Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environmental Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Garrett Park to hold public hearing on whether to opt into Montgomery County gas leaf‑blower ban
Summary
After reviewing Montgomery County’s ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and outlining options, the council agreed to hold a public hearing to solicit community input before deciding whether to opt into the county law, adopt a tailored local ordinance, or maintain the status quo.
Town staff told the Garrett Park Town Council on Aug. 11 that Montgomery County’s Bill 18‑22 bans the sale (effective July 1, 2024) and use (effective July 1, 2025) of handheld, backpack and walk‑behind gas‑powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums and establishes a rebate program through Dec. 2026.
Town Manager Barb Matthews told the council that because Garrett Park has not adopted Montgomery County Code Chapter 31B by reference in its Town Code, the county ban does not automatically apply within the town’s corporate limits. She presented four options: maintain the status quo allowing use of gas leaf blowers, opt into County Code Chapter 31B in full (which would also change allowable construction hours), opt into only the gas‑leaf‑blower prohibition, or adopt a tailored local ordinance with specified exemptions and municipal fines.
Maintenance Supervisor George Miller outlined operational impacts of an all‑electric transition, estimating initial start‑up costs of about $9,020 for the town’s maintenance fleet and projecting at least a 20 percent increase in labor time to achieve the same tasks with battery‑powered equipment.
After discussion, the council agreed to schedule a public hearing to gather community input before selecting among the options and to ensure residents can comment on enforcement and exemption language.
