By Bob Seidenberg
Local landscapers maintained that cost was a major barrier transitioning to electric-powered leaf blowers after a city ordinance went into April 1, 2023, banning the use of gas-powered or propane-powered devices because of their noise and harmful effects environmentally.
Nearly a year later, the city is moving forward on a bulk purchase of electric equipment to be made available to local landscapers who have had trouble making the change because of the expense.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, staff is recommending the $80,000 purchase of electric leaf blowers, chargers and equipment from a trio of companies to help landscapes make the transition.
The proposal comes in the wake of a vote by the Council two weeks ago, defeating a proposal that would have suspended enforcement of gas-powered leaf blowers as landscapers enter their busy season.
Local landscapers, many Latino with small companies, had packed several Human Services Committee meetings before that, seeking a moratorium on enforcement from March 18 through April 8 to allow them more time to afford the cost of electric leaf blowers.
Council members voted 5-4 against approving the proposal, receiving a strong response from local environmentalists who had lobbied hard to get the ban enacted on gas and propane-powered leaf blowers in the first place.
20 local contractors surveyed
In recommending the $80,000 purchase, Cara Pratt, the city’s Sustainability and Resilience Coordinator, noted in a memo that the city’s Climate Action & Resilience Plan (CARP) recognized that certain populations — “people of color, immigrants, refugees, and lower-income populations” may have more difficulty adapting to its recommendations, even though they often are most impacted by the gas and propane-powered blowers environmental effects.
She said that in working with the Evanston-based landscaping contractors, it became clear that a bulk purchase of electric equipment would best meet their needs.
Of the 20 Evanston-based landscaper contractors she communicated with, she said, 13 have expressed interest in being a part of the group buy.
The bulk purchase is to include approximately 24 electric leaf blowers, 44 batteries, 24 chargers, and 16 backpack battery kits on behalf of the landscapers, she said.
The proposal is marked for action on the Council’s March 25 agenda.
