Title
Recommendation to Provide Direction on an Ordinance to Ban the Sale and Distribution of Mylar Balloons in Alameda.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is categorically exempt from further review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section §15061(b)(3) (the commonsense exemption). (Alameda Municipal Power)
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To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At its July 15, 2025, meeting, City Council directed staff to return with options for an ordinance to prohibit the sale and distribution of Mylar balloons in Alameda. Councilmembers expressed interest in understanding how other jurisdictions have approached this issue, directed staff to conduct outreach with local businesses that sell mylar balloons, explore enforcement mechanisms and a public education campaign. This report presents a framework for those options and outlines key decision points for City Council consideration of an ordinance.
Staff will place restrictions on use of mylar balloons as a condition to obtain any City of Alameda (City) event permit, including Citywide special event permits and park picnic and facility permits as well as expand the public education campaign on the hazards of mylar balloons to the power grid and the environment. This report provides information on an ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of mylar balloons in the City and enforcement protocols. If City Council directs establishing this Ordinance and provides direction on enforcement and other components, staff will return with the Ordinance at a later date.
BACKGROUND
AB 847 (2022) is a legislative measure enacted by the state of California to address the issues caused by conductive metallic balloons, commonly known as mylar balloons. The primary goal of this bill is to reduce the incidence of power outages and electrical hazards that occur when these balloons come into contact with power lines. The bill mandates the elimination of the sale and distribution of conductive metallic balloons within the state, promoting the use of safer alternatives, in phases from 2027 and 2031, at which time only non-conductive metallic balloons may be sold. This legislation is part of a broader effort to enhance public safety, protect wildlife, and minimize environmental waste associated with balloon debris.
Staff reviewed ordinances from eight California cities that enacted restrictions on the sale, use, or release of mylar and lighter-than-air balloons. Details are included in Exhibit 1. These ordinances vary in scope from narrowly targeting the sale of metallic balloons to comprehensive bans on all balloon types, including latex. Several cities focus their restrictions on public property, while others extend them citywide. Enforcement approaches also differ, with most cities relying on complaint-driven models, and a few incorporating proactive inspections or coordination with departments like Parks or Code Enforcement. This variation highlights key decision points for City Council consideration, including the scope of the ban, enforcement feasibility, and alignment with Alameda’s operational capacity.
DISCUSSION
Mylar balloons are one cause of electrical outages for the Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) grid. When a mylar balloon contacts power lines, its metallic coating can create a short circuit, causing a surge of electricity. This surge triggers protective devices, such as circuit breakers or fuses (located in substations like Cartwright), to activate and temporarily cut off power to prevent equipment damage. The estimated cost for labor and equipment replacement in these events is at least $25,000.
Over the past five (5) years, AMP documented 54 call-outs from mylar balloons, each requiring a troubleman or line crew response. Seven of these incidents resulted in power outages. Four of these were momentary outages lasting less than five (5) seconds. The remaining three were outages ranging from 0.75 to 2 hours for 60 to over 200 customers. Exhibit 2 includes details for each outage.
Incidents of mylar balloons causing power outages are relatively rare, but even occasional contact with power lines can disrupt service and create safety risks. Taking steps such as including a ban on mylar balloons as a condition of approval for event permits, will help reduce these incidents. Targeted education on mylar balloon hazards and existing state law requiring weights for all balloons, especially around graduations, holidays, and other popular events, can further raise awareness and promote compliance, making these measures both practical to enforce and effective in lowering outage risks.
Staff is implementing a ban on mylar balloons in public areas by making it a condition of approval for citywide special event permits and for use of any public space such as a park picnic area or recreation facility. Permit restrictions can be integrated into existing City processes, allowing for routine compliance checks during events with consequences if there is not compliance. In addition, AMP has updated its website and will coordinate with other City communication platforms to expand its education campaign on the impact of mylar balloons to the City’s electrical grid and environment.
