Leaf Blower Regulations Update (February 2010)
                                        On February 9, 2010, EQAC presented their findings to City Council during Study Session
    (click here to view video). Individual residents of Newport Beach, as well as CdMRA, provided
    testimony for City Council's consideration.  City Council has agreed to increase its community
    outreach to determine how widely a ban and/or restrictions would be supported, and what financial
    impact, if any, a ban would have.  

If you live in a planned community, your Board of Directors will likely get a letter from the City on this topic.  It is important to
you convey your concerns and desires on the usage of leaf blowing equipment in Corona del Mar to your Homeowner
Association Board of Directors and/or Management Company.  The statistics CdMRA presented to City Council were
compelling, and a good model for Homeowner Associations to follow.  

To read a copy of the February 10 EQAC Report, click here.

The CdMRA email poll results are shown below.

Results
  1. 567 emails sent to CdMRA Members (77% of membership; 9% of all CdM households)
  2. 104 responses received (18% response rate; our highest ever recorded)
  3. 71% of respondents were from the Village; 21% from planned communities
  4. 55% want an outright ban; 85% want to either ban or limit emissions, days/hours, or decibels on residential usage
  5. 15% do not support any changes on residential usage
  6. 44% also wanted to limit commercial usage in some way; 43% did not answer that question
  7. An independent statistician reviewed the sampling and the results and confirmed there was a 95% confidence
    level that these data were valid within a 7 point margin of error (meaning that as few as 77% and as many as 92%
    of CdM residents would favor a more restrictive policy change.

Summary
  1. It appears that the village residents were more motivated to respond to our poll because they are more directly
    impacted by the noise and pollution created by existing gas leaf blowers.  Lot sizes are much smaller in the village,
    and therefore the impacts of leaf blowers on neighboring properties seem to be more noticeable in this area.  
  2. A clear majority of respondents supported an outright ban for residential usage, and cited Laguna Beach as an
    example.  Additional controls were also cited by many, including limiting the days blowers can be used, more
    restrictive hours of use, phasing in lower-emission units, limiting decibels emitted.
  3. A desire was expressed to limit or control commercial usage, but not as clear a majority.  Some expressed desire
    to limit commercial usage if in close proximity to residential areas.  Some felt that commercial controls should be
    greater given the magnitude of the areas they covered, increasing the opportunities to minimize air and water
    pollution.  

Next Steps
If you live in a planned community, your Board of Directors will likely get a letter from the City on this topic.  It is important to
you convey your concerns and desires on the usage of leaf blowing equipment in Corona del Mar to your Homeowner
Association Board of Directors and/or Management Company.  The statistics CdMRA presented to City Council were
compelling, and a model for Homeowner Associations to follow.  

We will continue to post updates as they become available.


** For additional information and background on this topic, click here  (or click here for a PDF version).
To view results from previous CdMRA polls and member comments, click here (or click here for a PDF version.
Copyright 2010 Corona del Mar Residents Association.  All Rights Reserved.
No information may be duplicated without permission from Corona del Mar Residents Association.
PO Box 1500
Corona del Mar, CA  92625

Info@cdmra.org
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Volunteers working to protect, preserve and improve our community's quality of life