Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Martine Watkins, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Sonja Brunner initiated a city ban on gas-powered leaf blowers that could start in January or July 2025. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file)

SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz City Council on Nov. 19 is expected to accept $2 million for homeless services, delay a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and consider energy-efficiency rules for some home renovations.

Homeless services money

The city is set to receive $2 million from the state for homeless services at the 1220 River St. managed camp, the Armory shelter and the Safe Parking Program. The one-time state money would fund the programs through July 2025. After that, the programs could be funded by a city sales tax hike city voters approved in March.  

Separately, the city council is expected to consider zoning changes to allow the Homeless Garden Project to purchase part of 11 acres on Shaffer Road in Santa Cruz where the project is located. Leaders of the Homless Garden Project had planned to move the operation to Pogonip, but those plans were sidelined after soil testing revealed lead contamination.

Leaf blower ban

A ban on the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in the city of Santa Cruz was set to start Jan. 1. A delay to July 1, 2025 could give residents more time to access rebates for electric leaf blowers, according to a city staff report.  

Once gas blowers are banned, residents will no longer qualify for a Monterey Bay Air Resources District rebate. Landscaping businesses would still qualify regardless of a ban. 

The Santa Cruz City Council also could delay the ban until a permanent funding source is secured to support residents to buy electric leaf blowers. Santa Cruz County leaders faced a similar situation in August and ultimately chose not to enact a ban.

As of Monday afternoon, the city council received 11 emails that supported a Jan. 1 start of the ban.

Energy efficiencies in home renovations

The city council is also expected to consider energy-efficiency requirements for single-family home renovations. 

All projects that would be subject to the new city law would require “electric readiness” — installing electrical wiring and outlets fit for electric appliances, even if the home has gas appliances. State law is set to ban the sale of new gas space and water heaters starting in 2030.

In addition to electric readiness, renovations would need to include other energy efficiency upgrades. These could include adding floor or attic insulation, or installing a rooftop solar energy system. 

The proposed law would apply to single-family home renovations that add or alter 350 square feet or more. City staff expect the proposed rule would apply to about 110 projects per year. There are exceptions, including if the cost of the upgrades would be more than 20% of the renovation’s total expenses.

If adopted by the city council, the new rules would then need to be approved by the California Energy Commission. The new requirements could start April 1 and reduce the equivalent of about 315 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, according to a city staff report.

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