* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] RECORDING IN PROGRESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UH, WELCOME. GOOD EVENING [CALL TO ORDER] TO ALL. UH, THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL AND THE PETALUMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025. IF YOU WISH TO BRING A PUBLIC COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD THERE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND BRING IT TO OUR CLERK IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE AND INVITE MONICA RICCIO AND MARIA GALVEZ TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN SPANISH TONIGHT. THANK YOU, AND GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU TOO. THANK YOU. AND MAY WE HAVE OUR ROLL CALL FOR THE EVENING BARNACLE PRESENT. CATER THOMPSON, HERE TO CARLY. PRESENT NOW. HERE QUINT. HERE. SCH SHRIMPS. HERE MCDONALD. HERE WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. LET'S RISE AND SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO GO REPUBLIC WHERE STANDS ONE NATION UNDER HONOR INVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE. AND TO START THE MEETING, I ALWAYS LIKE TO LOOK UP [AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY)] AND DOWN THE S AND SEE IF ANYONE WANTS TO CHANGE THE AGENDA BEFORE WE EVEN START. WE'RE ALL GOOD? SO, UM, WE'RE FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S PRINTED AGENDA, AND, UH, THE FIRST THING WE [PROCLAMATIONS] HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IS A, UM, COUPLE PROCLAMATIONS. AND THE FIRST ONE IS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE GLORIA ROBINSON AND FAITH, UH, ROSS TO THE, UM, DIETS TO TO, TO THE PODIUM TO RECEIVE OUR PROCLAMATION. AND, UH, FAITH IS VICE PRESIDENT OF PETALUMA BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AND, UM, THE PROCLAMATION, PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS FEBRUARY IS RECOGNIZED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, A TIME TO HONOR THE RICH HISTORY AND CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS WHO'VE SHAPED OUR NATION THROUGH THEIR RESILIENCE, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND ENDURING SPIRIT. AND WHEREAS THE OBSERVANCE OF BLACK HISTORY BEGAN IN 1926 WHEN SCHOLAR CARTER G WOODSON INTRODUCED NEGRO HISTORY WEEK TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF BLACK AMERICANS IN US HISTORY DURING THE 1960S. THIS WEEK, LONG RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION EXPANDED INTO BLACK HISTORY MONTH INTENTIONALLY ALIGNING WITH THE FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR IMPACT ON THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM INEQUALITY. AND WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS THROUGHOUT ALL PERIODS OF US HISTORY FROM THOSE ENSLAVED IN THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY TO THE LEADERS, INNOVATORS, AND COMMUNITY BUILDERS OF TODAY. AND WHEREAS BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1978 BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED BLACK RESIDENTS TO ACQUAINT THE COMMUNITY WITH BLACK CULTURE AND HISTORY, TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR NEW BLACK FAMILIES MOVING INTO THE AREA AND TO ENSURE THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY BECAME A POSITIVE PART OF THE LARGER PETALUMA COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS PETALUMA BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN KEEPING WITH THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES HAVE CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDED A VENUE FOR SHARING WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AN ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM, MUSEUM EXHIBITS [00:05:02] AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE GROUP HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR BLACK FAMILIES THROUGH SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND REACHING OUT TO EACH OTHER. WHEREAS PETALUMA BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS CONTINUOUSLY SUPPORTED OUR YOUTH BY MAKING THEM ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE ORGANIZATION, ENCOURAGING THEM IN THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, AND TEACHING THEM TO VALUE OUR BLACK HISTORY. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. THEN I KEVIN MCDONALD, MAYOR PETALUMA, ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL, TO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE FEBRUARY, 2025 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND COMMEND PETALUMA BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND TO PROVIDE OUR CITY WITH BLACK CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND AN AWARENESS OF BLACK HERITAGE. AM I ON? OKAY. TO THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, CITY COUNCIL, AND OTHER CITY OF OFFICERS ON BEHALF OF PETALUMA BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. OUR FOUNDER, GLORIA ROBINSON, IS IN THE HOSPITAL AND COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. I DID ASK HER DAUGHTER TO TRY TO GET ON VIA THE INTERNET, SO I HOPE THAT SHE IS WATCHING THIS. I WANT TO LET GLORIA KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE HER FORWARD THINKING AND PULLING US TOGETHER TO CREATE PETALUMA BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY. THIS YEAR MARKS OUR 47TH YEAR OF SHARING BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TRIED TO NOT ONLY SHARE OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE AS, AS IT IS A PART OF US HISTORY, BUT BECOME A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. WE VALUE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE FORMED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE OTHER BIPOC ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS BLACKS IN THE LABOR FORCE, BREAKING BARRIERS, BUILDING LEGACIES. WE HOPE TO SHARE WITH YOU MANY OF THE LITTLE KNOWN AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO HAVE STOOD UP AND HELPED TO BUILD OUR UNION AND CREATE AB BUN UH, ABUNDANT WORKFORCE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN AND I DID NOT MENTION OUR YOUTH GROUP, WHO IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. IF YOU WANNA KNOW, ASK ME. I ALSO BROUGHT A FEW FLYERS FOR THIS YEAR IN CASE SOMEONE WANTED TO GET THEM. I WANT TO ASK ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE WITH OUR GROUP TO PLEASE STAND. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE, AND IF WE COULD GET A PICTURE COME AROUND, LET'S NOT BE BASHFUL. COME ON. RIGHT UP TO, TO JOIN FAITH. YES, LENA, WE HAVE SHARED THINGS. OH, WHICH WAY ARE WE GONNA TURN? CHALLENGE. OH, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND A SPEEDY RECOVERY TO GLORIA. FOR OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION. UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BRIAN O UH, INTRODUCE, UH, THIS NEXT PRO PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WILL BE BRIEF AS I SEE VICE MAYOR COMING UP HERE. UH, SO THIS, UH, UPCOMING PROCLAMATION HAS ROUGHLY BEEN A YEAR IN THE MAKING, UM, UH, LED BY, UM, A SMALL BUT MIGHTY COMMUNITY GROUP TO RECOGNIZE, UH, ONE OF OUR OWN. UM, WE, AS, AS MANY CITIES, WE DO A REALLY GREAT JOB OF, UH, RECOGNIZING AND LANDMARKING BUILDINGS. UH, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT HISTORIC BUILDINGS. UM, AND OFTENTIMES THERE IS THE NEED TO, UM, RECOGNIZE, UH, PEOPLE OF SIGNIFICANCE, UM, STORIES OF SIGNIFICANCE TO ENSURE THAT WE AREN'T LOSING THAT COMPONENT OF OUR HISTORY. UM, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED AS A CITY TO BE ROLLING OUT, UH, WHAT WE'RE CALLING A COMMUNITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM. AND SO, UM, UP FIRST [00:10:01] TODAY IS, UM, HENRY SCHULT AND I WILL TURN THIS BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR, UM, TO READ THE PROCLAMATION. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. I'D LIKE TO INVITE CAROL LIEBER, UM, AND FAITH ROSS AND JOHN. SHE HERE, OUR, UH, PETALUMA HISTORIAN TO THE PODIUM TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION, WHICH READS, WHEREAS HENRY SCHENALT WAS ONE OF PETALUMA'S LONGEST STANDING BLACK BUSINESSMEN PROVIDING A VITAL COMMUNITY SERVICE AND BECOMING AN INTEGRAL AND TREASURED PART OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FABRIC AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS HENRY DEDICATED HIS WORKING LIFE TO OPERATING A SHOE STAND IN PETALUMA FROM 1933 UNTIL HIS PASSING IN 1969, EXCEPT FOR HIS TIME DURING WORLD WAR II WHEN HE CONTRIBUTED TO THE WAR EFFORT AT MAYOR ISLAND. AND WHEREAS HE ESTABLISHED THE FIRST SHOE SIGN STAND ON MAIN STREET, NOW PETALUMA BOULEVARD IN THE 1930S. AND IN 1945, HE RELOCATED TO THE SITE WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL HIS PASSING. AND WHEREAS HENRY WAS CHERISHED BY THE YOUTH OF PETALUMA AS A TRUSTED FRIEND AND COUNSELOR WITH HIS SHOE SHINE STANDS SERVING AS A WELCOMING GATHERING PLACE TO DISCUSS DAILY ACTIVITIES. AND TO THE OLDER GENERATION, HE WAS A BELOVED CONFIDANT, OFFERING WISDOM AND COMFORT DURING CHALLENGING TIMES, ALWAYS FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS TO BRIGHTEN THEIR DAYS. AND WHEREAS HENRY WAS KNOWN FOR OFFERING VALUABLE ADVICE TO MANY OF PETALUMA'S POLITICAL FIGURES, OFTEN PROVIDING GUIDANCE THAT PROVED PIVOTAL IN RESOLVING CHALLENGES AND SAVING THE DAY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. AND WHEREAS HENRY WAS OFTEN ASKED TO MARK VOTING BALLOTS FOR MANY CITIZENS, BUT HE NEVER DID. INSTEAD HE ADVISED THEM ON THE QUALITIES OF THE CANDIDATES AND PROVIDED THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES. HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY, VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE YOU THINK IS BEST SUITED FOR THE JOB. AND REMEMBER YOUR OPINION ON WHO SHOULDN'T SERVE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME AS MY OPINION. AND WHEREAS HENRY'S SHOESHINE STAND WAS A POPULAR HANGOUT DURING BASEBALL GAMES WITH MANY PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND TO LISTEN INTENTLY AS THE ANNOUNCER DRAMATICALLY RECOUNTED THE EVENTS OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE PASTIME, A SIMILAR ATMOSPHERE SURROUNDED HIS STAND DURING FOOTBALL SEASON. AND WHEREAS HENRY SNOT WAS MANY THINGS, A SIDEWALK PHILOSOPHER, A PUBLIC CONFIDANT, A TOP AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL, A SECOND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, A PUBLIC RELATIONS EXTRAORDINAIRE, A BOOT BLACK, AND A SHOE SHINE. MAN, HE WAS TRULY A GIFT TO PETALUMA. AND WHEREAS HENRY'S PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE WAS ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE GOOD POINTS IN OTHERS AND THE BAD POINTS WILL VANISH NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, KEVIN MCDONALD, MAYOR OF PETALUMA, ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL TO HEREBY EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MR. HENRY SCHNAT FOR THE YEARS HE LIVED AND WORKED IN PETALUMA, ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL. WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING HIM? OH MY GOSH, YOU GOT IT DONE, . THANK YOU. AND FEEL FREE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, PETER, SHOW IT TO THE AUDIENCE. BRIAN, DID YOU WANNA SAY WHAT WE WERE? THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. AND JUST A QUICK NOTE BEFORE I TURN IT OVER, UH, THE MIC OVER TO CAROL. UM, IN HONOR AND IN RECOGNITION, UM, OFTENTIMES WE DON'T GET TO DO THIS, UM, BUT WHILE HIS, UM, BUSINESS IS NO LONGER THERE, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO LANDMARK IT IN SOME WAY. AND SO MOVING FORWARD, UH, WHAT BASICALLY BOOKENDS, UH, WATER STREET, UM, TO WESTERN, UH, WE ARE WORKING ON, UH, A FUTURE CELEBRATION, UM, AS WE RENAME THAT STRETCH OF WATER STREET, UH, CHANEL WAY. OH, UM, I HAVE A, UM, PIECE TO, TO READ TO YOU FROM WILLIAM FISHMAN, WHO GREW UP IN PETALUMA AND HE IS A RETIRED ATTORNEY. UH, HE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT. UH, HE'S IN HAWAII. UM, SO HE DARN, UH, BUT HE ASKED ME TO READ THIS TO YOU AS A LITTLE KID. GROWING UP IN THE FIFTIES. I SPENT EVERY SATURDAY MORNING GOING TO TOWN WITH MY MOM TO DO HER SHOPPING. ONE OF HER REGULAR STOPS WAS PEDRO'S DELICATESSEN ON WESTERN AVENUE. WHEN SHE WENT INTO PEDRO'S, I WOULD STAY OUT FRONT WHEN HENRY SCHNAT RAN HIS SHOESHINE STAND IN FRONT OF THE BARBERSHOP NEXT DOOR. HENRY WAS THE FIRST BLACK MAN I HAD EVER MET, AND THE ONLY ONE I WOULD MEET FOR MANY [00:15:01] YEARS. I WATCHED HIM SHINE SHOES. HE HAD A PACK OF PLAYING CARDS, WHICH HE WOULD INSERT ONE BY ONE BETWEEN THE TOPS OF THE SHOES AND THE CUSTOMER'S SOCKS TO PROTECT THE SOCKS FROM POLISH. HE'D APPLY THE POLISH AND THEN USE A LARGE BRUSH TO BUCK THE SHOES TO A HIGH SHINE. IT STRUCK ME THAT HE TOOK PRIDE IN DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT I GOT MIXED SIGNALS ON THE VALUE OF THAT FROM MY MOM. MOM WAS APPALLED ONE DAY COMING OUT OF PEDRO'S TO FIND ME IN HENRY'S CHAIR, GETTING A HIGH GLOSS ON MY BUSTER BROWNS . SHE SOMEHOW THOUGHT IT WASN'T RIGHT FOR AN 8-YEAR-OLD JEWISH KID TO PATRONIZE A BLACK MAN, MAKING AN HONEST LIVING, DOING SOMETHING SHE MUST HAVE CONSIDERED MENIAL. THAT WAS HER BAGGAGE. HAVING GROWN UP IN PHILADELPHIA, A BASTION OF RACISM. BUT TO ME, HENRY WAS JUST AN INTERESTING GUY TO TALK WITH AND TO WATCH. HE WAS UP ON THE LOCAL NEWS. HE WAS ON GOOD TERMS WITH MANY OF THE TOWN'S LEADERS, MANY OF WHOM LIVED IN HOMES WITH RACIAL COVENANTS ON THEIR DEEDS, AND WHO BELONGED TO PETALUMA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, WHERE HENRY AND MY PARENTS COULD NOT BE MEMBERS. HE SEEMED ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE MOM AND ME. HE KNEW EVERYBODY BY NAME. