Will leaf blower users breathe a sigh of relief – or have the wind knocked out of them once and for all? That’s what’s at stake Wednesday, Sept. 9 when the Sonoma City Council considers a proposal to ban the use of leaf blowers within the city limits.
While any resulting decisions from the council that night are unlikely to be the final word on leaf blowers, council members are expected to specifically address consideration of a strict ban on gas-powered machines and a residential ban on electric. Additionally, fines for violating the ban would be levied at both the landscapers and those contracting with them.
The flurry over leaf blowers has been a hot topic in Sonoma for several years now, as critics of the blustery landscaping tools cite studies about the greenhouse gas pollution and noise pollution of such models as the Red Max HB281, which boasts being able to “blow your leaves at an impressive 170 mph,” a similar wind speed to Cyclone Pam, which ripped through the Pacific islands last spring. Residents who live in neighborhoods with heavy leaf blowing maintenance – some of whom are part of an ad hoc organization called Sonoma Neighbors Against Leaf Blowers – complain of having to rearrange their lives in order to coexist with the cacophony and hazardous airborne particulates caused by the machines.
However, landscapers – and those who employ them – say the complaints are overblown (Sonoma Police report a total of 16 leaf blower complaints lodged last year) and that they already adhere to tight regulations over volume and leaf-blowing times of day. Landscapers stress that if the efficiencies of leaf blowers weren’t at their disposal, they would likely have to increase rates per job and their businesses would suffer.
While some impartial observers say it’s all a tempest in a teapot, it’s a topic that’s gained the attention of many Sonomans. Members of Sonoma Neighbors Against Leaf Blowers say they have a petition signed by more than 800 Sonomans supporting a leaf-blower ban. The group also has a change.org online petition to lobby the city council for a ban, with 156 supporters.
According to SNALB’s change.org petition, leaf blowers not only threaten residents health but “hinders” the ability to earn a living for those who work from home.
“Often the homeowners who hire landscapers are away during the day and are unaware of the impact they have on surrounding neighbors,” the petition states. “There are currently successful bans on leaf blowers in more than 21 cities in California. Will Sonoma follow their lead?”
Sonoma resident Louis Chiotti, on the other hand, describes calls for a leaf-blower ban as “trivial.”
“Sonoma streets are pretty clean, a good credit (for that) goes to leaf blowers,” Chiotti wrote to the Index-Tribune. “Being realistic, the leaf blower, when used properly, is an efficient, useful and helpful apparatus.”
When the pros and cons of leaf blowers were last addressed at the city council’s July 20 meeting, the council gave direction to city staff, via an unofficial straw vote of 3 – 2, to draft an ordinance banning gas-powered leaf blowers entirely and barring electric blowers outside of commercial and mixed-use zones and publicly owned areas of the city.
The council’s two unofficial “nay” straw votes – regarding any leaf blower bans at all – were Mayor David Cook and Councilmember Gary Edwards.
The meeting takes place at 6 p.m., Sept. 9 in the Community Meeting Room, 177 First St. W. For the full agenda, visit sonomacity.org.
Email Jason at jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.
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