11 responses to findings and recommendations
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council fully and effectively enforce Section 9.16.060 of the City Code.
Response: Will Implement
Score: +1
Will be implemented. The City will be researching different enforcementmodelsand resourcesto beusedtofullyand effectivelyenforce9.16.060ofthe municipal code which is outlined in the responses to Recommendation 3a and 3b. The target deadline for enforcementto begin isthe week ofDecember14, 2026. Finding 2: TheCityofSanta Barbara staffand itscontractorsare usinggasoline powered leaf-blowers in municipal operations in directviolation ofthe 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.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
below. The City is looking for viable alternativesforthegasoline-powered leafblowersthatare used in the repairand maintenance ofcritical infrastructure. Recommendation 1: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council fully and effectively enforce Section 9.16.060 ofthe City Code. To be implemented by December31, 2026.
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.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Willnotbeimplemented. City staffwill continue to complywith Section 9.16.060 of the Municipal Code, aside from a single, clearly defined operational allowance related to pavement resurfacing. This activity requires equipmentwith performance capabilitiesthat battery-powered blowers do not yet reliably provide. Maintaining the abilityto fully clean pavement surfaces isessentialto ensurethatresurfacing materials bond correctlyand that newlytreated streets achievetheir intended service life. The City understands the community's concerns regarding the noise and emissions associated with gasoline-po...
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.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree. The City recognizes that our ability to respond to gasoline-powered leaf blower complaints in a timely manner is the difference between being able to enforce the Municipal Code or not. Recommendation 3a: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council develop a proactiveenforcement modelthatensures immediate responsetoviolationsofthe CityCode, holding non-compliant operators accountable. To be implemented by December 31, 2026.
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.
Response: Requires Analysis
Score: 0
Requires further analysis. Leaf blowers are typically. utilized duringdaylight hours atthe end ofa job by most users. Ifthe City is unable to respond within a short timeframe, it is common that the users are no longer on site. The City will be evaluating the current response model to look for improvements in response time and identify additional employees who possess the necessary qualifications to conduct the enforcement. This analysis should be completed by December 1, 2026. Recommendation 3b: The Grand Jury recommends that Santa Barbara City Council create a shortterm patrol-based enforceme...
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.
Response: Will Implement
Score: +1
Will be implemented. As stated in the
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.
Response: Will Implement
Score: +1
Willbe implemented. The Parks and Recreation Department will update its leaf blower guidelines, provide the guidelines in a readily accessible location on the City's website, and makethem available atthe public counter in the Parks Office, in addition to providing it to all City landscape and tree contractors. The Department will also disseminate the leaf blower guidelines to the community through its various social media channels. Will be implemented by December 31, 2026.
Finding 5:The Parks and Recreation Department has notadopted a leafblowercertification program, resulting in no effective...
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.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agree. The Parks and Recreation Department did not develop a leaf blower certification program for several reasons. While there are established landscape businesses in the community, there are countless individual landscapers and gardeners. A compliance program must bevoluntary. Recommendation 5: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct the Parksand Recreation Departmenttoadopta leafblowercertification program, in compliancewiththe City Code. To be implemented by December31, 2026.
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.
Response: Will Implement
Score: +1
Willbe implemented. The Parks and Recreation Department will develop a listofelectric leafblowersthat meetthe requirements oftheCity'sadopted noisestandard. All landscapers that seek certification would present their equipment to the Parks Manager or designee and be placed on a certified list. The Department will disseminate the list of approved equipment, and requirementto have leafblowers certified through outreach to all known landscape companies and Citycontractors, aswell asthrough itswebpage and social media channels.Voluntary participation by community members that hire landscapers and ...
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.
Response: Disagree Partially
Score: 0
Disagree partially. The Finance Department did provide a copy of Chapter 9.16 ofthe municipal code and the established Parks and Recreation leaf blower guidelines to each person obtaining a businesstax certificatefor gardening and landscapingfrom 1997 to 2022. In 2023, the Finance Supervisor who was aware of this municipal code Finance Department requirement retired, and the businesstax certificate processingwas transitioned to an external third-party, which resulted in thistask inadvertentlygettingdropped. Recommendation 6: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council direct ...
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.
Response: Will Implement
Score: +1
Will be implemented. The Finance Department will resume providinga copy ofChapter9.16 ofthe municipal code and the established Parks and Recreation leaf blower guidelines to each person obtaining or renewing a business tax certificate for gardening, landscaping, or contractor businesses annually. Additionally, the Finance Department will require each person obtaining a businesstax certificateforgardening, landscaping, or contractor businesses to acknowledge the prohibition on gas-powered leafblower use underChapter9.16 ofthe municipal codewhen applyingfororrenewinga businesstaxcertificateonlin...