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRIFE IN THE MID FIFTIES, THE LYNCHINGS, THE CASTRATION, THE BEATINGS THAT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WERE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM HENRY SCHENALT. HE CAME TO PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA AND ESCAPED ALL OF THAT, BUT IN FACT, HE HADN'T. I'D LIKE TO SIT IN HIS CHAIR AGAIN TO TALK, BUT MY BROTHER BROWNS ARE LONG GONE AND SADLY SO IS HENRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S KIND OF THE FUN OF THIS, ISN'T IT? UM, OKAY. UM, TONIGHT, UH, THE NEXT ITEM [GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT] ON THE AGENDA IS, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO SPEAK ON ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY'S SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, BUT ARE NOT LISTED AS AN AGENDA ITEM. ON THE, UH, ON THE AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED IN EQUAL SHARES TOTALING NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. UH, I'D LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO OUR CITY CLERK TO REPORT IN. YES, WE RECEIVED 26, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS AHEAD OF THE MEETING, AND THOSE ARE POSTED ONTO THE WEBSITE. AND NOW, AT THIS TIME, I WILL START A 32ND CLOCK. UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. SPEAKERS ARE REMINDED TO BE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING TRANSLATED. PLEASE PAUSE BETWEEN SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION. AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT FOR EACH ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WE DO A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AND I MAKE A CALL FOR THE CARDS FOR THAT ITEM. WE HAVE 10 CARDS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND, UM, 20 MINUTES, 10 CARDS, TWO MINUTES PER PERSON. HAVE THE CLERK SET THE CLOCK FOR TWO MINUTES. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE JOANNE RUNDEL CAMERON TO COME SPEAK, UH, FIRST AND THEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVE ALDEN GONNA BE ON SPEAKING. HI, I JUST WANNA SPEAK ON THE STREET PARKING AND THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT GOING ON FOR THE EXPIRED VEHICLES, JET SKIS, RVS, TRAILERS. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PERSON THAT HANDLES THAT IS OUT ON A MEDICAL, BUT IT'S GROWING. IT'S GROWING LONG BEFORE THE PERSON WENT OUT ON THE MEDICAL. I DON'T KNOW. UM, I MEAN, OFTEN THERE CAN BE A DOZEN DOWNTOWN IN THE PARKING GARAGE AND ON KENTUCKY STREET, THAT'S JUST ONE PARKING GARAGE, THERE CAN BE A DOZEN AT THE SCHOOLS. [00:20:01] THAT INCLUDES STAFF. UM, IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE WITH THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOME KIND OF IA LIKE THEY'RE USING IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR THE SPEEDING, UM, TO READ THE LICENSE PLATES. I UNDERSTAND WE JUST GOT SOMEONE ON REDWOOD IN A CRIME, BUT MAYBE WE COULD GET THEM A LITTLE MORE STREAMLINED. UM, AND ALSO IF WE DO NEED TO DO AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION, ALL THESE EXTRA VEHICLES LEFT ON THE ROADS ARE GOING TO IMPEDE US GETTING OUT OF HERE. UM, ONE CONTRACTOR TALKS ABOUT, UH, SOMEONE ON GARFIELD WITH 11 VEHICLES, . I MEAN, THOSE ARE THREE OR FOUR BEDROOM HOUSES. AT WHAT POINT DOES THAT BECOME EXCESSIVE, LIKE CAT LADIES, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HOW MANY ANIMALS? HOW MANY CARS CAN WE HAVE PER PERSON? UM, SO THAT WOULD BE ONE THING. THE OTHER WOULD BE A, SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT. AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO PUT COMPUTERS IN THE POLICE CARS AND THE POLICE REPORT, OR ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS WE PAID FOR CITATION WRITERS. SO THE JOB OF THEM LOOKING UP TO SEE IF IT'S AN EXPIRED LICENSE PLATE TAB AND WRITING A CITATION IS EASIER THAN EVER. THANK YOU. SO THEY JUST NEED SOME DIRECTION. OKAY, THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVE ALDEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY JANICE BARKER. GOOD EVENING. UH, AS THE CHAIR OF PETALUMA URBAN CHAT, I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THE BETTER CITIES FILM FESTIVAL FOR THE SECOND TIME WILL BE A WEEK FROM THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH AT THE BOULEVARD CINEMAS. FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T JOIN US LAST YEAR, THIS IS A COLLECTION OF SHORT FILMS ON TOPICS OF URBAN INTEREST, WALKABILITY, HOUSING TRANSIT, GREEN SPACES, AND MUCH MORE. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT LAST YEAR. GOOD CONVERSATIONS FOLLOWING. I HOPE MANY OF YOU CAN JOIN AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WE ARE GIFTING A PAIR OF TICKETS TO ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, YOUR NAMES WILL BE ON THE LIST OF THE FRONT DOOR. YOU DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER. JUST SHOW UP WITH A COMPANION IF YOU WISH. BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CONTACT ME. MY CONTACT INFO IS ON THE URBAN CHAT WEBSITE, URBAN CHAT.ORG. DOORS WILL OPEN AT SIX O'CLOCK FOR CONVERSATION IN THE LOBBY. THE FILMS WILL BEGIN SHOWING AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. AFTERWARDS, WE WILL REPAIR TO HANK'S DOWN THE PASEO FOR FREE PIZZA, A SHARING OF THOUGHTS AND A NO HOST BAR. I'LL MAKE A SIMILAR OFFER OFFER, OFFER TO THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION. AND I'VE EMAILED YOUR CITY MANAGER ABOUT SENIOR STAFF. OF COURSE, EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS ALSO ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND MORE INFORMATION. AND A LINK TO TICKET SALES IS@URBANCHAT.ORG. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JANICE PARKER, TO BE FOLLOWED BY TIM PORTUS. HELLO, GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF. WE COME TOGETHER TONIGHT AS PETALUMA MOBILE RESIDENTS UNITED, A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY WHO REPRESENTS COMMON INTERESTS AND COMMON ADVOCACY. THIS GROUP OF RESIDENTS CAME TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY TO SEEK CHANGE ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY. UNITY OF PURPOSE IS PARAMOUNT TO THE CHANGE NEEDED TO PRESERVE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAST MONTH WITH A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE AS WE HAD OUR FIRST G-S-M-O-L GOLDEN STATE MOBILE HOME OWNERS. UM, SUPER CHAPTER MEETING OF PETALUMA MOBILE RESIDENCE UNITED FOR MONTHS NOW, WE HAVE BEEN WITH EACH OTHER TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT WITH INFORMATION AND TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR DIVERSITY. WE REPRESENT ALL AGES, ALL CULTURES, AND TO SHARE A SENSE OF HOPE, WE ARE DEEPLY PROUD OF THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BUILT TOGETHER WITH COLLECTIVE DETERMINATION TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE. WE EACH SHARE A SENSE OF HOPE AND PURPOSE. BUILT ON FACTS CHANGE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT HARM TO OUR RESIDENTS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. 140 RESIDENTS SHOWED UP IN A NIGHT OF UNITY AND STRENGTH. WE HAVE BEEN PART OF G-S-M-O-L FOR YEARS NOW. THIS 5 0 1 C FOUR HAS SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED PROTECTED LEGISLATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGE AND MRL LAW FOR 40 YEARS. THIS YEAR, OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM IS WORKING HARD AT THE CAPITOL ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, INTERRUPTING, BUYING AND SELLING OUR MOBILE HOMES AND ADDRESSING THE HEAT RELATED CLIMATE CHANGE THAT IS UNSAFE FOR MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS. [00:25:01] JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, G-S-M-O-L ENABLED US TO BE IN A FIRST TIME ROUND TABLE WITH RESIDENTS OF THE SAME BAD ACTOR INVESTMENT GROUP OWNERS TO INCREASE OUR COALITION. THE, UH, THROUGH THIS NETWORK WE HAVE NUR OH, SORRY. THANK YOU TIM PORTUS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS PARKER. RIGHT HERE, TIM. ALRIGHT. THROUGH THIS NETWORK, WE HAVE NURTURED WITH THE CITY, THE STATE, AND OTHER AGENCIES. WE FOUND THAT WE COULD AND CAN, EXCUSE ME, CAN I ASK YOU TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE? THANK YOU. OOPS. HE JUST TURNED IT OFF. HE JUST TURNED IT OFF. THROUGH THIS NETWORK, WE HAVE NURTURED WITH THE CITY, THE STATE, AND OTHER AGENCIES. WE FOUND THAT WE COULD AND CAN CONTINUE TO BE AN UNMISTAKABLE FORCE FOR GOOD AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL'S LETTER OF CLARIFICATION TO THE CAPRI MOBILE PARK RESIDENCE LAST WEEK, HIGHLIGHTING THE CIVIL CODE AS IT RELATES TO FIRE LANES. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT OUR PARK OWNERS WILL ADHERE TO THIS NOTIFICATION AND ONCE AGAIN, REOPEN OUR PARKING AREAS FREED FROM THE RED FIRE LANE MARKINGS. THE HOPE FOR MANY IS THE FATHER, THE MAKING SURE HIS DAUGHTER IS SAFE WALKING LATE AT NIGHT, OR THE PARENT WHO CAN PARK ONCE AGAIN IN A SAFE AND SECURE CARPORT. AND THAT LIFE REGAINS THE NORMAL THAT WE HAVE BEEN MISSING. OUR HOPE IS THAT WITH THE SALE CLOSING OF ANOTHER PARK OWNED MOBILE HOME IN YOUNGSTOWN AT 71 MICHAEL DRIVE IN THE LAST WEEK, THAT WILL WILLFUL DISREGARD FOR THE SENIOR PARK OVERLAY WITH THE ADDRESSED WILL BE ADDRESSED AND SOMEHOW REMEDIED THIS YOUNG COUPLE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. HAVING BEEN TOLD WE ARE AN ALL AGE PARK AND ONCE AGAIN PRESENTED WITH THE ALL AGE RULES AND REGULATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY, DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MISREPRESENTATION THAT MAKES LIFE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE OTHER 100 SPACES OF SENIOR CITIZENS WITH PARK OWNED PROPERTIES AND THE SECRETIVE NATURE, THEY POST THESE SALES NO MLS LISTINGS. THERE ARE NO CHECKS AND BALANCES UNLESS THE CITY DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY. AS FOR LITTLE WOODS, THANK YOU CHRIS PARKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY BERT BODA. THANK YOU. AS FOR LITTLE WOODS LIFE AND DAILY ACCESS OF RE, THE DAILY STRESS OF REDUCTION OF SERVICES ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SIMPLY EXIST, TRY TO ADHERE TO THEIR NORM, NEW NORMAL, ADHERE TO PARKING FAR AWAY. TRY SIMPLY NOT TO GIVE UP AS WE SEEK TO FIND AVENUES AND AGENCIES TO HELP US REGAIN WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS. WE HAVE COME TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN SOLIDARITY WITH SO MANY OTHER RESIDENTS, SUFFERING FROM THE SAME BAD ACTORS AS HUMBLE, HARDWORKING, AND RETIRED RESIDENTS. WE HAVE SOUGHT INFORMATION, ORDINANCE, INTERPRETATIONS, AND REVISIONS IN A RESPECTFUL WAY. WE TAKE TIME OUT OUT OF OUR LIVES TO BE PART OF THE CHANGE AND TO MAINTAIN HOPE AS THE ALTERNATIVE IS QUITE DAUNTING. WE COULD NOT HAVE COME THIS FAR WITHOUT YOUR THOUGHTFUL INTENT TO UPHOLD YOUR ORDINANCE. OUR LAWYERS, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE UPHOLDING MOBILE RESIDENTS RIGHTS, THE COMMUNITY OF CARE, WHICH OF COURSE INCLUDES PETALUMA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, PETALUMA PUBLIC PEOPLE SERVICES, REBUILDING TOGETHER. AND SO MANY PETALUMA WHO HEAR OUR STORY AND TURN INWARD TO HELP. WE CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL WHEN LAWFUL ACTIONS REAPPEAR. WE CONTINUE TO DO HARD WORK, BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL. SO MANY DO HARD WORK WITH US. WE ARE ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE WOODS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A VILLAGE OF SUPPORT AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET ANY PART OF THAT VILLAGE. THIS ROAD OF ADVOCACY IS A LONG ROAD WITH MANY BENDS IN THE ROAD, BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE OFF RAMP. WE ARE MOBILE, WE ARE PETALUMA MOBILE RESIDENTS STRONG. THANK YOU BURT KUBOTA [00:30:04] . FEEL NO OBLIGATION TO FINISH WHAT'S FINISHED. I'LL JUST THANK YOU, UM, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, AND, UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE TWO NEW MEMBERS. HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, JORGE ARANGO. NOW JORGE, UH, I BELIEVE YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK, UH, TWICE SPANISH AS WELL. YEAH. YES, PLEASE. WE'LL ALLOW AN, UH, EXTRA MOMENTS FOR THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, MY NAME IS, UM, JORGE ARANGO AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING CAPLA MOBILE HOME PARK. ALONG WITH THE REST, UH, THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS HERE FROM MOTHER MOBILE HOME PARKS. THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE IS JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING THESE, UH, STRESSFUL TIMES. UM, ALL OF THESE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE, UH, JUST FROM THE MOBILE HOME PARKS, THEY'RE WORKING PEOPLE. THEIR GOALS ARE VERY SIMPLE. WE JUST WANT TO PUT A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD AND PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLE FOR OUR FAMILIES. OUR STRUGGLE AND STRESS LIES ON THE UNKNOWN AND NOT KNOWING WHAT OUR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE. IT IS VERY STRESSING. AND IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW MOBILE HOME PARKS WENT FROM A PEACEFUL AND JOYFUL COMMUNITIES TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. NOT KNOWING WHETHER WE WILL HAVE A HOME IN A YEAR FROM NOW OR SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, CAN REALLY BE STRESSFUL DUE TO THE NEW OWNERS. AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND ITS STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING, UH, FOR THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH, WITH OUR, WITH OUR RESTAURANTS AND THESE TIMES OF STRESS AND FEAR. THANK YOU. AND THEN, UM, I'M GONNA SAY IT IN SPANISH AS WELL. UM, THANK YOU CATHERINE BOBOWSKI TO BE FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN SAL. YES, MY NAME'S CAPTAIN BROWSKI. I LIVE AT THE LITTLE WOODSVILLE