City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 7, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: MICHAEL MOON, ACTING DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
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Introduction and First Reading. Consideration of the First Reading of an Ordinance to amend Title 11 Chapter 5: Noise Ordinance, to ban the use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers.
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ISSUE: Consideration of amendments to the Noise Ordinance to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in the City of Alexandria.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Introduce on first reading an ordinance amendment to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers with a two-year phase-out period;
2. Introduce on first reading an ordinance amendment to clarify that the general decibel limitations do not apply to power lawn and garden equipment as those are regulated by hours rather than decibels; and
3. Set the ordinance for public hearing and final passage on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
BACKGROUND: During the January 28, 2025, Legislative session, the City Council directed staff to move forward with the initiative to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in the City. Key elements of the discussion included consideration of a total ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, providing a multi-year phase-out period, developing and implementing a community outreach plan, a timeline for the implementation, and proposed ordinance revisions to capture the changes. The purpose of the proposed ban is to eliminate unnecessary noise generated by gas-powered leaf blowers and to protect the environment by eliminating exhaust associated with the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.
Community outreach to date has included staff hosting two hybrid public information sessions on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and Wednesday, March 26, 2025, to provide information and gather...
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