Title
Resolution to Recommend an Idling Ordinance to City Council
Memorandum
The attached resolution refers the draft Idling Ordinance to City Council and recommends that City Council take appropriate steps to adopt the ordinance.
The intended goal of this Ordinance is to reduce unnecessary idling from internal combustion engines of all types when not “doing work.” Many exemptions are allowed that recognize the need for some idling. The ordinance is based on recommendations for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other model ordinances. Idling Ordinances have been adopted by many states and cities.
Unnecessary idling is an avoidable practice that occurs mostly out of habit. Situations in which unnecessary idling may occur include warming up a vehicle, dropping off or picking up children at school, loading or unloading cargo, pulling over to take a cell phone call, or waiting in line at a drive-thru window. Unnecessary idling produces little or no discernable benefits, and it releases harmful pollutants into the air, consumes fuel, and causes added wear and tear on vehicle components.
Idling can strongly influence outdoor air quality at the local or community level. Unnecessary idling impacts human health, contributes to environmental degradation, and consumes natural and economic resources. Specific environmental and economic impacts are elaborated on below.
Health and Environmental Impacts
Unnecessary idling of motor vehicles contributes to general environmental degradation by emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and greenhouse gases. These pollutants affect the health and welfare of citizens on a local scale, and contribute to regional and global pollution concerns as well. Some specific consequences are as follows:
· Gasoline motor vehicles and engines emit many pollutants classified as hazardous air pollutants by the Clean Air Act, including benzene, 1-3 butadiene and...
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