OF MOBILE HOME PARK. HARMONY'S BEEN BREAKING LAWS FOR YEARS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND SO IS HIS ONSITE MANAGER. FOR AS EXAMPLE, THIS MANAGER HAS HER FAMILY PARKED ILLEGAL AGAINST MY MOBILE HOME SINCE JANUARY 7TH AND STILL THERE FEBRUARY 3RD. THAT'S NOT A LEGAL PARKING AREA. THERE'S NO WHITE LINES THERE. THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW ON THE LICENSE PLATES, 8 3 7 3 1 Y TWO. AND ALSO TOO, HARMONY HAS BEEN SELLING LEASING, RENTING MOBILE HOME THAT THEY DON'T OWN AND HAVE, DON'T HAVE TITLE TO. THAT'S ILLEGAL. AND I'M WANT THE OFFICERS TO GO OUT THERE AND ARREST THE STALKER THAT'S AT MY PLACE WITH THAT VEHICLE. I JUST LICENSE PLATE. I JUST MENTIONED JUST BECAUSE OF THE MOBILE HOME PARK, IT DOESN'T GIVE THESE OWNERS AND THEIR ONSITE MANAGERS AND THEIR FRIENDS TO BE BREAKING THE LAWS. THEY SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR DOING THIS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. PLEASE PUT ON THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING THE AGENDA ON THESE MOBILE HOME PARKS AND STOP ALLOWING. UM, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU OREN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE STEWART. AFTER WATCHING LAST WEEK'S PARKING WORKSHOP, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT THE D STREET SHOULD BE PART OF PARKING SOLUTIONS. THIS, I WAS ALSO THRILLED THAT THE COUNCIL AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO ENHANCE SAFETY. THIS APPLIES TO PARKING GARAGES AND THE TOPIC IS GETTING PROPER ATTENTION. HOWEVER, WHAT ALSO RESONATES WITH ME IS THE LACK OF SAFETY EXPERIENCED BY RESIDENTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, CONTRACTORS, DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS WHEN CROSSING D STREET. DUE TO THE PILOT STUDY, D STREET IS NOTORIOUSLY ONE OF THE MOST HAZARDOUS [00:35:01] RESIDENTIAL STREETS IN SONOMA COUNTY. WITH TRAFFIC VOLUMES FAR EXCEEDING MOST OTHER RESIDENTIAL STREETS IN PETALUMA, IT IS PARTICULARLY UNSAFE FOR CYCLISTS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, TO RIDE ALONG D STREET. I WOULDN'T ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO DO SO, AND I WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE'S TO EITHER. GIVEN THE PROXIMITY TO LARGE TRUCKS, MANY RESPECTIVE CYCLISTS IN OUR COMPANION CAN CURE THAT THE D STREET IS UNSAFE. ADVOCATING B STREET AS A SAFER ALTERNATIVE FOR CYCLISTS FOR ALL ABILITIES CROSSING THE STREET TO REACH OUR HOMES IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER IS DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY. SENIORS, SINGLE PARENTS RENTING IN THE AREA AND RESIDENTS WITHOUT ADEQUATE DRIVEWAY ACCESS FOR MULTIPLE CARS OR LARGE VEHICLES, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ENCROACHMENT FEES JUST FOR SERVICE VEHICLES TO PARK SAFELY IN FRONT OF OUR HOMES TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES. THE ARGUMENT THAT EVERYONE HAS EQUAL RIGHTS TO USE THE STREET IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED WHEN THOSE RIGHTS COMPROMISE ESSENTIAL SAFETY. SAFETY IS THE REASON I CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL. I'M HERE HOPING TO REMIND YOU OF THESE SAFETY RICKS AND WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT FOR MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IN PUBLIC, UH, COMMENTS IS ANNIE STEWART, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. I DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. MY NAME IS ANNIE STEWART AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN LEARNING ABOUT LET ALONE HONORING BLACK HISTORY APPEARS INCREASINGLY AT RISK. GROWING UP IN LILLYWHITE, IOWA, I WAS RAISED BY MOTHER WHO HONORED BLACK HISTORY THROUGH LITERATURE. SHE WAS AN ENGLISH TEACHER WHOSE SHELVES WERE OVERFLOWING WITH BOOKS, INCLUDING THOSE BY BLACK AUTHORS FROM LANGSTON HUGHES TO MAYA ANGELO, TO JAMES BALDWIN. IF SHE WERE HERE TODAY, SHE WOULD ENCOURAGE US ALL TO NOT JUST READ BOOKS AND SIGN PROCLAMATIONS TO HONOR BLACK HISTORY. SHE WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO REMEMBER THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE LOCALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON MORE THAN OUR BLACK NEIGHBORS IN PETALUMA. THAT CAN HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS FAR AND WIDE. FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY DECISION WE MAKE THAT INCREASES THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS AND PLASTIC CONTRIBUTES TO THE SICKENING AND EVEN DEATHS OF FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES LIVING NEAR PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES FROM MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA TO LOUISIANA'S CANCER ALLEY. THE CHOICES WE MAKE HERE REALLY MATTER A LOT. LET US NOT FORGET. THANK YOU, MR. N CLOSES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT COUNCIL, I HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO READ FROM JOANNA PAWN. PLEASE THANK YOU MORE THAN 2000 ENSLAVED PASS THROUGH THE HOME OF REVEREND JOHN RANKIN, MAKING THE RANKIN FAMILY ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE CONDUCTORS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. HE, HIS WIFE, JEAN, AND THEIR 13 CHILDREN ALL HELPED FLIGHT FIGHT SLAVERY AS EITHER SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR OR AS AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. CONDUCTOR. CONDUCTORS WERE PEOPLE WHO AIDED AND GUIDED RUNAWAY SLAVES AT THE RISK OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE NETWORK OF SAFE ROUTES, KNOWN AS THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. HARRIET BECHLER STOWE IMMORTALIZED RANKIN'S EFFORTS TO HELP AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HER BOOK, UNCLE TO UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, HIS ELDEST SON ADAM WAS A STAUNCH ABOLITIONIST LIKE MANY IN HIS FAMILY AND IS BURIED HERE IN PETALUMA IN THE CYPRUS CEMETERY. MANY OF THE RANKINS DESCENDANTS STILL RESIDE IN PETALUMA AND THROUGHOUT SONOMA COUNTY. AND AFTER THIS WAS DISCOVERED ABOUT THE RANKINS COMING, MOVING TO PETALUMA, AND AFTER THIS STORY CAME OUT IN OUR NEWSPAPERS, A MEMBER OF THE RANKIN FAMILY CONTACTED JOANNA PAWN AND HAD ALL THIS HISTORY THAT, UM, THAT HE HAD FOUND. AND SO THAT HISTORY HAS BEEN IN PETALUMA FOR A LONG TIME. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO DO THIS PUBLIC COMMENT IN HONOR OF, UM, BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THANK JOANNA PAWN FOR DOING THIS. THANK AND PLEASE EXTEND OUR THANKS TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR CONTINUING OUR EDUCATION. , UH, THAT CLOSES PUBLIC GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EVENING. AND, UH, NOW I'D LIKE TO MOVE BACK TO COUNCIL [COUNCIL COMMENT] COMMENTS. UH, ANY REPORTS, UH, GENERALLY OF OUR ACTIVITIES, UH, AT COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE LAST WEEK, . SO I'M SURE THEY'LL ALL BE BRIEF THIS EVENING. UM, VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD ON? I'D LOVE TO MR. MAYOR. AND, UM, ACTUALLY I DON'T HAVE ANY LIAISON REPORT, BUT AS PAST PARKS AND RECS, I ASK THE CURRENT LIAISON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, DI CARLY, IF I COULD SHARE, UM, WHAT I RECEIVED IN MY NEWSPAPER LAST WEEK. AND THAT WAS THE ACTIVITY GUIDE FOR OUR PARKS AND RECS. IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT [00:40:01] 'CAUSE I WENT TO GO PUT IT IN MY CAR BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, HERE'S LAST YEAR'S. SO IF YOU GET THIS, DON'T TOSS IT. LOOK AT IT AS A BIBLE OR A TEMPLATE FOR YOUR ACTIVITIES IN THE CURRENT, UH, SEASON. THIS IS THE OLD ONE, AND I HAVE IT IN MY CAR. SO WHEN THE GRANDKIDS, UM, WANNA DO SOMETHING AFTER SCHOOL OR ON THE WEEKENDS, I SAY, PICK A PARK AND LET'S READ UP ON IT AND LET'S GO FIND IT. AND WE EXPLORE IT. SO, UH, LUCK FOR THIS. I THINK THERE ARE ALSO, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE ARGUS, THEY'RE AT ESE PARK. WE PROBABLY EVEN HAVE SOME AT CITY HALL ANYWAY. YEP, YEP. AND I, I STOLE, UH, THE CITY MANAGERS AND DRIVE. I'M SORRY. BUT ANYWAY, IT'S WONDERFUL. IT'S EASY TO READ. IT'S BRIGHT, IT'S COLORFUL. THANK YOU TO OUR PARKS AND WORK STAFF. THEY WORK VERY HARD. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON. OKAY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS, UM, ALSO, BUT I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, CATTLEMAN'S BEING TORN DOWN BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT CONTACTED ME ABOUT SAVING THE WOOD BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL REDWOOD. AND SO, UM, THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT MADE AND THE, THE BUILDING WILL BE TAKEN DOWN CAREFULLY AND THE PERSON TAKING THE WOOD DOWN WILL KEEP THE WOOD, WHICH IS FINE. AND SO, UM, JUST WANNA ANNOUNCE THAT. AND THEN I JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT MY COUSIN BILLY, WHO USED TO GO TO PADRON'S AND WITH HENRY. UM, WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I WOULD, WOULD SIT IN HENRY'S, UM, SHOESHINE, STAND IN IN THE CHAIRS AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND IT WAS JUST SO SPECIAL SITTING IN THOSE CHAIRS AS MY MOM WAS UPSTAIRS AT WAYNE'S BEAUTY SALON, GETTING HER HAIR DONE. AND HENRY WAS JUST SO KIND. AND, AND THEN, UM, AFTER MY AUNT ROSE AND EVERYBODY WOULD GO TO PEDRO'S, EVERYBODY WENT TO PEDRO'S ON SATURDAY MORNING, WE WOULD GO TO ONE OF THE FAMILY HOMES AND THEN EAT LUNCH. AND THAT HAPPENED EVERY SATURDAY. AND SO, UM, HENRY HAS JUST A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. AND, AND AFTER I LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS HISTORY, IT'S EVEN DEEPER. SO, UM, THAT'S IT. AND I DO WANT TO JUST SAY ABOUT GLORIA ROBINSON NOT BEING HERE TONIGHT AND JUST, YOU KNOW, GREAT THOUGHTS TO HER 'CAUSE SHE WAS SO ACTIVE IN BRINGING BLACK HISTORY TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY, MANY YEARS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BARNACLE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MEETINGS, UM, BUT JUST TO NOTE THAT I'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE MARTINEZ REFINERY. UM, I HAVE A BACK, UH, AIR DISTRICT MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, AND SO WE'LL BE GETTING A FULL BRIEFING ON THE, THE MARTINEZ REFINERY AND WHAT THAT MEANS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY. UH, SO THIS MORNING I WENT TO THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING. UH, SOME OF THE NOTABLE THINGS THAT I SAW WERE OUR SAM SALMON NUMBERS ARE LOOKING REALLY, REALLY GOOD. UH, THE COHO ARE THE BEST THAT WE'VE SEEN IN 20 YEARS. STEELHEAD ARE ALSO DOING IT EXTREMELY WELL. SO THAT'S A, A WONDERFUL SIGN THAT OUR, OUR RIVERS ARE HEALTHY AND AND STRONG. UM, THEY'RE ALSO, UH, WORKING ON THESE PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS WHERE THEY'RE GIVING, UH, THE TEACHERS SALMON EGGS SO THAT THE CHILDREN CAN RAISE THEM. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY NEAT BECAUSE, UH, I KNOW PEOPLE HERE IN PETALUMA THAT ALSO GIVE EGGS TO SCHOOLS AND HAVE THEM HATCH CHICKENS. AND SO IT'S, IT'S NEAT THAT WE'RE PASSING THAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE ONTO THE NEXT GENERATION. UH, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT POTTER VALLEY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE WITH THEIR HYDROELECTRIC DAM THAT PG E OWNS AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF DECOMMISSIONING AND WILL EVENTUALLY, UH, DEMOLISH. AND THEN, UM, WE'LL BE GETTING A NEW FACILITY SOMEWHERE OVER THERE. UM, THAT WAS, THAT WAS MOSTLY IT FOR WAC. AND THEN, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, JANICE FRANK AND I ALL WENT DOWN TO LA AND WENT TO THE, UH, THE CAL CITIES MAYORS AND COUNCILS ACADEMY. UM, A LOT OF REALLY GREAT SPEAKERS. UH, GREAT DISCUSSION. AND THE BEST PART WAS PROBABLY THE NETWORKING, GETTING TO MEET DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE. UM, MOST FIRST TIMERS. AND, UM, I FOUND ALL THE ONES ABOUT MY AGE AND, AND WE ALL SYMPATHIZED WITH EACH OTHER. AND, AND THAT WAS, UH, YEAH, IT WAS A FUN TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, UH, QUINT. YEAH. THANK YOU. UM, I WAS, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY I WAS REALLY TOUCHED WITH THE PROCLAMATION WITH HENRY SCHNAT. UH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT. UM, I, THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THE SALMON EGGS. UM, NO COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS OTHER THAN I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE GET FROM ATTENDING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ACADEMY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, OR, UH, UH, THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE, UM, INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT WE TAKE MANDATORY CLASSES ON ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINING AND, UH, ETHICS, UH, ETHICS [00:45:01] AND LAWS AROUND ETHICS AND, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE, UH, OF OUR CITY'S, UH, FINANCIAL RESOURCES. SO GOOD TRAINING FOR US, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES. OKAY. AGAIN, UM, AGAIN, END OF THE MONTH TEND TO BE VERY FEW, UH, ACTUAL COMMISSION MEETINGS IN THE LIKE COMMITTEE. SO I ACTUALLY, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A SHORT BREAK FOR THAT. UM, HOWEVER, I DID, UH, DO WORK WITH PETAL WETLANDS LINES AND OUR, UH, DOCENT GROUP, AND I WAS PART OF THIS, UH, EFFORT. BUT, UM, ONE OF OUR DOCENTS NOTICED THAT THERE'S AN INVASIVE WEED CALLED PAMPAS GRASS. BIG, BIG, HUGE GRASS THAT WITH PLUMES ON IT. UM, AND WE DECIDED THAT WAS INVASIVE AND WORKING WITH THE CITY DECIDED TO TRY TO GET IT REMOVED. UM, BUT THESE THINGS ARE HUNDREDS OF POUNDS EACH, UH, AND VERY DEEP IN, IN, UM, IN THE MUD. