Council OKs Leaf Blower Ban, Fines for Gardeners, Employers

More than six months after its initial vote to ban gas-powered leaf blowers in residential neighborhoods, the Los Angeles City Council narrowly approved restrictions Tuesday on the noisy machines and fines of up to $1,000 for gardeners and homeowners who violate the law.

The new ordinance, which permits gas-powered leaf vacuums as long as they are no louder than 45 decibels, takes effect in July, four months later than the measure’s sponsor originally requested.

“The time is long overdue that we take some corrective action for a problem that has been plaguing neighborhoods,” Councilman Nate Holden said before the 9-3 vote. “We’re not rushing to judgment.”

After a series of public hearings and multiple postponements, leaf-blower opponents barely managed to overcome a last-minute attempt at further delay, rejecting a proposal by Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr. that the city conduct a fiscal analysis of how much the ban could cost taxpayers.

Noting that the Recreation and Parks Department recently purchased more than 100 leaf blowers and that street maintenance workers use the machines, Svorinich and other lawmakers estimated that the city government would have to spend an extra $1.5 million a year on gardening once the ban takes effect.

“It just escapes me why this City Council would not want to see how much this would cost,” Svorinich said.

“A million dollars or $2 million might not seem like a lot of money now,” said Councilman Richard Alatorre, head of the budget committee, which is predicting a $50-million deficit for next year. “But when you start talking about what you’re going to cut . . . this issue on top of all the others is going to have a drastic impact.”

Others continue to object to the ban because of its impact on gardeners, many of whom earn low incomes, while some protested on behalf of the companies that manufacture the machines.

“This is an unnecessary ordinance,” said Councilwoman Rita Walters, who joined Svorinich and Alatorre in voting against the ban. “It is an elitist issue. It is clearly not an issue of citywide importance.”

But in the end, environmentalists led by a celebrity cast including actors Meredith Baxter and Peter Graves accomplished what had once seemed “Mission Impossible,” adding Los Angeles to the list of more than 40 California cities restricting the blowers.

The law prohibits use of the blowers within 500 feet of a residence, and penalizes both the user of the blower and the employer with up to a $1,000 fine.

Because of an amendment added last week, gas-powered leaf vacuums are allowed under the new law, although their noise levels must remain less than 45 decibels.

Industry experts say they are not sure whether such a machine exists. The newest technology in leaf blowers keeps the noise down to about 65 decibels, manufacturers say, but vacuum machines are often as loud as 100 decibels or more.

Some believe that the 65-decibel blowers can be converted into vacuums for about $50, and the noise can be mitigated by running them at less than full throttle.

“We might as well ban hair blowers because hair blowers are 45 decibels,” said Councilman Richard Alarcon. “Imagine the carbons that are blown around every morning by all those hair blowers.”

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Leaf Blower Prohibition

On Tuesday, Los Angeles joined more than 40 other California municipalities that have restricted blowers because of concerns about noise and the health hazards of dust and exhaust.

* CURRENT LAW: The use of gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers and similar equipment is permitted between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

* THE NEW LAW: Beginning next July, gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned within 500 feet of a residence.

* PENALTIES: Users of the machines and their employers, including homeowners, will face a $1,000 fine.

* STILL ALLOWED: Electric blowers, which are quieter and produce less exhaust than do gas-powered devices. Gas-powered leaf vacuums quieter than 45 decibels are also permitted.

* IMPACT: Gardeners and others who use the devices predict that their costs will rise, which will mean higher prices for homeowners. The city’s Recreation and Parks Department recently purchased more than 100 leaf blowers; officials say the city may need to spend an extra $1.5 million per year as a result of the ban.