HomeMy WebLinkAboutGas Powered Leaf Blower Discussion Presentation November 2022Gas Powered Leaf Blower Discussion
Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Discussion
Medina Council Meeting
NOVEAMBER 14, 2022
Follow-up – October Council Meeting
1. How is the current code working?
a. Were noise complaints received?
Staff have responded to lawn equipment violations – unknown the specific number.
b. What is the city doing (or what did the city do) to educate the public on the updated noise ordinance?
Letter sent to all the landscaping companies.
Ordinance summary was published in the Seattle Times.
Staff meets with Overlake Golf and Country Club.
Follow-up – October Council Meeting
2. What is the current market for electric equipment?
a. What is the lifecycle for such equipment?
Still too new to fully determine how long they will last but battery-powered equipment expected to last roughly five years.
b. Can it be financially neutral for the city to move to electric equipment?
Medina Public Works does not have immediate need to replace gas-powered leaf blowers.
Public Works could phase them in as equipment comes to end of life.
Follow-up – October Council Meeting
2. What is the current market for electric equipment? (Cont.)
c. What are the long-term impacts?
The technology is still too new to have an accurate study on the long-term impacts.
d. Will entities and residents move towards electric equipment naturally because the market is shifting that way anyways?
Stanley Black & Decker - 85 percent of personal-use blowers on the market now are electric.
Commercial grade lagging behind residential equipment.
Follow-up – October Council Meeting
3. For jurisdictions that have adopted restrictions on blowers, what has the impact been on residents and businesses?
a. Are neighbors fighting?
No significant fights between neighbors – most complaints handled through city.
b. How effective is enforcement?
Most jurisdictions place responsibility on code enforcement.
Education at first and then citations/infractions issues.
Follow-up – October Council Meeting
4. Environmental/health impacts
a. Is there a public health emergency related to the noise and air pollution from blowers? (Would need to have an expert speak to the public health concerns)
No public health emergencies specifically to gas-powered leaf blowers.
Multiple reports highlight impact to hearing, emissions contributes volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter, and breathing high levels of toxic and carcinogenic emissions.
Research done by American Lung Association, American Heart Association, World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Follow-up – October Council Meeting
4. Environmental/health impacts (Cont.)
b. What is the environmental impact from creating/developing batteries and then throwing away old batteries as well as throwing away gas-powered blowers?
Excessive mining, processing, and disposing of these metals can contaminate drinking water, land and the environment if done improperly.
Follow-up – October Council Meeting
5. State/County Level
a. Is there any state funding available for businesses impacted by blower restrictions?
No funding available at the State or County level for businesses impacted by banning gas-powered leaf blowers.
b. Is the state/county taking any action to restrict or prohibit electric blowers?
Currently, no action at the County or State level.
Raised at the State level in 2022 but failed to leave committee.
Questions/Discussion