Palm Springs City Council bans gas powered leaf blowers
Gas powered leaf blowers will soon be banned in Palm Springs after a vote by the city council Wednesday night. The city council voted to phase out gas blowers in favor of electric and battery powered leaf blowers.
The council decided to steer away from a total leaf blower ban.
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“We are trying to make a pretty city for you guys. It’s not for us, it’s you guys,” said Willy Ramirez, one of dozens of landscapers who took to public comment to convince the council against an all out ban of leaf blowers. Many landscapers said the tool is essential especially since so many folks switched to desert landscape during the drought.
“Everyone put all of this beautiful landscape in and who is going to pick all the leaves out of these rocks? The only way to do it is with a blower,” said Mark Logan, a third-generation landscaper working in Palm Springs.
“We have yards that are all rock. You cannot use a broom on rock, you cannot use this on gravel, you have to use a blower,” said Eddie Flores, owner of Terra Palms Landscape.
City staff did demonstrations with electric blowers at the meeting, so people could hear just how loud they are. Staff said they couldn’t turn the gas blowers on indoors.
Some landscapers at the meeting said they won’t be able to do their jobs with battery powered blowers.
“It is just not going to be effective for us. Battery operated stuff for us gets one hour or two hours it’s just not enough time,” said Raul Salgado, owner of Salgado Landscaping.
Other landscapers said they could work with electric blowers, but they think this ordinance is overreaching.
“I think it is a great idea. But there is a bigger problem here. What is next? Weed eaters? Lawn mowers? Harley Davidsons? Think about it. This can keep going on. It has got to stop” Logan said.
Mayor Robert Moon and Councilmember Chris Mills voted against the ordinance. They said the trade-in cost will be too great for landscapers.
Residents will have 16 months to trade in gas powered for electric blowers.
The Air Quality Management District has a trade-in program in which landscapers can trade older model gas powered leaf blowers for electric ones at half the retail cost.
Those interested in this program will have to register online or call 1-888-425-6247 for more information.
JOE GALLI IS ON FACEBOOK AND ON TWITTER @JOEGALLINEWS
