Banning leaf blowers?

They're noisy. They pollute. They kick up dust, endangering bicyclists, pedestrians, and cars. Gasoline-powered leafblowers are annoying machines that perform a function best left to rakes.

Several residents have asked about banning them. After talking to Davisites, I've come up with a solution based on the experience of Palo Alto, which banned the monstrosities in 2005:

Q. What exactly is banned?
A. Gas-powered leaf blowers may not be used in any residential zones by anyone including residents.

Q. How is "residential area" defined?
A. Residential zones are determined and defined in the Municipal Code.

Click on this link to see the map (use the back button on your browser to return to this page).http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=8188

Q. What kind of leaf blowers may be used and when?
A.

• Residential zones
• Electric leaf blowers (no internal combustion engines) may be used only during the following hours:
  Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm
  Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
  Sundays and Holidays not allowed* (see * below for list of holidays)
• Non – residential zones
• Electric and gas-powered blowers may be used only during the following hours:
  Monday – Friday 8 am – 6 pm
  Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
  Sundays and Holidays not allowed
  

Q. What about City maintenance of parks?
A. City staff will not be using leaf blowers. This will result in less frequent maintenance to the parks and a diminished level of cleanliness since work will be done using rakes/brooms.

If it worked for Palo Alto, it'll work in Davis. When I'm on Council, I'll propose a similar ban.

http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/pol/news/details.asp?NewsID=671&TargetID=96

Suggestions from voters: Power tools, bicycles

Only a few days into the campaign, and I've been fielding calls, emails, and Facebook messages from Davis voters. Their suggestions:

Voter 1: Put forth an ordinance that gardeners can't use power tools before 10 am

Sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe "No gasoline or electric-powered tools shall be operated before 10am on the grounds of any multi-family housing unit." It's something to look into.

Voter 2: The Owner of Davis Ace Hardware blocked future bicycle criteriums in downtown Davis, she claims it limits parking and causes her to lose business. Davis has Platinum Bicycle status & the US Bicycling Hall of Fame; her attitude is a travesty! Boycott Davis Ace and write her a letter to that effect as well. The Criteriums bring money into Downtown and draw in tourist dollars as well. Support the Crits!

They're a Davis institution, held downtown in the spring and summer. These races bring people into Davis from all over California. They're a blast, and reflect really well on our community.

http://daviswiki.org/Davis_Criterium_Classic

Not good. Davis is a bicycle-friendly town -- that's part of its draw. The Criterium Classic has been a Davis tradition since 1976. I'll look into this, too.