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Annapolis readies electric leaf‑blower rebate pilot, asks planning staff to clarify enforcement approach
Summary
City staff told the Environmental Matters Committee that a $105,000 first‑year rebate program for electric landscaping equipment is being finalized with the Chesapeake Bay Trust and that the city has hired a second environmental program staffer to help with outreach and program administration. Committee members asked for clarity on enforcement of
Annapolis staff told the Environmental Matters Committee on July 10 they are close to launching a rebate program to help residents and landscapers transition away from gas‑powered leaf blowers, and that the city recently hired a second environmental program position to help with outreach and compliance.
Jackie Guile, deputy city manager for resilience and sustainability, said the city is finalizing a contract with the Chesapeake Bay Trust to administer the first‑year rebate pilot and that about $105,000 is available to subsidize electric equipment rebates for residents and commercial landscapers.
“We are very, very close to finishing our contract with the Chesapeake Bay Trust so that we can launch that program as soon as possible,” Guile said. Staff described negotiating the administrator’s fee down to roughly 10 percent and said the resilience authority had participated in early discussions about whether it would administer or assist with the program.
Separately, staff announced they had filled a second environmental program position. The new hire, Ashley Diaz (currently sustainability manager in Bowie), is expected to start in the city on Aug. 21 and will focus on communications, outreach and grants, among other responsibilities.
Committee members pressed staff for details about enforcement of the city’s ban on gas‑powered leaf blowers. Planning and zoning staff have been issuing warnings and, in at least one instance, a citation was issued after a witnessed violation; committee members said they wanted a clear, consistent enforcement protocol and asked city staff to clarify evidentiary standards (in‑person observation versus photo evidence) and whether the city could conduct proactive enforcement times to document repeat violations.
Guile said planning staff prefers in‑person observations for citations because photographic evidence often does not produce a cooperating witness at municipal court. The city is also finalizing a public education campaign timed to the rebate launch.
Committee members asked staff to return with an enforcement plan that explains how notices, warnings and fines will be applied and what documentation the city will accept. Staff also said they would coordinate public information about available rebates and provide outreach to affected contractors.
The committee also heard that the city engaged an intern through the Annapolis City intern program to support research on vehicle electrification for the municipal fleet.