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH GEL AND GELATI CAME THROUGH WITH A DONATION OF, UM, A COUPLE PEOPLE AND A BACKHOE AND A DUMP TRUCK. AND THEY, SO WE GOT FREE SERVICE FROM THEM TO COME IN AND HELP. SO THE, UH, THE PWA DOCENTS CAME IN AND, AND SET UP AND PREP THE AREA, UH, CUT DOWN THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLIAGE, AND THEN JOIE WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND REMOVE THE STUMPS. AND THEN THE CITY TEAM WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND COMPLETELY CLEAN UP, OF COURSE, SUPERVISING THE WHOLE THING. SO IT WAS REALLY A TEAM EFFORT TO GET, UM, THESE THREE, UM, GROUPS TOGETHER AND TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY. AND, UH, BASICALLY TWO, TWO MORNINGS. AND, UH, AND WE'RE JUST SHOWING WHAT, WHAT TEAM EFFORT CAN DO WITH VOLUNTEERS AND CITY AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, BUSINESSES, UM, HELPING OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND IT, IT HAS BEEN A SHORT WEEK, BUT, UH, THE SONOMA COUNTY MAYOR'S ASSOCIATION HAD TWO MEETINGS THIS WEEK. UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE SOMEONE ON THE COASTAL COMMISSION CAME UP. AND SO, UM, WE TOOK NOMINATIONS FROM ANY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE COUNTY AND ALSO THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND FORWARDED THOSE FOR, UM, TWO TO, UH, SENATOR MCGUIRE FOR HIS SELECTION OF, OF A CANDIDATE. UM, ALSO, I JUST WANNA NOTE TO THE MOBILE HOME PARK PEOPLE THAT, UM, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND, AND WE STILL STAND WITH YOU AND EVERYTHING THE CITY CAN DO IS, IS DOING ON THAT HORRIBLE SITUATION. UM, PERHAPS THE CITY MANAGER WILL NOTE ON, UH, LUMON, BUT AS THE LIBRARY LIAISON, I THOUGHT I'D, UH, JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT A SUCCESS LUMON WAS HERE, UH, THIS PAST WEEK. AND, UM, AND I DO WANT TO NOTE TO THE COUN THE COUNCIL'S BENEFIT. WE HAVE A WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK ON GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE COUNCIL. AND SO WE'LL SKIP THIS MOMENT OF REPORT OUT IN OUR NEXT AGENDA. BE FOR WHERE FOREWARN, YOU'LL HAVE TO SAY FOR TWO WEEKS . SO, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER. [CITY MANAGER COMMENT] THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, CITY COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY. UM, I WANT TO PASS ALONG AN UPDATE FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT AS THIS PAST FRIDAY, JANUARY 31ST, UH, WORKING WITH AN OUTSIDE, UM, LAW FIRM, WE FILED A COMPLAINT FOR ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE UNLAWFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE AND INJUNCTION TO ENFORCE VIOLATIONS OF THE CITY'S ADOPTED SENIOR OVERLAY IN YOUNGSTOWN MOBILE HOME PARK. UH, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, BECAUSE IT'LL HELP PREVENT THE PARK FROM BECOMING ALL AGES PARK THROUGH THE EXECUTION OF NEW UNLAWFUL LEASES. AND WE WANNA REASSURE THE RESIDENTS, UM, IN YOUNGSTOWN AND THE CITY'S FIVE OTHER SENIOR PARKS THAT THE CITY IS PREPARED TO PROTECT THE SENIOR STATUS OF THE PARKS IN WHICH YOU HAVE BOUGHT HOMES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND A BIG THANKS TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OUR COUNCIL FOR STANDING STRONG. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND THEN JUST, I'M GOING TO REPEAT THE ACTIVITY GUIDE BECAUSE IT'S FOR ALL AGES, NOT JUST KIDS, IT'S FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK. THE OFFERINGS ARE PHENOMENAL. UM, AND WE'VE ADDED THE FAIRGROUNDS ON HERE. SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PICK UP YOUR FREE ACTIVITY GUIDE AND SIGN UP FOR A CLASS TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UM, THAT BRINGS US TO [CONSENT CALENDAR] OUR CONSENT CALENDAR FOR THE EVENING, AND I'M LOOKING UP AND DOWN THE DESK TO SEE IF ANYONE WANTS TO MOVE SOMETHING FROM CONSENT. AND SEEING NONE, I WILL ASK IF ANYONE HAS A QUESTION ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND SEEING NONE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR CITY CLERK OPEN IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. YES, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, BUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. SPEAKERS ARE REMINDED TO BE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING TRANSLATED. PLEASE PAUSE BETWEEN SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION AND SEEING NO, UH, HAVING NO CARDS AND SEEING NO ONE RUSHING TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNSEL. LOOKING FOR A MOTION. I'LL MOVE CONSENT. CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE, [00:50:01] IT'S MOTION BY BARNACLE AND SECOND BY NOW. AND MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, VOTE BARNACLE. AYE. CATER THOMPSON? YES. DI CARLY? YES. NOW YES. QUINT? YES. SCH SHRIMPS. YES. MCDONALD? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND, UH, THAT BRINGS US TO OUR PUBLIC [PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION] HEARINGS MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT INDIVIDUALS TO THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. UM, LET'S SEE. UH, WHAT, UH, I JUST WANNA MENTION HOW THIS WILL WORK. LIKE IN ALL ITEMS. WE, UM, FIRST ASK COUNCIL IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, THEN WE ASK THE PUBLIC IF THEY HAVE A COMMENT, AND THEN WE BRING IT BACK TO THE DAAS. AND, UM, WHEN WE, UM, DO BRING IT BACK TO THE DAAS, WE'LL VOTE FOR EACH APPOINTMENT, UH, SEPARATELY AND, AND CONCLUDE EACH ONE. AND, UH, THE VOTING WILL BE BY, UH, VOICE WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, STATING ONE NAME CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION IN QUESTION. AND AFTER THE COUNCIL VOTES, IF NO APPLICANT HAS A MAJORITY, THEN THE CANDIDATE WITH NO VOTES ARE ELIMINATED, OR THE APPLICANT WITH THE LEAST VOTES IS ELIMINATED. FROM THE NEXT ROUND OF VOTING, WE DO ANOTHER VOTE COUNT TILL WE, UH, HAVE A MAJORITY FOR A SINGLE CANDIDATE. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY CLERK. THANK YOU, . UM, SO GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE. YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. UM, SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE VACANCIES ON OUR CCBS, UH, DUE TO MEMBERS LEAVING THEIR POSITIONS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR TERMS. AND OUR, OUR USUAL RECRUITMENT IS IN THE SPRING. HOWEVER, WE DIDN'T WANNA, UM, UH, LEAVE THESE VACANT, PARTICULARLY THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AS THAT IS THE CITY'S ONLY REPRESENTATIVE AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. SO WE OPENED A SMALL RECRUITMENT LAST MONTH. IT RAN FROM DECEMBER 17TH TO JANUARY 15TH. OUR OUTREACH INCLUDED ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE ARGUS AND THE PRESS DEMOCRAT POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THE CITY'S WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY UPDATE. AND DURING CITY MANAGER'S COMMENT DURING A COUNCIL MEETING AS WELL AS FLYERS. WE DID RECEIVE 17 APPLICANTS FOR JUST THREE SEATS, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR OUR UPCOMING SPRING RECRUITMENT AS THERE'S OBVIOUSLY LOTS OF INTEREST. AND SO I WILL CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO EVERYONE WHO IS NOT SELECTED THIS EVENING TO APPLY AGAIN LATER THIS YEAR FOR ADDITIONAL SEATS. AS THEY MAYOR MENTIONED, WE'LL CONDUCT A ROUND OF VOTING FOR EACH APPOINTMENT SEPARATELY. AND, UH, I HAVE SLIDES FOR EACH VACANCY, UH, FOR THE VOTING, AND I WILL PULL THAT UP AFTER COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A QUESTION? DOES, UM, NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. AND, UH, FOR THIS IS FOR ALL THREE OF THE POSITIONS, IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT IN ANY OF THE APPOINTMENTS OR YOUR CANDIDATE, AND WISH TO MAKE YOUR THREE MINUTE, UH, PRESENTATION. THIS IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, SEEING NO ONE. MOVING QUICKLY TO THE, UH, CLERK'S DESK, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL AND LOOK FOR THE CLERK TO BRING THE SLIDE UP. OKAY. OKAY. SO WE CAN START WITH GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHERE THERE'S ONE REGULAR MEMBER FOR A VACATED TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH, 2025. I WILL NOTE THAT, UH, ONE APPLICANT DOES NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T LIVE WITHIN THE GROUNDWATER UH, BASIN. LET'S BEGIN. OKAY. UH, SO WE'LL HAVE EACH, EACH OF YOU VOTE FOR ONE PERSON. UH, FIRST BARNACLE LAD. OKAY. CATER THOMPSON IZO DI CARLY KOSAR. NOW FKA KOHAR QUINT IZO [00:55:03] REBS. ROB ZO ANN MCDONALD, ROB ZO. OKAY. AND WE DO HAVE ONE, UH, CANDIDATE WHO GOT FOUR. SO WE'LL MOVE ON. UH, HAVING SELECTED ROB IZZO, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT, WHICH IS PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THIS IS FOR ONE REGULAR MEMBER FOR A VACATED TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH, 2027. I'LL HAVE YOU EACH VOTE FOR ONE BARNACLE MYERS DI CARLY MCCLURE. NOW, UM, ENGLAND, QUINT MYERS SCH SHRIMPS REBS, AARON PRENTICE MCDONALD MYERS. OKAY. AND WE DO HAVE ONE CANDIDATE WHO RECEIVED FOUR VOTES, WHICH IS JASON MYERS. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SEAT. THIS IS TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ONE REGULAR MEMBER FOR A VACATED TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH, 2026. I'LL ALSO NOTE WE DID HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH WAS FROM, UH, JOSHUA SIMMONS, UH, STATING THAT THEY WISHED TO, UH, NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE TRANSIT ADVISORY SEAT. UH, SO I'LL HAVE YOU ALL VOTE FOR ONE. BARNACLE ALDEN CATER THOMAS TO CARLY. WELL, I WANTED TO VOTE FOR PASLEY. THAT WAS THEIR SECOND CHOICE. OKAY. SO I CAN MARK THAT DOWN. NOW. UM, ALDEN QUINT, ALDEN SCH SHRIMPS, ALDEN MCDONALD ALDEN. OKAY. AND SO DAVE ALDEN RECEIVED SIX VOTES, SO, UH, HE WILL BE SELECTED. AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE. SO WE HAVE THE THREE APPOINTMENTS MADE, AND NOW WHAT WE DO IS INSERT THOSE INTO THE RESOLUTION OF APPOINTMENT. AND AT THIS POINT, I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR, UM, APPROVAL OF THAT RESOLUTION. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. PARDON ME? I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION. ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? OKAY, GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION BY CATER THOMPSON. SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND BY QUINT. AND A ROLL CALL. VOTE PLEASE. PARLE AYE. CATER THOMPSON? YES. DI CARLY? YES. NOW? YES. QUINT? YES. REBS? YES. MCDONALD? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT, UM, THESE BIG APPOINTMENT THINGS WITH MANY PEOPLE AND WHATNOT, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE HAD A REQUEST TO LOOK AT IT AS A RANK CHOICE VOTING. AND, UM, SO RATHER THAN JUMP INTO THAT TONIGHT, I'VE ASKED STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN IN MAY WHEN WE HAVE MANY APPOINTMENTS, UH, TO APRIL MAY, WHEN WE HAVE MANY, MANY APPOINTMENTS. AND SO WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH ON THAT CONVERSATION. UM, MOVING ON TO THE, UH, NEXT ITEM IS A RESOLUTION, UH, RECOMMENDING APPOINTMENTS TO THE MAYORS AND COUNCILS ASSOCIATION TO FILL VACANCIES ON REGIONAL BODIES. AND, UM, UM, SIMILAR TO THE LAST ONE, WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, PUBLIC COMMENT, AND BACK, BACK UP TO COUNCIL HERE. AND, UM, WHEN WE DO BRING IT BACK, I'LL MAKE SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS TO STREAMLINE, UH, PERHAPS IN FOLLOWING AND JUST COMPACTING WHERE THERE'S ONLY A SINGLE APPLICANT OR SUPPORTING THE LOCAL CANDIDATE FIRST, UM, AND OTHER KINDS OF DETAILS. SO ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, I'LL MOVE TO, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT AS CLERK INVITE IN. WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM, BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. AND SEEING NO ONE MOVING, I THINK WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT, UM, BACK UP TO COUNCIL. AND, UM, WHAT I WAS HINTING AT, IF I COULD JUST LEAD OFF HERE, IS THAT, UM, UM, I THINK WE SHOULD VOTE FOR, UM, THE LOCAL CANDIDATE FIRST IN, IN, WHEN THIS IS ALL DIRECTIONS OF THE MAYOR WHEN WE GO TO THE MAYOR'S VOTING ROUND NEXT WEEK. SO, UM, IN THE CASE OF THE, UH, BAY AREA AIR QUALITY BOARD, UM, WE HAVE A LOCAL CANDIDATE, BRIAN BARNACLE. I SUGGEST THE CLERK MAYBE GO AHEAD AND BRING UP THE APPOINTMENT HERE, BUT I'M WITHOUT A VOTING, I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE PLACE BRIAN BARNACLE IN THAT BOX. UH, THEN THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE [01:00:01] DISTRICT, WE HAVE FRANK QUINT, AND I'M SUGGESTING WE FILL IN FRANK QUINT ON THAT BOX. UM, AND THEN THERE'S ONLY ONE CANDIDATE FOR THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND I'D LIKE TO FILL IN JACKIE WARD, UH, FOR THAT. AND, UM, THEN WE HAVE SMART SEATS THAT REQUIRED TO BE OF SCTA, I'M SUGGESTING WE FILL IN JANICE CATER THOMPSON ON THAT. AND THEN WE HAVE SMART SEAT REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE NOT SONOMA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SEATS. AND I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE PUT ALEX DELEY IN FOR THAT. SO THAT, UH, TAKES US, UM, BACK TO LOOKING AT THE SONOMA COUNTY OVERSIGHT BOARD WHERE THERE'S MULTIPLE FOLKS. UH, IT TAKES US LOOKING AT THE AG AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT WHERE THERE ARE THREE PETALUMA CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE. THERE ARE ALREADY TWO PETALUMA COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT BODY. I'M PRETTY SURE THERE'S JUST NOT A HOPE AND HECK THAT ANYBODY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA PUT A THIRD, ALL THREE SEATS FROM CITIES GO TO PETALUMA. SO I'D LIKE A DISCUSSION ON WHETHER WE'RE WILLING TO GO WITH THE NON PETALUMA SEAT