Eleven communities are working together as part of a regional effort to evaluate the need and impact for gas powered leaf blower regulations to be considered by each representative municipality. Due to reported environmental and noise concerns pertaining to the use of gas powered leaf blowers, the 22-member regional working group was formed in late 2021 to evaluate this important matter. The working group will prepare a report based on a factual information for each community to consider and evaluate.
Co-Chairs:
Glencoe Village Manager, Phil Kiraly, PKiraly@villageofglencoe.org
Highland Park City Manager Ghida Neukirch, gneukirch@cityhpil.com
Wilmette Village Manager, Mike Braiman, braimanm@wilmette.com
Members:
City of Highland Park, Councilmember Anthony Blumberg
City of Lake Forest, Superintendent of Parks & Forestry Chuck Myers
Deerfield Park District, Executive Director Jeff Nehila
Go Green Wilmette, Beth Drucker
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, Executive Director Scott Grams
Mariani Landscape, Fred Wacker
Scopelliti Landscaping, Guy Scopelliti
Village of Deerfield, Justin Keenan, Assistant to the City Manager
Village of Glencoe, Hall Healy, Sustainability Task Force
Village of Glenview, Joe Kenney, Deputy Director of Public Works
Village of Kenilworth, Trustee Alison Winslow
Village of Lake Bluff, Sustainability and Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee Co-Chair Brian Render
Village of Lake Bluff, Village Administrator Drew Irvin
Village of Lincolnshire, Management Analyst Sam Barghi
Village of Northbrook, Trustee Heather Ross
Village of Northbrook, Sustainability Coordinator Tessa Murray
Village of Wilmette, Environmental & Energy Commissioner Karen Glennemeier
Village of Winnetka, Former Village Trustee and Go Green Winnetka Member King Poor
Village of Winnetka, Police Chief Marc Hornstein
October 3, 2022: Agenda | Draft Final Report | Meeting Notes
December 15, 2022: Final Report
Subcommittees:
Alternate Equipment Subcommittee
Meeting Notes - March 8, 2022
Meeting Notes - May 25, 2022
Meeting Notes - August 11, 2022
Municipal Research and Best Practices
RESOURCES- One hour of gas leaf blower use produces as much exhaust as 350 miles driven in a car. The exhaust contains particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. The motors burn fuel inefficiently, leading to more emissions as they use two-stroke engines. Reported by the California Air Resources Board, a state agency: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/sore-small-engine-fact-sheet.
- Study of emissions of gas blowers from Edmunds: https://www.edmunds.com/about/press/leaf-blowers-emissions-dirtier-than-high-performance-pick-up-trucks-says-edmunds-insidelinecom.html