Falls Church officials plan to start looking into options for limiting or banning the use of gas-powered leaf blowers within city limits.
Among the issues remaining to be determined, likely early next year, is whether city leaders already have the power to enact a prohibition — or if they must wait for approval from the state government.
“We don’t have authority to outright ban them,” Mayor Letty Hardi said at a City Council meeting yesterday (Monday).
That is true, but if they fail to receive legislative approval for such a ban, there is another option available to Falls Church leaders.
City officials potentially could use their noise ordinance to impose what amounts to a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, City Attorney Sally Gilette said. Doing so could require ordinance changes and revising the penalties for violation of the ordinance from criminal to civil, she said.
At yesterday’s meeting, Hardi said the best course of action was to wait until new Council members take office in January before discussing options. The city’s priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session include a request for explicit authority to impose a ban, she noted.
Alexandria City Council members in May enacted a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, taking effect in 18 months. The city used an advisory opinion from Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) to move forward on a prohibition.
Arlington officials are also studying their options and have sought public input.
Council members OK agreement for winter-shelter operations: Falls Church City Council members also adopted the annual agreement for the operation of the city’s winter hypothermia shelter.
Council members authorized City Manager Wyatt Shields to sign the agreement with Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter Inc., which operates the facility at 217 Gordon Road from Nov. 15 to March 31.
The agreement has been in place since 1998 but must be updated annually.
The shelter, which can house up to 12 people each night, is open from 6 p.m.-8 a.m. daily. It’s typically open 24 hours over Thanksgiving and Christmas, and this year, it will also be open throughout New Year’s Day.
Last winter season, the facility provided shelter for 24 different people, who stayed an average of 137 nights. A total of 19 men and five women were turned away for a total of 87 nights owing to a lack of space that season.
The shelter is managed by New Hope Housing, which assesses individuals when they enter, provides counseling and offers follow-up services. Volunteers supporting the nonprofit Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter provide administrative support, meals, maintenance and other services, city officials said.
The city shelter is one of several operated across Northern Virginia. Most cold-weather shelters have an opening date of Nov. 15, although some operate on different schedules.
Council approves court agreement with Arlington: City Council members additionally authorized an updated agreement with Arlington County governing the allocation of costs related to judicial and court safety.
The vote represented a largely routine update of the terms of an agreement in place since the late 1980s, when Falls Church was transferred from the 19th Judicial District (Fairfax County) to the 17th Circuit (Arlington).
Under the updated agreement, Falls Church will reimburse Arlington approximately $1.12 million for services over the coming year, with some of that funding coming back to the city through fees charged by the court.
Many costs between Falls Church and Arlington are split based on population. Under the new agreement, Falls Church’s share of those costs will increase from the rate of 5.6% first used in 2016 to 5.8% due to larger residential growth in the city than county.
Costs for other types of services are split based on actual usage. They include juvenile services, alcohol safety and emergency communications.
Council sets 2026 organizational meeting: City Council members have set Jan. 5, 2026 for the body’s organizational meeting for next year.
Council members will elect a mayor and a vice mayor for the ensuing two-year period from among their ranks.
Mayor Letty Hardi’s Council term doesn’t expire until 2027, making her eligible for reappointment as mayor if she seeks the post and her colleagues agree. The post of vice mayor will become vacant Dec. 31 with the departure of Council member Debora Schantz-Hiscott, who did not seek re-election this year.