THERE, RATHER THAN VOTE AMONGST OURSELVES OR WHO, WHO WE VOTE FOR A SEAT THEY WON'T GET. AND THEN, UM, THERE STILL REMAINS ONE, UM, SMART SEAT FROM SCTA TO DISCUSS. SO WITH THAT AS AN OPENING COMMENT, DOES, HAS EVERYONE FOLLOWED ALL THAT? YOU KNOW? OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WAS A LOT. UM, SO DO YOU WANNA GO THROUGH THE SLIDES AND JUST SEE IF FOLKS ARE OKAY? OKAY. SO FIRST IS THE BAY AREA QUALITY MANAGEMENT, AND THERE'S JUST THE ONE, SO IF EVERYONE'S COMFORTABLE WITH THIS SELECTION YEAH, LET'S DO THIS BY A CLAIM INSTEAD OF ROLL CALL. SURE. IS THAT, IS THAT, IS THAT GOOD WITH EVERYBODY? YEP. GOOD. OKAY. MOVING. OOPS. AND THEN, UH, MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND AGAIN, THIS JUST HAS ONE APPLICANT. IS EVERYONE OKAY WITH THIS BY A CLAIM? ALL RIGHT. GOOD. GREAT. NEXT SLIDE. AND WE DO HAVE TWO, BUT ONE IS A, A LOCAL CANDIDATE. DO WE ALL SUPPORT FRANK? AYE, CAN WE JUST MAKE A COMMENT? THE, UM, I DEFINITELY ALWAYS SUPPORT LOCAL CANDIDATES. UM, YOU KNOW, GERARD REACHED OUT TO ME AND HE MADE A PRETTY STRONG CASE FOR WHY BEING ON THE BOARD RIGHT NOW AT A TIME WHEN WE'VE GOT, UM, LIKE SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY IN FEDERAL FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. MAKES SENSE. AND I'M NOT, I'M, I'M FINE APPOINTING FRANK. I THINK YOU DO A MARVELOUS JOB, FRANK, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE TO CONSIDER THAN JUST WHO'S THE LOCAL CANDIDATE, UM, FOR THESE SEATS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE NEXT ONE ON CT OR, UH, ON THE NON SCTA SMART SEAT, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU'VE GOT, UH, VICTORIA FLEMING, SHE'S THE ONLY PERSON WHO REPRESENTS SONOMA COUNTY ON, ON MTC. AND MTC IS ONE OF THE BIG PURSE HOLDERS FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. AND SO THERE'S LIKE, I THINK THERE'S ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE FOR CHOOSING PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES TOO, I GUESS. AND I THINK THAT MEANS WE DO NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE IN THIS? CAN I, CAN I, AND, AND I'M SORRY. SURE. AND I, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT GERARD REACHED OUT TO ME. HE AND I HAD A CONVERSATION. I RECOGNIZE THE VALUE THAT GERARD BROUGHT TO THAT COMMISSION. I REALIZED THAT BEING NEW TO, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, YOU KNOW, GERARD'S EXPERIENCE, UH, IS A VALUABLE ASSET FOR THE, FOR THE COUNTY AND THE BOARD. AND I'M HAPPY TO, UH, THROW MY SU SUPPORT BEHIND GERARD AS WELL, IF THAT MEANS ANYTHING FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. IS EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? IS THAT A MOTION? I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO IT BY A CLAIM AGAIN. UH, IF WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, I, FRANK HAS BASICALLY WITHDRAWN HIS NAME FROM THIS POSITION. WE GOOD? THEN LET'S GO WITH . OKAY. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH GERARD AS THE RECOMMENDATION. NEXT ONE IS THE SONOMA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION OPEN SPACE DISTRICT. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE, UH, FROM PETALUMA HERE. UM, DOES ANY OF THEM WISH TO COMMENT? I'D, I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT MARJORIE AND ALSO, UM, GIVEN THE INSIGHT THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL TONIGHT, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, WITHDRAW FROM THAT AS WELL AND PUT MY, UH, SUPPORT BEHIND MARJORIE. UH, I THINK I'M GONNA STAY IN THIS RACE BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A DEEP PASSION FOR AGRICULTURE. UM, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY'S BEEN OUT ON THE, ON THESE LANDS FOR 150 YEARS. UM, I REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM AND PRESERVING THAT AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, OUR OPEN SPACE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BESIDES THAT, I'VE SPENT YEARS WORKING OUT THERE AND I KNOW ALL THOSE ROADS AND ALL THAT LAND LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND. UM, I DO DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND SEE THAT THEY ARE PRESERVED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, [01:05:01] THERE'S GRANT FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT CAN COME BACK TO, UM, OUR PARKS AND BEING A LIAISON FOR PARKS AND REC HERE, I THINK, UM, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PAIRING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REST OF THE COUNCILS WILL DO, BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD FOR US TO HAVE THREE PETAL LUMEN ON THERE. THANK YOU. CAN I ASK MR. MAYOR, WHO ARE THE OTHER TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS? UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES IS THE CHAIR. UM, NOT, NOT QUITE. I WAS, UH, UH, ASSISTANT VICE CHAIR AT THIS TIME. UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER PETALUMA THAT IS ALSO ON IT. SO THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE OF US FROM PETALUMA ON, ON THE COMMITTEE. THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALREADY, NOT JUST TWO. WHEN, WHEN DOES, AND I'M THE OTHER. OH, OKAY. WHEN DOES YOUR, UH, TERM EXPIRE? I'VE GOT ONE MORE YEAR AND I THINK, UH, SAME MAYOR. WE'RE ON THE SAME ROTATION. RIGHT. SO WITH, WITH THREE OF US ON THERE. AND THEN, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE I, I MAY END UP BEING THE CHAIR THIS NEXT YEAR, . UM, SO, UM, 'CAUSE I'M THE VICE CHAIR NOW AND, UH, THE PERSON STEPPING DOWN A LITTLE BIT ANYWAY, SO I WOULD SUGGEST, UM, WHAT, WHAT THE MAYOR HAS SUGGESTED ALSO THAT WITH THREE OF US FROM PETALUMA ON THIS COMMITTEE, UH, HAVING SOMEONE FROM CLOVERDALE ON THERE, UH, TO SPEAK UP FOR THAT AREA BECAUSE, UM, IT COMES FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES. THERE'S A LOT OF GRANTS THAT COME THROUGH FROM ALL THE CITIES AND WE DO NEED TO HAVE, UM, UH, A DISTRIBUTION OF FOLKS THERE. BUT, BUT THERE'S LIKE, LIKE 15 OF US NOW ON THAT COMMITTEE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY. UH, BUT THEY'RE FROM DIFFERENT SECTIONS AND DIFFERENT REASONS. I, I'VE READ THE MINUTES FROM PAST, UM, MEETINGS AND I KNOW, UM, THE CLOVERDALE CITY COUNCILWOMAN, UM, MARJORIE. SO, UM, I HAVE HIGH RESPECT FOR HER, BUT I ALSO HAVE HIGH RESPECT FOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY. BUT I WILL WITHDRAW AND MAYBE I'LL SUBMIT MY NAME NEXT YEAR. UM, AND IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. SO WITH THAT, WE, WE STILL HAVE, UM, TWO PLAYERS. I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. OKAY. SO PLEASE, UH, VOTE FOR ONE. BARNACLE DI CARLY KATE THOMPSON DI CARLY DI CARLY DI CARLY. MM-HMM. NOW DECAR, QUINT DI CARLY. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD. SHRIVES, UH, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER, BUT I'LL, BUT I'LL GO FOR MORGANTON. MCDONALD DI CARLY. OKAY. AND WE HAVE SELECTED YOU MARKED QUINT ACROSS THE BOTTOM INSTEAD OF CAR. OH, I SEE. I'M SO SORRY. WELL, WE KNOW WHAT I MEANT. , I'LL CORRECT THAT. THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOOD TO GO. OKAY. AND THIS IS THE TWO SMART SEATS, RIGHT? AND, UM, ON THIS ONE I'VE SUGGESTED THAT WE VOTE FOR THE LOCAL. IS THAT ACCEPTABLE FROM EVERYBODY? ARE WE GIVING TWO NAMES? UH, I WANTED TO SETTLE ON THE ONE FIRST AND THEN MOVE TO THE NEXT. YES, WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. SO, UH, CATER THOMPSON IS IN, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, THREE NAMES LEFT. AND, UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, UH, IN ADVOCACY? I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT ARIEL KELLY, UM, FROM HILLSBURG. THANK YOU. I, I SUPPORT ARIEL AS WELL. I THINK, UM, I THINK SHE WOULD DO A GREAT JOB. SHE'S GOT EXPERIENCE. UM, SHE'S BEEN ON SCTA FOR, UM, A WHILE. UM, AND I THINK SHE, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT HER AND, AND I, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHRI. YEAH, SAME. AND, AND ARIEL JUST CALLED ME EARLIER TODAY AND, UH, SHE WENT THROUGH HER, UH, RESUME OF, OF, UH, HOW MUCH SHE COULD, COULD CONTRIBUTE. AND BEING FROM HEALDSBURG, UH, WE NEEDED SOMEONE FROM SMART FROM NORTH COUNTY, UM, UH, TO KEEP PUSHING ON, ON THE NORTH END. SO, SO WE NEED A SMART REP TO SMART. YEAH. GOTCHA. UM, MAY WE HAVE, DID YOU WISH TO, UM, A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. UM, OKAY. BARNACLE, KELLY CATER THOMPSON, KELLY DI, CARLY KELLY. NOW KELLY, QUINT, KELLY SCH SHRIMPS, AND KELLY MCDONALD KELLY. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A SELECTION THERE. AND [01:10:01] THE OTHER SELECTION WILL BE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON AND THE NON SCTA SEAT FOR SMART, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER BARNICLE. YEAH, SO I'M GOING TO JUST THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND VICTORIA FLEMING. IT'S NOTHING, NOTHING PERSONAL, ALEX, BUT VICTORIA'S BEEN ON MTC AND LIKE, I JUST THINK THAT, UM, THAT EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON THAT REGIONAL BODY AND, UM, IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS AS WE, UM, WE TRY TO SOLVE SOME GAPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITH SMART. AND, UM, SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING, UH, VICTORIA FLEMING. I ALSO WILL BE SUPPORTING, UM, VICTORIA FLEMING. SHE JUST, SHE JUST BROUGHT A MILLION BUCKS TO US FROM MTC, SO SHE'S GOOD. AND, UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, WELL, WHAT I'LL SAY ABOUT MYSELF IS, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I DO HAVE A DECADES WORTH OF EXPERIENCE, UM, IN RAILROADING AND I'M QUITE FAMILIAR WITH IT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD POSSESSES ANY FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE THEREOF, UM, YOU KNOW, KNOW OR, OR ANY OF THE CANDIDATES. YOU KNOW, I RESPECT VICTORIA AND WHAT SHE'S DONE IN FTC. UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH FEDERAL MONIES, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE, UH, I HAVE A DEEP PASSION FOR IT. AND WHAT I REALLY WANNA DO AND WHAT I'VE SAID ALL ALONG IS REALLY HELP, UM, REBUILD PETALUMA'S ECONOMY. AND I THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH SMART AND HAVING THE RAILROAD THERE TO BRING IN MORE FREIGHT TO PETALUMA IN THE COUNTY. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS, UM, AND OTHERS IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH MY CONNECTIONS TO IT AND MY PASSION FOR IT, I THINK I WOULD BRING A LOT TO THAT BOARD. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE. BARNACLE FLEMING CATER THOMPSON. FLEMING DI CARLY DI CARLEY. NOW DI CARLY QUINT FLEMING SCH SHRIMPS. I I'LL TRY DI CARLY PUT THE MAYOR IN THE SEAT. MCDONALD DI CARLY. OKAY. AND WE DO HAVE SOMEONE WITH THE MAJORITY OF VOTES, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT, WHICH IS THE SONOMA COUNTY CONSOLIDATED OVERSIGHT BOARD. AND, UM, DOES, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MOVE TO A VOTE? ANY DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE. BARNACLE. L EDWARD CATER. THOMPSON. L WORD DI CARLY L EDWARD. NOW ELWOOD. QUINT. L EDWARD SCH SHRIMPS. LET'S GO. UNANIMOUS. ALMOST L WORD. MCDONALD. L WORD. OKAY. SO WE HAVE SELECTED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL THE SEATS. UH, I'LL ENTER THIS INTO THE, UH, RESOLUTION AND I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE HANDLE THE MOTION. . SO I, I THINK THE MOTION WILL BE THE RESOLUTION YOU SAW IN YOUR PACKET, PLUS WHAT WE DETERMINED IN THIS VOTING, UM, VOTING EFFORT. AND I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE THAT MOTION. MOTION BY SHRIVES. SECOND. SECOND BY QUINT. ROLL CALL. VOTE PLEASE. BARNACLE. AYE. CATER THOMPSON. AYE. DI CARLY? YES. NOW? YES. QUINT? YES. SCH SHRIMPS? YES. MCDONALD? