San Rafael is planning to ban gas-powered leaf blowers starting Oct. 1.
The City Council agreed Tuesday to act swiftly on an ordinance after receiving enthusiastic support from residents to prohibit the devices as soon as possible.
The proposed ordinance will also limit the hours of operations for electric leaf blowers between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays for residential properties. For commercial properties, the limits will be from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
The council said it would consider a prohibition on Sundays, and would like to offer a local rebate program for professional landscapers to help them transition to electric tools.
The move is part of a trend among Marin municipalities to address noise complaints by residents while also reducing environmental and health detriments.
Mayor Kate Colin said she recognizes it has taken San Rafael longer than other Marin jurisdictions to introduce a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. However, she said the city had lacked an appropriate amount of input from professional gardeners until recently.
“One hundred percent, we need to move forward,” Colin said. “We’ve done the homework.”
Belvedere, Corte Madera, Mill Valley and San Anselmo have adopted gas bans, while Larkspur, Ross and Tiburon have partial bans. Fairfax has approved a ban on all gas-powered landscape equipment, and Novato is pursuing a gas ban as well.
Walter Gonzalez, a city analyst, said the push to introduce bans follows Assembly Bill 1346. It mandates that by July 21, the California Air Resources Board adopt regulations to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from small off-road machines, including gardening equipment.
AB 1346 will restrict the sale of gas-powered gardening equipment starting in 2024.
Gonzalez said a key step to introducing the proposed ban was issuing a survey to professional landscapers and residents.
Out of 60 businesses surveyed through email, 23 responded. Fifteen said they already owned at least one electric-powered blower and five said they were in favor of keeping gas as an option.
Of 55 resident respondents, 93% said they supported the ban and 46% of those urged the council to do it as soon as possible, Gonzalez said.
All residents who spoke at the council meeting urged it to adopt the ban.
“I really support this; it’s a wonderful idea,” resident Trout Black told the council.
Black said he would encourage the city to expand beyond leaf blowers and include other equipment, including lawn mowers.
Colin said she wants to stay focused on leaf blowers for the time being.
“These take a lot of work and we’re not ready yet,” Colin said, noting that the program could expand in the future.
The council also voiced support for having a rebate program similar to San Anselmo’s. However, Gonzalez suggested the rebate be limited to businesses if the intention is to help professional landscapers comply with the new rule. That way residents will not be able to exhaust the city’s funds.
Gonzalez said the state is expected to make available $30 million in rebates to help proprietors of landscaping businesses switch to electric yard tools as well.
The ordinance is expected to be considered at an August meeting.
Source: www.mercurynews.com