Commission asks staff to return with enforceable options on landscapers’ noise and debris practices

Commissioners discussed resident complaints about loud landscaper activity, debris blown into streets and storm drains, and safety impacts from multiple pieces of powered equipment used simultaneously. The item was a commission discussion (no formal ordinance before the body) and resulted in direction to put the issue on a future agenda for more detailed consideration.

Key points: Some commissioners framed the issue as one of quality of life — multiple blowers and chainsaws running at once, grass and mulch blown into streets and bike lanes, and occasional late‑evening noise — and urged the city to consider measures. Staff advised the commission that enforcement and drafting precise, enforceable language pose challenges: a rule requiring a per‑site decibel measurement or a limit on engine count can be hard to implement without a complaint‑driven enforcement process and could raise administrative burdens.

Commission direction: The commission voted to move the discussion to a future agenda item and asked staff and counsel to research enforceable options, including (but not limited to) revised noise rules, limits on the number of gas‑powered devices used at one time on a residential property, hours of operation, and an education/outreach campaign for contractors. Commissioners asked staff to present enforceable, legally defensible language and an implementation plan at a subsequent meeting.

Ending: Commissioners emphasized a preference for practical, enforceable measures rather than symbolic recommendations; staff will return with draft ordinance language or other actionable proposals for a future meeting.