City Council leaves gas-leaf-blower ordinance in committee pending revisions.
City Council · Meeting of March 12, 2026
SALEM — City Council delays gas-leaf-blower ban over cost, enforcement concerns. The Committee on Public Health, Safety and Environment voted 5-0 to leave the proposed ordinance in committee after Councillor Kyle Alexander Davis and colleagues flagged inadequate battery technology for commercial landscapers, potential disproportionate enforcement against Latino-owned businesses, and the absence of specific exemptions for city-department emergency uses. Councillor Andrew W.
Varela cited data showing a single charge lasts 20 minutes, requiring roughly 18 batteries for a full workday; Councillor Lydia C. King urged a multi-year phase-in if passed. The seasonal ban, proposed for Memorial Day through Labor Day, will be reworked before returning to council.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 318 words
Source: the City Council meeting of March 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Keep reading with a 14-day free trial
Subscribe to Salem News to keep reading this post and get 14 days of free access to the full post archives.
A subscription gets you:
- Subscriber-only posts and full archive
- Post comments and join the community
- 24x7 access to local news