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND NOW, UM, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR EVERYONE'S PATIENTS. . WE ARE GOING TO ITEM EIGHT A, UH, ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION, PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF ON THE PREFERRED OPTION FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING ALL-WEATHER SYNTHETIC MULTI-USE FIELD AT LUCCHESE PARK, WITH EITHER A NEW ALL-WEATHER, SYNTHETIC TURF, OR DESIGNING CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NATURAL GRASS PLAYING FIELD ALTERNATIVE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, EVEN ON THE BRIEF OF OF AGENDAS, IT TAKES US A MINUTE TO GET TO THE GOOD STUFF, WHICH IS WHY YOU'RE HERE, RIGHT? SO, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UM, DREW HALTER, OUR DIRECTOR OF PARK AND RECREATION, AND JOSH MINAL, THE SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER TO, UH, HELP US, UM, WITH THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, UH, STAFF, CITY MANAGER AND COMMUNITY. UM, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, MY NAME IS DREW HALTER, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, AND I'M JOINED HERE BY [01:15:01] JOSH MINSHAW, THE SENIOR, UH, CIVIL ENGINEER WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. ALSO, IN THE AUDIENCE WE HAVE, UH, DEVIN CONWAY, THE PRINCIPAL AT VERDE DESIGN INC. WHO AS A, UH, INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM IS ONE OF THE CONSULTING DESIGN FIRMS THAT HAVE HELPED US PREPARE, UM, PROJECTS AT LUCAS. I, I WANT TO POINT UP AND JUST, UM, MAKE CLEAR VERDE DESIGNS, UH, RECREATIONS FACILITIES AROUND THE STATE, AND THAT INCLUDES NATURAL GRASS AND SYNTHETIC FIELDS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. SO, UH, WELL, UM, UM, EX EXPERT, UH, IN THE FIELD AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HIM JOIN US TONIGHT. SO LET'S KICK THINGS OFF. UH, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, WHILE WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, UH, WE ARE GONNA BE SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT OPTIONS FOR REPLACING THE EXISTING SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD AT LUCCHESE PARK, AND RECEIVE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON WHETHER TO PURSUE A NEW ALL-WEATHER SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD REPLACEMENT OR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A NEW NATURAL GRASS PLAYING FIELD ALTERNATIVE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I WILL BE TAKING YOU THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT CASEY PARK. I'LL ALSO BE COVERING SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FIELD REPLACEMENT. WE'LL REVIEW THE LAST YEAR PLUS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH. AND THEN I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO JOSH TO GO THROUGH THE LAST PORTION OF THE SLIDES, WHICH WILL GO THROUGH DETAILS ON CONSTRUCTION, PHASING FOR THE TIMELINES, SOME COST COMPARISONS FOR THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS. AND THEN WE'LL END WITH, UM, OBVIOUSLY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, LU CASEY PARK WAS THE LOCATION FOR PETALUMA'S FIRST ALL WEATHER SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD. THIS WAS INSTALLED IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR 2000, FOLLOWING A COMMUNITY-LED INITIATIVE TO EXPAND ATHLETIC FIELD OFFERINGS AND ACCOMMODATE BOTH YEAR ROUND PLAY, AS WELL AS KEY PACE WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF YOUTH LOCAL SPORTS, AND THEIR TRANSITION TOWARDS YEAR ROUND PLAY. THE MULTI-USE FIELD IS APPROXIMATELY 86,000 SQUARE FEET. IT IS STRIPED FOR BOTH REGULATION SIZE SOCCER, AS WELL AS, UH, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S LACROSSE. SINCE OPENING DAY, LUC CASEY HAS REMAINED ONE, IF NOT THE MOST HEAVILY USED ATHLETIC FIELDS IN PETALUMA. ITS CENTRAL LOCATION, THE ADDITION OF SPORTS LIGHTING AND CONNECTION TO TRAILS SCHOOLS AND, UH, MAJOR THOROUGHFARE MAKES IT A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER PLACE TO PLAY. LU CASEY'S TURF FIELD WAS LAST REPLACED IN 2009 AND HAS EXCEEDED ITS 10 YEAR LIFE CYCLE EXPECTANCY ON THE TURF. TODAY'S CONDITIONS, UH, THE TURF IS SEVERELY WORN. THE MAJORITY OF THE SYNTHETIC FIBERS ARE LAYING FLAT, UH, AND THERE IS POOR DRAINAGE AS YOU CAN SEE IN SOME OF THESE PHOTOS TAKEN. THE EXISTING, UH, INFIELD IS ALSO THE CRUMB RUBBER MATERIAL, WHICH IS NOT AN IDEAL CHOICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND STAFF ARE RECEIVING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF PREFERENCE FOR ALTERNATE FIELDS, GAME CANCELLATIONS, ET CETERA. THESE FIELDS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY COMPACTED, AND THE MORE THE FIBER LAYS DOWN, THE LESS THE INFILL CAN HOLD AS A CUSHIONING AGENT FOR THOSE FIELDS. SO THIS FIELDS WILL NEED TO BE REEVALUATED WHEN THE WEATHER DRIES OUT, AND STAFF HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO CLOSE THESE FIELDS IF THE FIELD BECOMES TOO COMPACTED, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE SHOULD HAPPEN, UH, LIKELY AROUND THE SUMMER. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WHEN WE PRESENT CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIELD REPLACEMENTS, LIKE MANY OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE, WE LOOK AT AND VIEW THEM THROUGH A LENS OF, OF SAFETY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, SAFETY AND PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY PLANE SURFACE AND REDUCING THE RISK OF INJURY, UM, AS WELL AS EQUITY, INCREASING ACCESS TO QUALITY OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS WHERE THESE FACILITIES ARE LOCATED WITHIN OUR CITIES. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, RECYCLABILITY, REUSE, MANUFACTURING OF MATERIAL, SCOPE OF CONSTRUCTION AND WASTE. THESE ARE ALL CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS PARTICULAR ARENA. THE AVOIDANCE OF THE PFAS MATERIALS, UH, OFTEN HAVE COME UP IN IN COMMISSION COMMENTS OR, OR, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND THOSE ARE DEFINITELY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THAT WE CONSIDER, AS WELL AS IMPACTS [01:20:01] LIKE WATER CONSERVATION, VEHICLE TRIPS, UH, ET CETERA. MAINTENANCE WILL, WILL MAINTAIN PARKS AND SUSTAINING PARK MAINTENANCE RESOURCES IS A TOP COMMUNITY PRIORITY. SO THAT'S ALWAYS A FACTOR WE LOOK AT WHEN LOOKING AT PARK RELATED PROJECTS. AND, UM, PETALUMA EMBRACES THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. SO OF COURSE WE'RE, UM, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THAT FROM START THROUGH INCEPTION OF PROJECTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THE NEXT TWO SLIDES ARE REALLY JUST A CROSS COMPARISON OF SOME OF THOSE BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS FOR THE TWO OPTIONS. I'M NOT GONNA GO AND READ OFF THE SLIDES. UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE, THE NATURAL GRASS FIELDS ARE BY FAR THE MOST COMMON IN PETALUMA. THEY OFFER FLEXIBILITY OF PROGRAMMING AND PLAY. MOST WOULD ARE, OR WOULD AGREE. WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT WELL-MAINTAINED AND MANAGED NATURAL GRASS BALL FIELDS ARE PREFERRED DURING THE DRY MONTHS. UM, A MAJORITY OF OUR PLAYING FIELDS, HOWEVER, ARE BUILT ON EXPANSIVE SOILS IN ADOBE, CREATING CHALLENGES FOR, FOR US LOCALLY TO MAINTAIN AND MANAGE. THIS CREATES CRACKS AND FISSURES WITH THE TEMPER TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS IN PETALUMA CAUSING IRRIGATION BREAKS WITH CAN FURTHER EXACERBATE THE SITUATIONS. A FEW CHALLENGES THAT ARE MORE UNIQUE TO PETALUMA IS OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR LOVE FOR PETS. UH, AND THE CHALLENGE WITH MAINTAINING PLAY IN FIELD WHILE ALSO ACCOMMODATING, UM, THE POPULARITY OF DOG RUNS THROUGHOUT OUR SPORTS FIELDS. ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS IN PETALUMA AS WELL IS, UM, SECURING FIELDS. THE OP THE OPTIONS TO CLOSE FIELDS, UM, ARE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO US. WE, WE DON'T LIKE TO ENCASE OUR PARKS WITH FENCING. UM, AND SO SECURING FIELDS, EVEN WHEN FIELDS CLOSURES ARE A CHALLENGE IN PETALUMA TO MAINTAIN GOOD QUALITY PLAYING FIELDS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SAME EXERCISE REAL QUICK. WITH SYNTHETIC TURF, UM, BENEFITS, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS IT OFFERS THE COMMUNITY YEAR-ROUND PLAY IN PETALUMA. UM, HOSTING TOURNAMENTS HAS BECOME, UM, A REALLY POPULAR, UH, VENUE, NOT JUST 'CAUSE OF WHERE WE'RE LOCATED WITHIN THE REGION, BUT, UM, ALSO THE, THE COUNTY WE TYPICALLY HOST, UH, FOUR TO FIVE TOURNAMENTS BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND FEBRUARY. UH, SO AGAIN, THESE ARE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 50 TEAMS OVER A WEEKEND. UM, THAT REALLY ADDS TO THE, SOME OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS AS WELL AS ALLOWS LOCAL TEAMS, UM, AND PLAYERS TO STAY LOCAL ON WEEKENDS, UM, VERSUS PACKING UP THE CAR ALL THE TIME. CAN'T SAVE YOU ALL THE TIME. UM, LIMITATIONS, EVEN WITH THE ORGANIC INFILL FIBERS ARE A PLASTIC PRODUCT. SO WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW THOSE PRODUCTS ARE MADE AND HOW THEY STAND UP TO THE ENVIRONMENT. AND WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MORE STUDIES AND DATA ARE NEEDED AS WE TRACK, UM, THIS GROWING FIELD OF STUDY AROUND P-F-A-S-P-F-A-S TESTING, UH, AND WHAT GOES INTO THE MANUFACTURING OF THESE FIELDS. I WILL SAY THAT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURING FIELD TURF, ALL KNOWN PFAS CHEMICALS, UH, WILL HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR PRODUCTION PROCESS AS OF JANUARY, 2025. HOWEVER, WE KNOW, UM, WITH THE PREVALENCE OF PFAS IN THE ENVIRONMENT, MANY REMAIN CONCERNED AND WOULD ALL BENEFIT FROM MORE STUDIES AND DATA AROUND THE PRESENCE OF PFAS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SOME ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS AS IT RELATES TO NATURAL GRASS ALONE. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN PETALUMA, UM, THAT BETWEEN THE PARKS SUPERVISOR AND THE TWO PARKS LEADS, UH, THEY'RE CLOSE TO 90 YEARS OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, UH, MANAGING, UM, TURF FIELDS HERE LOCALLY. SO, YOU KNOW, WHILE THAT IS, IS NOT NEW TO THE CREWS, THE FAMILIAR CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITIES IN MAIN MANAGING AT SCALE, UM, IS A REALITY. SO WE HAVE 175 ACRES OF, OF NATURAL TURF THAT WE MANAGE AND MAINTAIN. UM, LUKE CASEY PARK, UH, REPRESENTS LESS THAN 1% OF THAT OVERALL, UM, ACREAGE OF TURF. SO THESE ARE JUST A COMMON LIST OF CONSIDERATIONS FOR NATIONAL OR NATURAL GRASS IN ADDITION TO THINGS HAVE I'VE COVERED, UM, ARE YOU ON, IS THE, IS IT ON THE RIGHT SLIDE RIGHT NOW? SO I SEE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT SLIDE THAN EVERYBODY. OH, I'M SORRY. NEXT SLIDE. TRIPPED ME UP. GOT AHEAD MYSELF. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, SO ON THIS SLIDE, IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE COVERED, UM, DOG RELATED CONSIDERATIONS, ET CETERA, UH, FIELD LINING FOR ATHLETICS, UH, HERE IN PETALUMA, WE RELY ON OUR, UM, VOLUNTEER EFFORTS FROM MANY OF THE [01:25:01] YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS TO, TO LINE OUR FIELDS. UH, THEY ALSO, UM, AS PREVALENT IN LIKE PSLS ANNUAL DIRT DAY, THEY DO MORE THAN LINE FIELDS. THEY'RE OFTEN THE CARETAKERS TO MANY OF THESE FIELDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AT A HIGH LEVEL OF PLAYING FOR THEIR SEASON. UM, AND SO WANNA BE MINDFUL IF THAT'S KIND OF BUILT INTO THE CULTURE AND THE FABRIC OF YOUR THE LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS SCENE. DADDY. DADDY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, PETALUMA IS NOT UNIQUE IN EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF PLAYING FIELDS GIVEN THE DEMAND FOR YEAR-ROUND PLAY IN YOUTH SPORTS. THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS THE AVERAGE ANNUAL HOURS OF USE COLLECTED BY FIELD PERMITS ISSUED AT THE FOUR SYNTHETIC FIELDS ON YOUR TOP GRAPH, COMPARED WITH THE NINE NATURAL GRASS BALL FIELDS THAT ACCOMMODATE BOTH SOCCER AND LACROSSE. SO WE TOOK AVERAGES OF THE FOUR SYNTHETIC FIELDS ON TOP SLIDE, AND THEN AVERAGES OF THE NINE NATURAL GLASS FIELDS ALL, UM, THAT PERMIT SOCCER IN THE CROSS. SO YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UM, WHAT THOSE HOURS OF USE THOSE PERMANENT HOURS USE SHOW. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IN 2022, THE CITY PURSUED AN AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF THESE DECISIONS FOR PLAYERS FAMILIES. AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDED COMMUNITY SURVEYS, TABLED EVENTS AT THE PARKS, SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS, MEDIA NEWSLETTER, BLAST, DISCOURAGING PARTICIPATION. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, NOT AND, AND NOT ONE THAT PETALUMA ALONE, UM, IS FACED WITH. SO IN MAY, 2023, STAFF BROUGHT THE RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO THE RECREATION MUSIC AND PARKS COMMISSION AND SOUGHT A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE TURF REPLACEMENT. DURING THAT MEETING, THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY VOTED IN SUPPORT OF A NATURAL GRASS FIELD INSTALLATION AT LUCCHESE PARK. UH, THE COMMISSION DID SPEAK TO MANY OF, UH, THE SAME CONCERNS AROUND THE PFAS CHEMICALS MANUFACTURED IN THE FIELDS AT THAT TIME, UH, WHICH WERE CARRIED OVER IN THE COMMENTS, MANY OF THE COMMENTS RECEIVED TONIGHT AND UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS, UM, SHARING SOME CURRENT CONCERNS WITH, UM, COSTS, ET CETERA. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE MESSAGING THAT WENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES, UM, THAT YEAR OF KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WHAT WE HEARD AND KIND OF HEARD BACK A COMPLETE LIST OF SURVEY RESULTS CAN BE FOUND AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THIS AGENDA. UH, WE RECEIVED ABOUT 500 RESULTS TO OUR COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY, BUT IN ADDITION TO THIS SURVEY, UM, THE MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS WERE IN FAVOR OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS AT LUC CASEY PARK, AND WE RECEIVED A MANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT COULD BE GROUPED INTO SOME THEMES. YOU KNOW, OVERALL THERE WAS A, UM, HEAVY PREFERENCE FOR A NEED FOR ALL SEASON ACCESS TO FIELDS. