Posted on 10/04/2007 4:14:04 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
The Fairfax Town Council has backed down from a plan to ban residential car washing in the face of strong opposition. "God washes my car when it rains. Why can't I wash it when God is off duty?" said Geary Avenue resident Anne Moos.
Councilwoman Susan Brandborg had proposed the car washing ban as a way to prevent pollution of Corte Madera Creek and other Fairfax waterways.
"Even biodegradable products in small doses can harm fish and aquatic life," Brandborg said. "Soap goes directly down our storm drains and into the creek and the bay."
At least one business owner agreed with the proposal, saying it was unfair that residents could wash their cars while businesses are prohibited by ordinance from hosing down their sidewalks.
"You criminalize the merchants, but you let the residents wash their cars? How do I try to understand this?" said Rose Taber, owner of Rainbow Fabrics.
Yet the majority of those who spoke at Wednesday's council meeting were against the measure.
"If women have the right to choose, then residents have the right to wash their cars," said Cascade Drive resident Steven White.
Both residents and Councilman Lew Tremaine suggested possible compromises, such as the use of biodegradable soap, temporarily plugging storm drains or washing cars on permeable surfaces, like grass or gravel. But Fairfax Coin Car Wash owner Jeff Fink said those methods wouldn't necessarily protect the creek.
"Soap isn't the problem. It's the oil and grease that gets washed off the cars," said Fink, who explained that commercial car wash operations trap and separate runoff before releasing it into sewers. "I don't know if you should make washing cars against the law, but I'd be willing to step up to the plate, maybe even making a day for Fairfax residents to wash their cars at my place for free."
Members of the council were split 3-2 on the issue, with Brandborg and Vice Mayor Mary Ann Maggiore voting in favor. Council members Tremaine and David Weinsoff, along with Mayor Larry Bragman, were opposed.
"Fairfax absolutely takes care of its creek and the fish in there," Tremaine said. "But I haven't heard one single positive comment about this proposal in the time since it was proposed."
Brandborg chided her fellow members, noting that the council had supported strong environmental measures in areas outside Fairfax, such as the county's stream conservation area ordinances.
"I see this as delaying an inevitability," Brandborg said. "We need to address a number of issues relating to the pollution of our creeks. They're the lifeblood of our environment."
Bragman agreed, recommending that the town look into adopting "best management practices" that would address pollution of the creek without assigning criminal penalties.
Maggiore remained disappointed with the council's actions.
"I've heard people speak for themselves and for their cars. We have to speak for nature," Maggiore said. "We're great at talking about global warming and pollution. We all do a beautiful job of that."
Which is just a tiny fraction of the oil and grease a car spits out when driving. Where do these dolts think this goes? It goes in the roads and is washed down the same drains in the road.
Two women proposed the ban on car washing.
Three men opposed.
Defeated 3-2.
Socialism, thy name is Woman.
you don’t kown the half of it.
RINOs are predominantly women on the local level.
Down here in NC we need folks to stop. The drought is real bad. We gotta save every drop.
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