In addition to these measures, City Council may consider an Ordinance to ban the sale of mylar balloons in the City until AB 847 is fully implemented and the sale of mylar ballons is banned state-wide. To inform the development of ordinance options, staff conducted outreach to the larger sellers of mylar balloons in the City. Mylar balloons are generally sold at grocery stores, party and discount stores as well as florists. Questions included sales practices, customer demand, safety awareness, alternatives, and the business impact of a ban. Retailers generally disagreed with the proposed ban, citing mylar balloons’ popularity (about 80% of balloon orders) and the inadequacy of latex alternatives. The sellers indicated they would not voluntarily phase out sales, preferring to wait for an ordinance before removing mylar balloons from stores; they also felt City support or education would not change their position.
To better understand the practical implications of mylar balloon ordinances and the feasibility and potential impact of such a measure in Alameda, staff conducted outreach to several California cities that have adopted similar regulations. The purpose of this outreach was to gather insights into the original objectives behind the ordinances, their perceived effectiveness, the steps taken to enforce them, and the public’s response. The cities with mylar balloon ordinances reported a range of motivations, including reducing power outages, protecting wildlife, and minimizing litter in parks and coastal areas. Enforcement was generally described as complaint-driven, with few proactive inspections and limited ongoing public feedback. Most cities noted that public opinion was initially mixed but became more supportive over time, especially when paired with educational campaigns.
Many cities opted to incorporate permit and business license requirements as part of their regulations, and recommended setting clear public expectations and using simple code language to support effective enforcement and implementation.
A City Ordinance banning the sale and distribution of mylar balloons, in addition to banning mylar balloon in public places through existing permit processes, will likely further reduce the use of these balloons and related power line incidents. Mylar balloons will still be available for purchase outside City limits until AB 847 is fully implemented state-wide. City Council can provide direction on the following considerations:
• Complaint-driven or actively enforced
o Restricting mylar balloon sales requires Code Enforcement Officers to enforce at the point of sale. Complaint driven enforcement means that the Officers will respond after a complaint is received. Directed active enforcement requires a higher level of Code Enforcement staff resources which will be challenging, particularly when combined with prioritizing life and safety code issues as well as enforcement of the new sidewalk vendor ordinance and ongoing enforcement of other quality of life issues such as graffiti and gas leaf blowers.
• Mylar balloon restriction only or a broader ban on helium
o Restricting mylar balloons only is more targeted and specifically addresses the service disruption issue with the electrical grid. Banning all helium will address broader environmental issues from balloons and will have a much larger economic impact on the affected businesses.
• Enforcement - immediate versus a phase implementation
o A phased approach (outreach → education → enforcement) helps businesses adapt and builds public support. Immediate enforcement with warnings and citations with fines may increase the pace and impact of a mylar ban but could provoke push back from the businesses and will require more Code Enforcement staff resources.
• Measuring success and reporting
o Several measurable targets can be tracked including a reduction in utility outages attributable to mylar balloons, number of citations, and business compliance rates. Committing to reporting increases transparency but also requires staff resources.
City staff is requesting City Council provide direction on an Ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of mylar balloons in Alameda
ALTERNATIVES
• Provide direction to staff for an Ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of mylar balloons.
• Wait on implementing an Ordinance banning the sale and distribution of mylar balloons and direct staff to return to City Council with a report of measurable targets after implementation of the mylar balloon ban through existing permit processes and a broader education campaign.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to direct staff to develop this Ordinance. If the Ordinance is implemented, it will require additional Code Enforcement staff resources but this will be conducted within the existing budget and will not require additional financial resources.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), all three options are categorically exempt under the commonsense exemption (CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3)) because they would not result in significant adverse environmental impacts.
CLIMATE IMPACT
The City has declared a climate emergency and prioritized resilience and public safety through its Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP). Addressing power outages caused by avoidable sources such as Mylar balloons aligns with these goals.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction on an Ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of mylar balloons in Alameda.
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Haines, General Manager, Alameda Municipal Power
By,
Tim Haines, General Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Summary of Mylar Balloon Ordinances in California Cities
2. Mylar Balloon Incidents on Alameda Municipal Power Grid