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS WERE WIDE RANGING. THERE WERE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR THE PLAYABILITY OF SURFACES AND THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO MAINTAIN THOSE SURFACES AT A HIGH LEVEL CONSISTENTLY, AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURERS THAT GO INTO ALTERNATE, UH, TURFS AND SYNTHETIC FIELDS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, UM, OF TESTING FOR PFAS CHEMICALS AND, UM, ET CETERA. THE SURVEY, UH, REALLY SHOWED THAT WE HAD A, A WIDE RANGE OF DEMOGRAPHICS AND AGES THAT RESPONDED, WHICH REALLY ALWAYS FEELS NICE. UM, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THAT. UM, BUT IT DOES SHOW AN INTEREST IN IMPACTS FROM THOSE INVOLVED, UH, THAT CAME OUT AND SHOWED SUPPORT FOR BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. ULTIMATELY, UM, PLAYABILITY WAS A, WAS A BIG FACTOR IN MANY OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS THAT WE HEARD. UM, THIS CITY, UH, HAS, UH, LESS PLAYING FIELDS THAN DEMAND, SIMILAR TO OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION. SO THE ABILITY TO PLAY HERE LOCALLY, UM, IN MORE SEASONS IS, IS A TOP, UM, A TOP ISSUE FOR THE RESIDENTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO AT THIS POINT, I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO JOSH, UH, TO WALK US THROUGH, UM, THE FIELD ANATOMY, FOLLOWED BY A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH. LOOK AT SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES, AND THEN WE WILL, WE'LL BRING IT [01:30:01] BACK. THANK YOU, DREW. UM, SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT TWO SIDE BY SIDE FOR, UH, GRAPHICS FOR NATURAL GRASS AND A SYNTHETIC TURF. UM, THESE ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPRESENT WHAT WOULD SPECIFICALLY GO IN, BUT GIVE YOU A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, ON THE LEFT WITH THE NATURAL GRASS, UH, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM. SO ONCE WE REMOVE ALL OF THE EXISTING MATERIAL FROM LUCCHESE, IF SELECTED, UM, WE WOULD REPLACE WITH A PROPER DRAINAGE LAYER. UM, THIS AT THE BOTTOM, UH, HAS DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS ON THE SOIL, UM, BUT IT WOULD BE FINE TUNED FOR THE RIGHT GRASS TYPE. AND SO UNTIL YOU GET INTO THAT DETAILED DESIGN, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO SPECIFY EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS. BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS ASSUMED A, UM, NATURAL FIELD CONDITION, UM, THAT INTEGRATES, UH, DRAINAGE APPROPRIATE FOR LUCCHESE, KNOWING THE INFILTRATION RATES, KNOWING THE, UM, NEED FOR RECOVERY RATES, UH, TO BE FASTER, BUT NOT LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO IRRIGATE THE FIELD. UM, SO IT'S A FINE BALANCE IN DOING ALL OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL AS SELECTING, UM, TURF THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO COMPOST AND NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, UM, IMPACT ON MAINTENANCE. UM, AND THERE ARE, UH, NEW AND, UH, UH, IMPROVING METHODS ON DOING THIS, UM, MORE HOLISTICALLY. UM, SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT. ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS THE SYNTHETIC TURF GRAPHIC. UM, WHAT'S NOT SHOWN AT THE VERY BOTTOM, UH, WOULD BE A SIMILAR DRAINAGE STRUCTURE, UM, PERFORATED PIPES AROUND THE PERIMETER, UM, THAT HAS THE LARGER ROCK AND THEN A FINER ROCK LAYER, UM, DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE PAD THAT GIVES IT A NICE UNIFORM SURFACE, UH, THE PAD. NOW THIS DOES NOT, UH, GO INTO EVERY SINGLE FIELD, UM, BUT WHAT IT DOES HERE IS IT PROVIDES, UH, A SURFACE DRAINAGE LAYER THAT ALLOWS A LOT MORE, UH, DRAINAGE, UH, DURING HEAVY EVENTS. IT DOESN'T IMPACT THAT SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AS MUCH. SO THE IDEA IS THAT IT CAN GIVE OUR FIELD MORE, UH, LONGEVITY, UM, AS WELL AS IT PROVIDES THAT CUSHION, UH, THAT HELPS REDUCE INJURY RATES. UM, AND IT GIVES THE FIELD A NICE PLAYABILITY, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO USE AN INFILL, UM, THAT GOES INTO THOSE TURF FIBERS SUCH AS OLIVE. UH, IT OLIVE DOESN'T HAVE THAT SAME CUSHION AS SAY, CORK, BUT, UH, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE WATERING, UM, AND IT DOESN'T FLOAT. SO THE IDEA IS THAT A PRODUCT LIKE OLIVE COULD STAY PUT. WE GET THE CUSHIONING WITH THE PAD, ALSO PROVIDES THE DRAINAGE. UH, SO AS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM, WE WANTED TO PRESENT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE KIND OF THE BEST IN EITHER SCENARIO, WITHIN REASON. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN END GOAL IN MIND, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, MAXIMIZING THE, THE ADVANTAGE OF THE SEASON. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, NATURAL, WHILE IT WOULD TAKE US A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO PROVIDE THAT DESIGN, UH, WE WOULD USE THAT TIME TO STRATEGIZE ON THE FIELD CLOSURE, UH, DURING THE WET SEASON TO GET, UH, BETTER, UH, GROWTH OF THAT TURF. UM, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE A SEED INSTEAD OF SOD, GET SOME COST SAVINGS. UM, WHILE THESE ARE GENERAL TIMELINES, UM, WE, WE WANT TO BE, UH, AGGRESSIVE ON WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE. UH, WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT, BUT WE DO WANT TO GO THROUGH THINGS IN THE CORRECT MANNER. METHODICALLY. UM, WITH THE SYNTHETIC, THE GOAL WOULD BE TO OPEN UP THE FIELD IN PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE WINTER SEASON TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE BURDEN ON THOSE OTHER EXISTING NATURAL GRASS FIELDS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, LOOKING AT COST, UM, WE CAME UP WITH, UH, CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES. UM, AMONG THE TWO OPTIONS, THESE ARE FOCUSED AT [01:35:01] LUCCHESE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO GET STARTED WITH A NATURAL TURF, UM, WHICH THAT PRESENTS AS A ELEVATED COST, UM, COMPARED TO IF YOU WERE GOING TO CONSTRUCT THIS IN AN EXISTING OPEN FIELD. UM, AND THEN WITH THE, UH, SYNTHETIC TURF, UH, THAT COST, UH, ASSUMES THE, UH, SHOCK PAD. IT ASSUMES THE DRAINAGE THAT WE DISCUSSED. UM, BUT BOTH OF THESE PRICES ARE INTENDED TO INCLUDE PERIMETER IMPROVEMENTS, UH, FOR ACCESSIBILITY, UM, LIKE A DRINKING FOUNTAIN, UM, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE, THAT IS A HUGE DRIVER OF WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING. UM, THAT 123, UH, FOR NATURAL, UH, WE, WE'VE BROKEN THAT DOWN, UM, AND USED SOME LOCAL ESTIMATES, UM, TRYING TO HAVE A CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MIGHT ACTUALLY COST US. NOW, THESE COSTS MAY VARY. THIS IS JUST AN OPINION, THIS IS AN ESTIMATE. UM, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST INFORMATION IN ORDER TO MAKE A DECISION. UM, WHEN WE ESCALATE THOSE COSTS OUT FOR 20 YEARS, UM, YOU CAN SEE THOSE, THOSE VALUES, UM, ADD UP QUITE QUICKLY. SO OVER 20 YEARS, WE MIGHT BE SPENDING 4 MILLION ON A NATURAL TURF FIELD AND COMPARING THAT TO A 2.6 MILLION ON A SYNTHETIC FIELD. AND THAT DOES INCLUDE LARGE COSTS FOR RENOVATION ON FIVE 10 YEAR CYCLES FOR NATURAL, AS WELL AS, UH, TURF FIBER REPLACEMENT AT A 10 YEAR CYCLE ON SYNTHETIC TURF, AS WELL AS A, UH, REGULAR TURNOVER OF BOTH THE TURF FIBER AND THE SHOCK PAD AT THAT 20 YEAR MARK. SO WHEN WE, UM, ADDED THOSE UP, UH, FOR JUST YEAR ONE, UH, THAT COST WAS A LOT HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE. THAT WAS IN THE ATTACHMENT THAT WAS, UM, UH, WITH THE STAFF REPORT. BUT IF WE AMORTIZE THAT OVER THE TOTAL 20 YEAR, UH, LIFE COST, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE 126 VERSUS $50 COST PER HOUR OF PLAY NOW, COST PER HOUR OF PLAY. UM, WE FACTORED IN, UH, CLOSURE DAYS FOR A NATURAL, UH, GRASS FIELD WHEN THE FIELD WOULD NEED TO RECHARGE. IT MIGHT BE TOO MUDDY, MIGHT HAVE TOO MUCH RAIN. UM, YOU ALSO MIGHT CLOSE THE FIELD AFTER A LARGE EVENT TO GIVE, GIVE IT TIME TO REBOUND. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU MIGHT HAVE REDUCED HOURS EACH DAY THAT YOU ARE USING THE FIELD. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THANK YOU, JOSH. YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS, UM, IRRESPECTIVE OF A DECISION TONIGHT, UM, JUST WANT TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENT INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES AS WE MOVE TO, UM, MORE OF A SYSTEMS BASED APPROACH TO MANAGING OUR NATURAL GRASS FIELDS. SO IN 2023, THE CITY'S PARTNERED WITH OSBORNE ORGANICS, WHO'S A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN THAT SYSTEMS BASED APPROACH. AND THEY'VE BEEN OUT, UH, NOW TWICE TO MET WITH STAFF. UH, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED BASED ON, THEY REPRESENT DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES. SOME ARE ON, UM, THE WEST SIDE AND POTABLE WATER LIKE MCNAIR. SOME ARE IN OUR MIDDLE OF OUR CITY, UH, ALSO ON POTABLE WATER, BUT MORE CLAY LIKE MCDOWELL. AND THEN, UM, PRINCE PARK, OUR PREDOMINANT NATURAL GRASS FIELD ON RECLAIMED WATER. SO THE IDEA, AGAIN, IS TO REALLY START IMPLEMENTING, STARTING TO GATHER DATA AND SEEING HOW THESE FIELDS HOLD UP TO A STRICT ORGANIC APPROACH TO MAINTAINING THEM. WE WOULD DO REGULAR SOIL TESTINGS. WE STARTED THE VARIATION PROCESS IN NOVEMBER, AND WE'LL BE DOING THESE FOR THREE YEARS. SO THE IDEA IS RESPECTIVE OF THAT. WE'LL BE COMING BACK, UH, AS THESE FIELDS KIND OF TRANSITION, UH, EACH YEAR. THE IDEA IS TO REALLY, UH, UH, FOCUS SOLELY ON THE SOIL HEALTH AND WHATEVER THE DECISIONS TONIGHT, WHEN THE NEXT DECISION COMES, WILL BE MORE INFORMED THAN WE ARE NOW ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THESE PRACTICES MEAN FOR THE COSTS OF TRUE MAINTENANCE AND WHERE WE CAN MAINTAIN THOSE LEVELS OF PLAYABILITY ACROSS THE CITY'S FIELDS. [01:40:01] NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. AND AT THIS POINT WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. GREAT. THANKS FOR THE SUCCINCT PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I'LL BRING IT UP HERE TO COUNCIL TO SEE IF ANYONE WANTS TO WEIGH IN WITH ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION AS WE'VE HEARD IT. UM, I, I DID HAVE, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS WHILE EVERYBODY'S THINKING ABOUT PULLING THEIR QUESTIONS TOGETHER, THIS, UH, PILOT PROGRAM FOR ORGANIC, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT. THAT'S A REAL POSITIVE STEP. UM, IS, DOES IT ADDRESS GOPHERS IN THE PILOT ? UM, NOT SPECIFICALLY, NO. UM, WE ARE STILL ACTIVELY PURSUING GO ABATEMENT, TRYING DIFFERENT TESTING METHODS, ADHERING TO OUR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT. SO THAT INCLUDES RAPTOR, PERCHES AND OWL BOXES. UM, BUT WE'RE STILL TRAPPING GOPHERS, UM, THE BEST WE CAN AND PROMOTING WILDLIFE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST. YEAH. MEANING THEY'RE STILL THERE, . YEAH. YEAH. UM, AND IN THE PILOT PROGRAM, IS THERE THOUGHT THAT THAT COULD GET US TO A USE OF FIELD THAT'S NOT THE INTENT, OR? I THINK THE GOAL, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, PLAYING ON SATURATED SOILS, DAMAGES, TURF AND, UM, OPERATING EQUIPMENT AND MOWING ON SATURATED TURF ALSO CREATES RUTS AND ISSUES. SO IT'S NOT A GOAL TO HAVE A YEAR-ROUND NATURAL GRASS FIELD, UM, THAT DOESN'T SEEM REALISTIC FOR, FOR OUR CITY OR OUR COMMUNITY. UM, BUT RATHER WE'RE LOOKING AT, AGAIN, BOLSTERING THAT SOIL HEALTH TO HAVE MORE RESILIENT TURF. SO COULD BRING DOWN OUR OVERALL WATER USE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND IRRIGATION, UM, AND OFFER GREATER PLAYABILITY. THOSE ARE THE GOALS. THANKS THERE. THERE'S NO IRRIGATION CURRENTLY ON THE LUCCHESE FIELD, RIGHT? NO BIKES? THAT'S CORRECT. BUT WE DID INSTALL IT EAST WASHINGTON. DID WE USE IT AT EAST WASHINGTON AND NOT USE IT? DO WE KNOW THAT THE WEAR AND TEAR IS DIFFERENT, WHETHER WITH A WASH DOWN OR NOT? I MEAN, I, I THINK MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND WASH DOWNS OCCASIONALLY, OR IS THAT NOT EVEN PART OF THEIR RECOMMENDATION? EAST WASHINGTON DOES HAVE, UH, RECLAIMED WATER HOOKUPS FOR THERE. WE DO NOT IRRIGATE THAT FIELDS AS WELL. YEAH, THERE'S NO RINS OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS. AND ARE THEY PART OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICE OR IS THAT CUSTOMER'S PRIVILEGE OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT? I COULD KICK THIS OVER TO THE DESIGN TEAM TO CONFIRM, BUT IT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING. IT'S A RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR OUR FIELDS. UM, BUT WHEN WE GET TO, UH, GET THE DESIGN, UM, REPRESENT UP HERE, WE CAN TALK, TALK MORE WITH HIM ABOUT IT. AND THEN, UM, YOU LISTED, UH, BENEFITS OF, OF GRASS FIELDS AS ALLOWING PETS. I HAD TO PUT THAT IN THE LIABILITY COLUMN TOO. UM, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT, UM, AND, AND ESPECIALLY, UM, ON AN ARTIFICIAL TURF. I MEAN, UH, I FORGET WHETHER EAST WASHINGTON HAS THE, WHETHER THE GATES ARE ALWAYS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, 42 INCH HIGH FENCING AND GATES, WHETHER THEY'RE CLOSED ALL THE TIME OR, UM, BUT THERE ISN'T A GATE AT LUCCHESE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, PET USE OF FIELDS IS ALWAYS GONNA BE A CONFLICT. UM, SO I, I JUST THINK IT GOES IN THE LIABILITY COLUMN RATHER THAN THE BENEFIT COLUMN. AND, UM, ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN CARLY? UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION, MORE OF A STATEMENT, BUT I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S KIND OF FUNNY HOW WE'RE GONNA DO A STUDY ON ESSENTIALLY WATCHING THE GRASS GROW. UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA ROLL THE DICE ON, ON, YOU KNOW, PLASTIC FIELDS THAT BRING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THEM. COUNCIL MEMBER QUINN, WERE THE, UM, IN THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS, UH, DID WE CONSIDER INFLATION IN THAT? I'M JUST KIND OF THINKING, YOU KNOW, YEARS 10 THROUGH 20, UH, IS IT REALLY A HUNDRED? YOU KNOW, IS IT REALLY 125 AND 10, OR IS IT SOMETHING GREATER THAN THAT ON BOTH SIDES? AND WHICH, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHEN I SAW THE, SAW THOSE NUMBERS. SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS. I CAN ANSWER THAT. UM, WE DID INCLUDE INFLATION, UM, JUST AT A 2% LEVEL, UM, YEAR OVER YEAR, WHAT YOU SAW THOSE NUMBERS WERE IN YEAR ONE, BUT WHEN WE TOTALIZED THEM FOR THE 20 YEAR CYCLE, IT INCLUDED THAT ESCALATION FACTOR. