Braude Seeks to Turn Off Noisy Leaf Blowers in L.A. : Legislation: His proposal, opposed by professional gardeners, would effectively ban the gas-powered devices.

Four years ago, Lomita banned leaf blowers because of complaints from residents about dust and the high-pitched snarl of the machines.

Palos Verdes Estates and Hermosa Beach soon followed with prohibitions of their own, and other South Bay cities imposed a host of restrictions on use of the blowers. In Rancho Palos Verdes, for instance, it became illegal to operate the machines on Sunday or in the evening.

Homeowners in Los Angeles also demanded regulations, but failed when the gardening industry fought back and blocked a proposed ban on gasoline-powered blowers in residential areas.

Now, thanks to Councilman Marvin Braude, opponents of blowers in Los Angeles are getting a second chance.

Braude has introduced a motion to the City Council that industry officials say would effectively ban gas-powered leaf blowers in the city. The measure, which was referred to the council’s Environmental Quality Committee last week, would reduce the maximum noise permitted by the blowers from 65 decibels to 60 decibels. (A busy street may generate 70 to 80 decibels of noise.)

“The continual use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers is a nuisance in our city and a terrible imposition on the peace and quiet its residents want to enjoy,” Braude said in announcing his proposal.

The measure is intended to force gardeners to return to traditional rakes and push-brooms or convert to electric blowers, which city officials said are far less noisy than their gas-powered counterparts.

Most gas-powered leaf blowers generate more than 60 decibels and would not be able to comply with Braude’s proposed ordinance, according to the Police Department, which enforces city noise ordinances.

Braude’s proposal has raised the ire of Southern California’s gardening profession, which has seen a growing number of cities impose restrictions on the machines in recent years.

Several weeks ago, Claremont approved a ban on gas-powered blowers, beginning in February, and last month Irvine officials began licensing the machines and requiring safety classes for their operators. Other cities across the region, from Beverly Hills to Cypress, have either banned the blowers or restricted their use.

“That equipment is the livelihood of the gardeners,” said Bill Kondo, executive secretary of the Southern California Gardeners Federation, which represents about 3,500 professional gardeners. “Yes, we are going to oppose it. We are meeting Saturday to discuss it.”