hours of 9 PM and 8 AM. There is nothing specific ...
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