Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance Implementation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Menlo Park staff report enforcement progress, vouchers and 1,123 reports to date for zero‑emission landscaping ordinance
Summary
Staff told the Environmental Quality Commission on March 18 that education and targeted outreach preceded enforcement of Menlo Park’s Zero‑Emission Landscaping Equipment ordinance; most police contacts resulted in education, vouchers totaled eight in the final round, and staff will brief City Council in May 2026.
At its March 18, 2026 meeting, Menlo Park staff gave the Environmental Quality Commission a final scheduled update on implementation of the city’s Zero‑Emission Landscaping Equipment ordinance (ZELI), reviewed outreach and voucher activity, and described enforcement practices since citations began on July 1, 2025.
Staff said the ordinance, adopted by City Council in July 2023, prohibits use of gas‑powered leaf blowers and string trimmers (sale restrictions were referenced as implemented at the state level in 2024) and phases in a ban on gas walk‑behind mowers, hedge trimmers and chainsaws on July 1, 2029. The City also launched an Electric Gardening Equipment Rebate / voucher program and undertook a year of outreach before moving to enforcement.
Sustainability Manager Rachel Under reported that staff responded to 669 Act Menlo Park reports from July 2024 through June 2025 and that total reports to date are 1,123 across the city. Outreach included bilingual postcards, targeted letters to landscapers on the city’s business license list, yard signs, tabling at community events and joint ride‑along outreach with police; staff said most police interactions resulted in education rather than citation.
Regarding vouchers, the EQC previously recommended distributing remaining rebate funds. Staff said a final $6,000 round produced eight vouchers (three for Belhaven residents and five for businesses), and that voucher funds are now depleted. The vouchers for businesses were described as $1,000 each.
On enforcement, staff explained that citations require an officer to witness a violation in real time; the non‑emergency police line is the recommended way for residents to report suspected violations so officers can respond. Staff said anecdotal evidence shows many landscapers carry both gas and electric tools and switch to electric once they learn about Menlo Park’s rules.
Commissioners asked about launching voucher outreach in advance of the 2029 phase‑in for mowers and whether wet leaves or rainy conditions reduce electric equipment effectiveness; staff agreed additional education and pre‑warning outreach could be useful and said they would follow up on state rule details related to sales of new gas equipment.
Staff said they will continue outreach, track enforcement and collaborate with neighboring cities and plan to present an informational update to City Council in May 2026. Phase 2 (the 2029 ban on additional gas tools) remains on the timeline for local implementation planning.
