"She's worried that might change after the weather dries out in the spring, when Walnut Creek will start enforcing a ban on the gas-powered blowers that keep Countrywood leaf-free. "I think we all agree that we need to go electric," Asselin said. "But when all the leaves fall - and so often they're wet - they need higher-powered machines. Currently, those are gas, until the technology can catch up.""
"In April, Walnut Creek will join a long list of cities across the Bay Area that have banned the small gas engines that power many leaf blowers. Los Altos became the first to oust the noisy power tools in 1991 - a policy sparked by noise complaints that was quickly duplicated in Menlo Park and Palo Alto, as well. Since then, Berkeley, Oakland, San Rafael and Santa Cruz have followed suit."
"Kevin Wilk, Walnut Creek's Mayor Pro Tem, said he supports the ban because it reduces pollution, emissions and noise, making good on commitments laid out in the city's July 2023 Sustainability Action Plan. He remains cautious, however, about potential unintended consequences of the new policy - particularly the idea that Walnut Creek's phone lines, email inboxes and staff time could be inundated with leaf blower whistleblowers."
Walnut Creek will enforce a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in April, joining several Bay Area cities that have restricted small gas engines. Countrywood residents face heavy leaf fall across 1,200 trees and a 42-acre property, with a small in-house crew maintaining nearly 300 homes and common areas. Residents express safety concerns about slippery walking paths and question whether electric blowers can match gas power, especially when leaves are wet. Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Wilk supports the ban for reduced pollution, emissions and noise while noting potential unintended consequences and increased complaint workloads.
Read at The Mercury News
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