Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
• 2025-2026
A Voter-Approved Mandate Without Action
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 6 findings
F1
The City of Santa Barbara is not enforcing the voter-approved law prohibiting the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in the community by allowing continued use by City staff, contractors, and residents in violation of Section 9.16.060 of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council fully and effectively enforce Section 9.16.060 of the City Code.
F2
The City of Santa Barbara staff and its contractors are using gasoline- powered leaf-blowers in municipal operations in direct violation of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Santa Barbara enforce compliance with section 9.16.060 of the City Code through agreements with its contractors, including prohibiting the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in City- contracted operations.
R2a
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct City staff to comply with Section 9.16.060 of the City Code by ceasing its own use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in City operations.
F3
The City of Santa Barbara’s current enforcement model for its gasoline- powered leaf blower ban is not effective and does not result in enforcement of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3a
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council develop a proactive enforcement model that ensures immediate response to violations of the City Code, holding non-compliant operators accountable.
R3b
The Grand Jury recommends that Santa Barbara City Council create a short-term patrol-based enforcement task force to address violations of the gasoline-powered leaf blower ban and establish a visible enforcement presence.
F4
The Parks and Recreation Department has not made its leaf blower usage guidelines readily accessible, limiting community awareness and resulting in continued noise disturbances, air pollution, and repeated quality of life impacts on residents throughout the community.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct the Parks and Recreation Department to make these guidelines readily accessible to the public.
F5
The Parks and Recreation Department has not adopted a leaf blower certification program, resulting in no effective method to identify equipment compliance or non-compliance, in violation of Section 9.16.050.E of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct the Parks and Recreation Department to adopt a leaf blower certification program, in compliance with the City Code.
F6
The Finance Department is not providing a copy of Chapter 9.16 of the municipal code and the established Parks and Recreation leaf blower guidelines to each person obtaining a business license (tax certificate) or gardening or landscaping, in violation of Section 9.16.050.F of the City Code.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct the Finance Department to provide a copy of Chapter 9.16 of the municipal code and leaf blower guidelines to each person obtaining a business license (tax certificate) for gardening or landscaping, in compliance with the City Code.
No Responses Found 1
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Santa Barbara
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In the News 1
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Dustup over leaf blowers in Santa Barbara - KCLU
KCLU
· June 22, 2026