Committee backs amended ban on gas-powered landscaping equipment, sends ordinance to full Board

The Budget & Finance Committee on Sept. 13 voted unanimously to forward an amended ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors that would phase out the city's use and contracting of gas-powered landscaping equipment and establish a buyback and public-education program.

The ordinance, as read into the record by Clerk Brent Jalipa, would bar city departments from operating or contracting for gas-powered landscaping equipment beginning Jan. 1, 2024, with a full prohibition on use by Jan. 1, 2026, subject to temporary waivers when the director of the Department of the Environment determines replacement technology is unavailable. The ordinance also creates a fund to collect penalties, authorizes a buyback or incentive program, and requires annual reporting on enforcement and program activity.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar told the committee she had worked with environmental advocates and city administrators to refine operations and contracting language and then read an extensive set of amendments into the record. Her changes moved the initial compliance date to July 1, 2024, clarified reporting to run from 2026 through Dec. 31, 2036, expanded the reporting requirement to include upfront costs, and adjusted multiple procurement references (replacing some instances of "contracting officer" with "purchaser" or "contracting department"). She also added a preemption clause to avoid conflicts with federal or state-funded contracts.

Supporters of the ordinance framed it as both an environmental and a labor-health measure. "This is not only a workers'rights issue, but it's also an environmental issue," Melgar said when presenting the amendments. Committee members acknowledged concerns about feasibility and budget impacts; one supervisor emphasized the need for time to evaluate budgetary effects and the availability of zero-emission equipment.

Trade groups raised objections during public comment. Jeff Jensen, Southwest field representative for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, said the ordinance relied on "unsupported and unproven data, assumptions [and] costs" and argued that a complete transition on the proposed timetable would be financially damaging to private landscaping businesses. David Pilpel, a caller, asked that the public be given time to review the full text after the amendments are incorporated.

Committee members voted to accept Melgar's amendments (Vice Chair Asha Safai: aye; Member Mar: aye; Chair Ronan: aye) and then to forward the amended ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation.

Next steps: The full Board will consider the amended ordinance at a future meeting; the committee's motion and vote were procedural steps to send the item forward for final action.