Big decision on leaf blowers

One of the most hotly contested issues in Menlo Park history should be resolved next Tuesday, when the City Council takes a final vote on whether to ban gas-powered leaf blowers. The council has heard plenty of opinions on the issue, mostly from area gardeners, who say they will be hurt financially if the gas-powered blowers are banned.

The big question is whether the council will stick to its original 3-2 majority in favor of the ban, or if Mayor Chuck Kinney and council members Steve Schmidt and Paul Collacchi will accept a compromise offered by the gardeners association (see letter on this page). The offer urges the use of quieter, less-polluting blowers and suggests other ways for gardeners to reduce noise and debris from the machines.

Arguments on both sides of this issue have stretched the bounds of logic. But it is particularly difficult to equate a ban with the claim that without blowers, gardeners will not be able to feed their families. As noted in this space weeks ago, in other communities where gas-powered blowers have been shut out, gardeners continue to operate without protest. Reports from city officials in Los Altos and Claremont say that there is little, if any, impact from the ban.

Regardless of whether Menlo Park sticks to its ban or not, the gardeners and leaf-blower manufacturers have started to get the message. Echo Inc. has produced a quieter, less-polluting blower and is making a number of them available at cost to local gardeners. That is a start, but even 65 dBa can be offensive in some quiet neighborhoods.

At this writing, there is no word on whether the state Legislature will pass a bill this year to regulate leaf blowers. Such a measure would be unfortunate, because it would supersede local ordinances.

There is plenty of precedent for cities to regulate noise and air pollution, just as they decide how fast we can drive on certain streets and where we can park our cars. In the case of leaf blowers, the pendulum is edging toward regulation. Whether the compromise offered by the gardeners is enough to swing it the other way is a good question. We will find out on April 14.