Commissioners don't budge on gas-powered leaf blower ban
The debate over how to keep leaves off lawns provoked angry outbursts
Feb. 1, 2024
By Beth Kassab
A proposal by Mayor Phil Anderson to delay the start of a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers by six months failed to gain traction Thursday morning as commissioners held a special meeting to discuss the change that is rivaling brick streets, the new library and multi-story buildings for controversy in Winter Park.
Instead, the board voted 3-2 to keep the July 1 start date, but delay imposing any fines until Jan. 1, 2025. Commissioners Kris Cruzada and Todd Weaver voted against the fine delay. Cruzada said his main concern was specifying regulations related to noise from the machines. Weaver argued that the 30-month delay in enforcing the ordinance since it was passed in 2022 was enough time for residents and landscape companies to comply.
The outcome is essentially the status quo because commissioners already acknowledged at a meeting last month that fines and aggressive enforcement weren’t the intent of the ordinance. City Manager Randy Knight said he did not expect code enforcement staff to actively patrol for violations, but rather respond to questions and reports of problems.
The debate surrounding how residents or their hired services should remove fallen leaves from their lawns grew louder in recent weeks since the commission approved a $50 utility bill rebate for residents who purchased electric versions of the devices.
Representatives from landscape companies have said they didn’t know about the new rule and told Anderson and City Manager Randy Knight in a meeting last week at City Hall that the cost of the electric blowers would crush their businesses.
Thursday’s meeting turned loud at times with Anderson twice pausing the meting to call on the audience twice to follow basic decorum. A dozen people spoke against the ordinance during public comment, including owners of landscape companies.
“We’re a small business and operate with historically small margins,” said Eric Kobb, the owner of one company, who estimated it would cost him about $100,000 to transition his crews to electric blowers and another $50,000 or more in additional yearly costs. “Where does this money come from?”
Chad Carter, another owner of a landscaping service, said his crews require about 20 blowers. He estimated the cost of each one would go up from about $500 to $2,000.
“How am I going to pay for that?” he asked. “The customer is going to have to pay for it.”
Another speaker criticized the commission for the ban, calling it “fascist,” and attempted to discredit the commission by pointing out that Winter Park’s electricity utility purchases its power from fossil fuel sources. Commissioner Todd Weaver attempted to point out that the commission recently passed a long-term plan to move to at least 80 percent renewable energy sources.
Yet another person even likened the policy to “Hitler.”
Anderson said the idea behind the 30-month pause after the ordinance was first passed in 2022 was to give companies time to naturally upgrade their equipment under the premise that the gas-powered machines would need to be replaced every two years or so.
“We naively felt the market would work,” he said.
Weaver defended the ordinance as an improvement for environmental and public health.
“For me, this is about exceptional quality of life,” he said. “We could have done something more harsh like implement it sooner … we could have done what California does and ban all gas-powered tools.”
He said there is misinformation circulating about how the devices must be charged, which he said can be done in workers’ vehicles. He also noted the batteries are recyclable.
Anderson, who will leave office by April after the March 19 election because he is not running for another term, asked for the city to call a check-in meeting or work session with landscape companies and others in April.
Because the commission did not decide to alter the original ordinance, the issue will no longer appear on the city’s next regular meeting on Feb. 14.
WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
-
By: Beth Kassab
No biography available at this time
-
Phew! I am glad we didn’t have to go through another “Todd Weaver resign/not resign drama”.
Are residents aware there are no more anonymous code complaints?
“Howdy, neighbor! Welcome to WP”.
Shhhh. Because it’s all about the noise. How about MWF 8-10:30 am is open for leaf blowing and the rest of the time is quiet time? Maybe throw in Saturday for the 10 people living in WP that actually do their own lawn. The idea it’s about being green is silly considering all the other noise making activities still ok to be gas powered. So if it’s about noise, SURELY we can come up with a compromise.
Rakes are cheap. Who controls Winter Park: the residents or the landscapers?
Today was another sad day at the Winter Park Commission. We had a true energy professional, David Walsh, and many Landscaper business owners come to educate the Mayor & Commissioners on why the Ban On Gas Blowers should be repealed. A full house of Winter Park residents came to support hardworking blue collar workers but as we have seen, all too often, they were ignored.
Logic, common sense and facts are not part of this charade. This is not about noise. It’s about “sustainability” and climate. Nobody is allowed to question a Climate Alarmist. There are people that aren’t happy until they make a lot of logical people upset. Why provoke a backlash from legal businesses and taxpayers? Because they can, and they enjoy it. That’s our commission.
I use a rake, broom and shovel. If anyone is really and truly desiring to be green and sustainable for Gaia they would support a ban on gas AND electric. Anything less is like saying you’ve embarked on a healthy lifestyle because you started drinking Diet Coke with your double quarter pounder, large fry and apple pie meal. A feel good delusion. Plus it hurts my conscience thinking about third world lithium miner’s bloodied fingers and the damage we do to Gaia with these awful batteries once they hit the landfill. Love yourself, love the earth. Get outside and connect with it in your yard once a week. Your stress level and waist line will shrink simultaneously. Also bring your own Tupperware and Stanley cup to restaurants and stop the styrofoam madness. And lastly, Uber eats is Uber bad for the environment. Can WP ban styrofoam use by its restaurants next?? This would be a huge green win for Mother Earth. Peace be with all of you.
It’s interesting the issues that really bring out the Winter Parkers. I can’t remember this much concern and discussion since proposals allowing pet pigs and backyard chickens.
Winter Park hasn’t gone green enough in my opinion. This measure isn’t even what could be considered a good start. It’s a farce. Ban it all. No gas power, no faux green electric landscape tools, no lithium and especially no pesticides in WP. More urgent than stopping blower fumes, there needs to be a 100% BAN on pesticide use such as Round Up, which washes down into our crown jewel lake chain. To make no mention of the health concerns for landscapers both private and those working for the city or as city subcontractors.
Won’t somebody please think of the landscaping companies?!?! It is my god given right as an American to blow dirt, twigs, and leaves any direction I choose at the maximum volume. Rakes and brooms are for the commies!!!
I saw a city employee with new model stihl electric blower this morning at the Kraft Azalea Park.
It cost $700 dollar for the blower and requires a $1300 battery. You also have to purchase the charging device separately. This is over $2000! The city is offering a $50 rebate. The specs on the electric blower is comparable to the stihl mid grade backpack blowers that cost $330-$450.
Where is the $1200 government hammer from the 80s.
This may be a moot argument as one of the state senators has legislation on hold that would block the city’s ability to ban gas leaf blowers. Maybe a vote would be the way to go to gain a better representation of the city. Compromises could also be discussed. The idea of being considerate to neighbors could also be mentioned but with the ever evolving me first views, why bother?
Leaf blowers are OK if the resident agrees to not use more than one plastic straw at a time.
Mandates which impose economic burdens on businesses (which are passed on to consumers) which outstrip any arguable benefit to residents suggest the time is not right for this. A better mousetrap always wins. Electric blowers are not yet a better mousetrap. That could change as battery capacity improves or if they become a great deal quieter.