Sanibel Island City Council agreed to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers on the island beginning Dec. 1. The machines have received noise complaints from residents but got an emergency pass in the wake of recent storms because they are more powerful than battery-powered versions. Gas blowers will be prohibited unless there is a future declaration of a state of local emergency due to a weather event. The ordinance applies to all residents, businesses, government agencies and contractors. During public comment at City Council’s July 15 meeting, one speaker said that using battery-powered blowers would take landscapers extra time that would be billed to customers. That didn’t sway Council, which voted unanimously in favor of the rule with Vice Mayor Holly Smith absent.