Council moves to clarify enforcement of gas leaf-blower ban; property owners to share responsibility

The City Council introduced and waived first reading of an amendment to the city's 2023 ordinance prohibiting gas-powered leaf blowers, clarifying enforcement responsibilities to include both property owners and equipment operators.

Staff told the council the original ordinance language made enforcement difficult because officers could not reliably identify or contact an operator at the time a complaint was filed. "The proposed revised language would clarify that the property owner and the operator are both responsible for complying with this ordinance," staff said, adding that this approach aligns enforcement with other code provisions.

Staff also said outreach has included newsletters, social media and targeted emails and that the city had received "perhaps a dozen or so complaints" over the past two years about gas-powered blowers. Council members discussed coordination with nearby Los Gatos and the recent changes in battery technology that have made electric blowers more feasible.

A council member noted state-level changes affecting the sale of gas-powered devices; staff mentioned buyback and rebate programs that have helped residents transition. The council voted to introduce and waive the ordinance's first reading and approved moving forward with the amended enforcement language.