City Council leaves gas-leaf-blower ordinance in committee pending revisions.
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
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.
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Source: the City Council meeting of March 12, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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