Panel: leaf blowers OK for city crews

The inability of public works staff to use leaf blowers would strain city services and create liability issues, a city panel has ruled.

The Community Services and Environment Commission voted Thursday to recommend to the city council that leaf blowers not be banned for public works assignments such as cleaning city parks, bike paths and cemeteries.

Resorting to hand tools for the work would add significant staff time, forcing the delay or cancellation of other projects.

“There would be service impacts,” said Public Works Director Milenka Bates. “There would be other items not addressed or attended to.”

Adding staff is not an option, she said.

Any reduced cleaning schedule could create hidden hazards and increase the city’s liability if someone was hurt. “The city is obligated to keep sidewalks clean and clear of debris,” Bates said.

She also stated a concern for the visual impact of ill-maintained public areas. Commission Chair Liz Lease agreed. “The aesthetic value and safety of our parks is at the core of our identity,” she said.

As it has statewide, a movement to ban leaf blowers entirely has been growing in Sonoma. The machines are said to be a noisy, polluting health hazard.

The commission did not discuss a residential ban but addressed limiting usage by updating the city’s noise ordinance.

The panel called for limiting the noise output of all power equipment, blowers included, to 70 decibels. Allowable hours of operation would also be cut back under the plan: for residents, to 9 a.m to 4 p.m. weekdays, for commercial operators, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The current ordinance allows usage until 8 p.m. City Planning Director David Goodison said the majority of noise complaints about leaf blowers are for evening use.