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Published on 03/31/1999 All articles from this issue

It's baaaaack: City faces leaf-blower threat, again

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Since 1991, gasoline-powered leaf blowers have been banned in Los Altos. Now that city ordinance may be threatened from a new front - the state.

Even though it's been eight years since the city spent two years revving its political engines over leaf-blower concerns, including a ballot initiative, feelings are still high.

The issue has "reared its ugly head again," Los Altos resident Myra Orta told the Los Altos City Council at its March 23 meeting.

Peter Gruthfield called gasoline-powered blowers "the machines from hell. It's just ghastly when they blast away at full speed," said this Los Altos resident at the council meeting.

Councilman John Moss requested that the issue of state legislation regarding leaf blowers be on the March 23 council agenda. Currently several bills are wending their way through the state legislature that could pre-empt a local government's right to ban leaf-blowers.

Orta describes the state initiatives as an effort "to ban the bans."

Los Altos City Manager Phil Rose told the council that the city staff feels "this should be a local-control issue."

One of the state bills "allows gardeners to sue you if you take his blower away," Orta said.

Many Los Altos people don't like gasoline-powered leaf blowers and don't want them back.

"I appreciate the extra peace and quiet," said Los Altos resident Nancy Mason. "I go to Palo Alto and hear them and think, 'Gee, we're lucky.'"

The city's code enforcement officer received 175 leaf-blower complaints in 1998, said Noreen Sorg, community service officer with the Los Altos Police Department.

There were 34 complaints in December 1998, she said, which resulted in 11 citations.

The council voted 5-0 to contact "all those who represent Los Altos in Sacramento" to voice the city's concerns.

"I'm very opposed to losing control of leaf blowers in Los Altos," said Councilman John Moss.