Partial leaf blower ban in the works

Sonoma will ban the use of all leaf blowers on city-owned land for one year, a plan sent by the city council to a sub-committee to determine details including when the moratorium could go into effect.

The directive to the Community Services and Environment Commission includes a call to restrict hours that blowers can be used in residential neighborhoods, and the posting of scheduled usage on commercial properties.

“We’ve set the direction,” said Mayor Steve Barbose. “We’re looking to staff and the CSEC for an implementation plan.”

The one-year moratorium to both gas and electric blowers will not apply to residential users or commercial landscapers.

No deadline or timeline was set for the final proposal. City Manager Linda Kelly said that because some city property is maintained by landscapers under different contracts, it will take time for staff to research how soon the ban could be in place.

The financial impact to the city is another factor.

The ban will require city workers to rake the Plaza and other parks, the cemetery, the police and fire station parking lots, the bike path and other properties. The move to un-aided manual labor will add significant hours to each job.

“I imagine that our parks staff won’t be thrilled,” said Councilmember Ken Brown, “but our job is to protect people and their families.”

City workers will be hard pressed to find that extra time, according to Public Works Director Milenka Bates. The staff is stretched thin, she said, and is not authorized for overtime.

Georgia Kelly was one of several members of the public who called for a wholesale ban.

“It’s not just the noise,” she said. “It’s about health and toxic fumes.”

Nancy Gold also opposed leaf blowers, but cautioned that banning them would increase landscaping charges to neighborhood associations, affecting residents with fixed incomes.

Landscaper Jerry Bruno opposed any ban as a threat to his small business. “These tools are needed. If you take them away, you put us out of business.”

Councilmember Joanne Sanders said she was against leaf blowers, but that a ban in the private sector “would be a bit heavy handed.”

Instead, the moratorium on city land will allow staff to gather data, including the fiscal impact, for an informed decision regarding a complete and permanent ban. How the city parks actually look under a revised maintenance plan will also be a factor.

Along with Sanders and Brown, Barbose also railed against the noise and pollution generated in residential areas. He said that leaf blower policy for commercial properties required a different approach. “People don’t expect peace and quiet in parking lots,” he said. “Some places are more appropriate than others.”

The posting of a leaf-blowing schedule in shopping centers and other commercial properties will be among the CSEC guidelines. Restricted use in residential areas, limiting days and hours, for example, will also be detailed, as will a certification process, which could require blower operators to undergo a city-sponsored orientation.

The CSEC will also look at lowering the allowable noise level for leaf blowers, which, in the general category of power equipment, currently 95 decibels. The current generation of gas-powered blowers operates at about 75 decibels, with electric models running somewhat quieter.

Currently, the police department is responsible for enforcing the noise ordinance. That task, along with enforcing other leaf blower-related violations, could be transferred to another city department.
The October 20 council vote was 4 to 1, with members Barbose, Brown, Sanders and Laurie Gallian voting for the moratorium. August Sebastiani voted against it.