Will Palm Springs ban ALL leaf blowers?

Palm Springs City Council members have put off a vote to ban gas-powered leaf blowers to look into the possibility of banning all leaf blowers, including electric and battery-powered devices.

For 15 years, Al Rochin said leaf blowers have been a part of his landscaping business in Palm Springs.

“They save us a lot of time,” he said.

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They’re a tool that’s started up conversations between residents mainly due to noise.

“There’s a lot of people that come here to enjoy the town, so we try to not make too much noises in the morning,” Rochin said.

Palm Springs city leaders said the debate over having leaf blowers in the city has been going on for about 10 years.

But this week, city leaders introduced the idea of banning both gas and electric blowers, with environmental concerns growing over time, along with noise complaints.

Originally the ordinance was aimed at banning all gas-powered leaf blowers and setting up an exchange program so residents and landscapers could swap them out for more efficient, electric leaf blowers.

“We’re not solving the problem by just doing electric because that gives a whole bunch of other problems,” Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Foat said. “It would cost an average landscaper about $2,000 to $3,000 if they weren’t subsidized by the AQMD (Air Quality Management District) to purchase what was needed.”

But Foat said the law would ultimately help in the years ahead.

“It’s going to take a little longer to clean your porch, it’s going to take a little longer to do some things, but it’s going to make it better for your breathing,” she said.

While Rochin said it may rake into day-to-day jobs.

“It would affect all of the landscapers in a big way,” he said. “Moneywise, timewise, and of course, it would pass the cost onto the consumer,”

Foat said city leaders are gathering research, and are expected to talk about the potential new ordinance at an upcoming public meeting.

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