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL, UH, VICE MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU STAFF FOR EVEN MORE INFORMATION. UM, I HEARD THE FIRST TIME AT PARKS, UM, COMMISSION MEETING, UM, BUT NOW I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. UM, NOTHING WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT [01:45:01] HOW WE DISINFECT THE PLASTIC GRASS BETWEEN USE. IF IT'S USED FOR ONE GAME, DOES SOMEONE GO IN AND DISINFECT IT FOR BODY FLUIDS, BODY WHATEVERS. AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN IT'S SO HOT, DO WE KNOW WHAT, UM, IS THE HEAT WHEN YOU HEAT PLASTIC THINGS ARE ADMITTED INTO THE AIR? AND DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND IS IT HARMFUL TO THE ATHLETES? I'LL TAKE THE FIRST ONE AND THEN I'M GONNA, UM, HAVE OUR DESIGN CONSULTANT, UM, INTRODUCE DEVIN AS HE COMES UP HERE, IF HE'S IN THE AUDIENCE TO COME UP AND HELP ME WITH THE SECOND ONE. UH, SO THE FIRST QUESTION HAD TO DO WITH SANITIZATION. WE DO NOT HAVE SANITIZING AS A MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY THAT'S PRESCRIBED IN OUR ROUTINE OPERATIONS OF TURF FIELDS. WE HAVE, UM, GROOMING ACTIVITY THAT'S PERFORMED BY OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ANNUAL OR BIANNUAL KIND OF ENHANCED MAINTENANCE WHERE, WHERE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT WILL COME OUT AND ACTUALLY REMOVE ALL THE INFIELD, REDISTRIBUTE IT BACK ONTO THE FIELDS. UM, BUT ANY KIND OF SANITATION WOULD HAVE TO, UM, ANY CHEMICALS WOULD HAVE TO BE ADHERED TO OUR CITY'S INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT, UH, PLAN. BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT, WE, WE WOULD NOT, UM, WE WERE NOT SPRAYING ANY, UM, SANITIZATION ON, ON TOP OF THE FIELDS. WELL, I KNOW THE SCHOOLS DURING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE NOT USING CHEMICALS, BUT WE WERE SANITIZING THE, UM, RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT BETWEEN CLASSROOMS. MM-HMM . . SO ONE CLASSROOM WOULD USE THE EQUIPMENT AND THEN WE WOULD SANITIZE IT AND IT DID NOT HAVE CHEMICALS. AND THEN A NEXT CLASSROOM SAID THAT THERE WAS NO CONTAMINATION FROM USE FROM ONE GROUP TO ANOTHER. SO I JUST WAS THINKING HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, IS BODY FLUIDS ARE GONNA COME OUT DURING A GAME AND, UM, SOME OF THE CHILDREN HAVE GOTTEN INJURED, UM, THAT IT'S A, LIKE A ROAD RASH ON THE PLASTIC GRASS AND THEY'RE GONNA BLEED, AND THAT'S GONNA BE IN THE FIBERS OF THAT PLASTIC GRASS. SO I JUST THOUGHT SURE. I KNOW WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL, ESPECIALLY OF, UM, BLOOD AND OTHER BODILY FLUIDS. SO, YEAH. THANK YOU. AND THAT, THIS GREAT QUESTIONS, AND I'LL INTRODUCE DEVIN CONWAY, THE PRINCIPAL AT VERDE DESIGN. AND DEVIN, THE QUESTION IS ON, UM, I THINK WHEN THE, UH, SYNTHETIC FIBERS HEAT KIND OF THE, TALK US THROUGH ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GASSING OR EFFECTS OF THAT GOOD EVENING. THE, IN TERMS OF OFFGASSING AND LIKE THE VOCS, UH, I'M NOT A SCIENTIST, BUT I RELY ON OTHERS WHO ARE SCIENTISTS. THE, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST PREVALENT, UH, RESEARCH STUDIES THAT WAS DONE IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS BY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT TALKED ABOUT OFFGASSING OF VOCS, AND THEY HAD A VERY CONS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY, AND I THINK IT WAS A 2006, 2007 RANGE ON OFFGASSING OF VOCS AND SHOWED NE THEY STUDIED BOTH TURF FIELDS AS WELL AS NATURAL GRASS FIELDS IN A COUPLE COMMUNITIES IN CONNECTICUT. AND THEY SHOWED NEGLIGIBLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE OFFGASSING DURING SUMMER MONTHS OF SYNTHETIC TURF VERSUS NATURAL GRASS. UH, SO THAT'D BE ONE OF THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES IN TERMS OF CLEANING, I'LL, I'LL JUST ADD TO KINDA WHAT DREW IS TALKING ABOUT. THE, THERE'S NO REQUIRED CLEANING FOR, FROM A WARRANTY STANDPOINT FOR THE TURF COMPANIES, BUT I THINK IT IS A BEST PRACTICE, UH, ON THE QUICK COUPLERS, HAVING A WATER SOURCE. I THINK IT IS GOOD TO HAVE WATER SOURCES. IT'S A PORTABLE WATER SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO WASH DOWN THE FIELDS. UH, IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO THE OWNER IF THEY WANNA DO A REGULAR SANITIZATION PROCESS. OBVIOUSLY, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NON-TOXIC BIODEGRADABLE THAT IS BENEFICIAL. AND USE ROTARY BRUSHES. I'LL SAY MOST OF MY CLIENTS, SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, CITIES, THEY DON'T USE THAT AS A PRESCRIPTION JUST BECAUSE THERE'S VERY LIMITED DATA ON IT BEING EFFECTIVE OR ACTUALLY PREVENTING ELEMENTS. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT, YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT, UH, KINDA THE ROAD RASHES AND SKIN ABRASIONS, YOU HEAR ABOUT STAPH INFECTIONS AND MRSA, THE, THERE'S BEEN STUDIES, ONE OF THE MAIN TURF GRASS UNIVERSITY RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES IS PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THEY'VE DONE, THEY HAVE A TURFGRASS INSTITUTE BASICALLY ON CAMPUS. ANDREW MCNITT IS THEIR HEAD LEAD PROFESSOR. HE'S A DOCTORATE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'VE STUDIED IS, YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY GONNA GET ROAD [01:50:01] RASHES PROBABLY FROM TURF BECAUSE IT IS PLASTIC AND IT IS ABRASIVE. UH, IT'S MORE ABRASIVE THAN GRASS 'CAUSE OF THE FRICTION. BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT MRSA ISN'T, DOESN'T PROPAGATE IN TURF. IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A, I'M GONNA USE THE CULTURE DOESN'T REALLY, IT'S NOT A GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT TO STAY ALIVE. BUT WHAT YOU KNOW CAN HAPPEN IS IF YOU GO INTO LOCKER ROOMS WHERE IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT OF CULTURE, THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN GET STAFF TO KINDA PROPAGATE. BUT, YOU KNOW, ON A CITY F FIELD OR YOU'RE GOING BACK AND YOU'RE PROBABLY CLEANING UP AND YOU'RE WASHING, THAT'S YOUR BEST PRACTICE IS REALLY THE SANITIZATION OF THOSE AREAS. AND THOSE ABRASIONS PROBABLY MORE INFORMATION YOU WANTED, KAREN, BUT WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE FEARS I HAD OF USING PLASTIC GRASS. YEAH. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT GERMS AND JUST COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC AND, UM, BODILY FLUIDS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. AND, UM, HOW HOT DOES THE PLASTIC GRASS GET TO, UH, TO DO THIS OFFGASSING? YEP. BECAUSE THAT SOUNDS REALLY SCARY. UH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN THEY TESTED THIS, THERE WAS NEGLIGIBLE CHANGE IN OFFGASSING IN A NATURAL GRASS FIELD AND SYNTHETIC OUR FIELD. SO I BET IT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO TEMPERATURE, A A PLASTIC FIELD'S GOING TO GET WARMER THAN A NATURAL GRASS FIELD, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COMBAT THAT WITH IS DON'T USE CRUMB RUBBER, WHICH IS WHAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE USING ORGANIC OR A NATURAL INFILL A TEST, A THERMALLY TESTS A LOT CLOSER TO GRASS THAN A CRUMB RUBBER FIELD OR A FIELD WITH, UH, ALTERNATIVE SYNTHETIC INFILLS. SO AS, UH, DREW AND JOSH ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CORKS, THE OLIVE PITS RICE HUSKS, THERE'S CELLULOSE PRODUCTS THAT ARE WOOD-BASED. THERE ARE GRANULAR MATERIALS THAT ARE INFILLS, UH, ONE OF WHICH ONE IN SONOMA COUNTY AND SEBASTOPOL. UH, SO I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S A NUMBER OF OPTIONS THAT ARE MUCH COOLER THAN WHAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED CURRENTLY AT LUCCHESE. RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT OLD, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, UNDERSIDE MM-HMM . BUT THE GREEN BLADES THEMSELVES ARE PLASTIC MM-HMM . AND IF YOU PUT PLASTIC IN A HEAT SOURCE, IT DOES THE OFFGASSING. SO I AM FEARFUL THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPOSING THE ATHLETES BECAUSE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE, ARE CLOSE TO THE GROUND, THEY'RE FALLING, THEY'RE CLOSE TO THE GROUND, THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER MONTHS IS GONNA MAKE THESE OFFGASSING OF THE PLASTIC BLADES. SO I AM JUST TRYING TO GET A MEASURE ON THAT. AND, UH, THE TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE. I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN ANALYTICAL STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY PUBLIC AGENCIES, AND THAT HAS LARGELY BEEN DISPROVEN, THAT IT'S A, IT'S NEGLIGIBLE. THE DIFFERENCE THAT THE FIELD SURFACE ITSELF IS HOTTER WHEN IT'S 90 DEGREES OUT. UH, NATURAL GRASS FIELD'S GONNA BE COOLER THAN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF A SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD. YOU'RE, THAT'S, THAT'S A TRUISM. BUT THE, THE OFFGASSING OF THAT AND DOING VOC TESTING, YOU COULD TEST IT AT ONE FOOT, THREE FOOT, FIVE FEET. THEY HAVE TESTED ON THAT. THAT BASICALLY SHOWS NEGLIGIBLE DIFFERENCE. I MEAN, THAT'S FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES AND USING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS FOR THAT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHRI. OKAY. A LITTLE, LITTLE LONGER LIST AS USUAL FOR ME. UM, SO THIS GOING BACK TO THE, UH, COOLING EFFECT, AND I THINK THERE WAS A, A $700 COST JUST FOR THE IRRIGATION, UH, SYSTEM OUT THERE, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, COOLING PURPOSE, NOT JUST THE, UH, UH, DISINFECTION PROCESS, BUT FOR COOLING THAT IT IS, PROFESSIONAL FIELDS USE IRRIGATION QUITE A BIT TO KEEP THINGS COOL. UM, BUT YET OUR FIELDS, UH, LOOK LIKE THAT'S NOT GONNA BE USED ALL THAT MUCH. CAN WE, UM, BUMP UP THE IRRIGATION, UH, FOR COOLING EFFECT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, THE SUMMER? IS, IS THAT ALREADY PLANNED IN, OR, OR HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE EXPECTING TO IRRIGATE FOR THAT? OR ARE WE JUST DOING IT REGULARLY? SO PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THE IRRIGATION PROCESS AND TIMING AND HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PURPOSE BEHIND IT FOR, UM, WHETHER JUST FOR CLEANING OR FOR COOLING. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, [01:55:01] UH, AT LUCCHESE PARK, WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE IRRIGATION ON THE SYNTHETIC FIELD. IS THAT THE QUESTION? RIGHT. WE, WE DON'T HAVE IRRIGATION NOW MM-HMM . BUT THERE IS IRRIGATION IN THE, IN THE NEW FIELD THAT, THAT I THAT'S BEEN LISTED. IS THERE A PLAN FOR IRRIGATION OUT THERE AT THE PETALUMA COMMUNITY SPORTS FIELDS? NO. AT THE CURRENT LUCCHESE FIELD, IS THAT PART OF THE ENGINEERING THAT'S BEING PLANNED? OH, I SEE. SO THE NEW DESIGN, OKAY, THANK YOU. SORRY FOR THAT. AND, AND, AND MAYBE YOU'D BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT BY, IS THERE IRRIGATION AT THE, UM, WHERE, AT THE FIELDS BY THE AIRPORT? SO IN, IN THE SYNTHETIC, THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT, THE, THE TWO 50 AND THE SEVEN 50 FOR, UH, KIND OF AN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COST, UH, THAT WAS MORE GEARED TOWARDS THE, UH, ABILITY TO DO WASH DOWNS. UM, AND SO AS WE LOOK AT CONVERSION OF LUCCHESE PARK TO RECYCLED WATER, YOU HEARD THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN A POTABLE SOURCE TO DO THOSE WASH DOWNS SO THAT WE'RE NOT INTRODUCING ANY OTHER, UM, POTENTIAL, UM, MICROBES INTO THAT SURFACE. UM, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? UH, NO, IT DOES NOT. OKAY. UM, SO, UH, JUST GOING BACK FOR, UM, THE PROFESSIONAL FIELDS DO A LOT MORE IRRIGATION FOR COOLING EFFECT TO KEEP THE HEAT DOWN, ESPECIALLY ON THOSE WARM DAYS IN THE SUMMERTIME, ARE WE PLANNING ON PUTTING IRRIGATION IN AND A PROGRAM IN FOR COOLING EFFECT AT LUCCHESE? UM, NOT WITH THE OLIVE PIT SELECTION. ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS SUCH AS CORK OR COCONUT FIBER, OR EVEN THE WOOD PULP FIBERS, UM, DO ABSORB THAT WATER AND DO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY COOLING EFFECT. UM, BUT THAT DOES NOT LAST THROUGHOUT LIKE A WHOLE GAME. UH, AND SO IT'S THE, THE TRADE OFF FOR, UH, AN INCREASE IN THE HEAT ABSORPTION FROM THE UV, UH, REALLY IS, UH, NEGATED BY SWITCHING TO THOSE FIBERS. SO THE, THE CORK, THE, THE, UH, COCONUT, THOSE WILL HAVE, UH, FASTER HEAT GAIN AS THE SUN COMES OUT. DOES THAT HELP? UM, A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, AS WATER IS ABSORBED DOWN BY THE INFILL, UH, THAT'S BELOW, UM, THERE IS ALSO GONNA BE SOME SORT OF EVAPORATION COMING OFF, WHICH IS A COOLING EFFECT. SO, UM, IT MAY NOT LAST A WHOLE GAME, BUT AT LEAST A HALF A GAME AND THEN ANY COOLING EFFECT LONG TERM THROUGHOUT THE DAY. BUT I SAID THE PROFESSIONAL FIELDS DO THIS, AND I WAS WONDERING WHY WE THAT'S NOT BEING INCORPORATED. AND AS YOU EXPLAINED IT, THAT, THAT YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT'S REALLY NECESSARY. IT DOESN'T DO MUCH. OKAY. UM, OKAY. NOW, NEXT IS THE, UM, FOR DRAINAGE, UH, WHICH IS NEEDED ON BOTH GRASS AND, UH, ON, ON, UH, NATURAL TURF. UM, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, BOTH THE PLASTIC BITS AND PIECES WEAR AND TEAR, UH, IS SHOWING UP IN, UH, WATERWAYS. THAT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED. I'VE SEEN THAT IN SOME RESEARCH, UM, COMING OUT OF EUROPE, THAT WE HAVE BITS AND PIECES THAT ARE, ARE FLOATING OFF, UH, PLASTIC FLOATS. SO IT'S COMING OFF. WE ALSO HAVE, UH, POSSIBLE LITTLE BITS, UH, COMING THROUGH THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND ANY CHEMICALS THAT MIGHT BE COMING OFF, ANYTHING IN THE FIELD, WHETHER IT BE OLIVE PITS TO CORK OR, OR THE GRASS OR THE PLASTIC, UM, ARE WE PLANNING ON, UH, DOING SOME SORT OF LEACHATE COLLECTION OF THAT DRAINAGE TESTING OF IT, AND MAYBE EVEN PUTTING IT BACK INTO OUR WASTE STREAM, UH, SYSTEM FOR, UH, ELLIS CREEK FOR, UM, DECON OR TO BE, UM, TO LOOK AT AS, UH, WASTEWATERS OR, OR, OR WE'RE JUST GONNA LET THAT GO STRAIGHT INTO THE STREAMS. UM, IT'S CURRENTLY DESIGNED TO GO INTO IRRIGATION, UM, BUT NOT INTO A WASTE STREAM OR INTO THE ENVIRONMENT DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR OPEN CHANNEL STREAMS IN THE RIVER. OKAY. SO, SO WE'RE NOT PUTTING IN LIKE A BILE SWELL COLLECTION SITE AND THEN, UM, PUMPING THAT TO, UH, OUR WASTE STREAM RATHER THAN LETTING IT JUST KIND OF FLOAT OFF. THE PARK CURRENTLY HAS A DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT GOES TO THE POND, WHICH IS LINED, AND THAT WATER IS USED FOR IRRIGATION. OKAY. SO IT'S JUST CONTINUING A FEEDBACK LOOP BACK INTO THE PARK. THEN FROM THERE, WE ARE NOT TRANSPORTING IT INTO ELLIS CREEK WATER RECYCLING FACILITY. CORRECT. COULD WE DO THAT PHYSICALLY? IT'S POSSIBLE, YEAH. OKAY. SO WE COULD PUT IN A BIO SWELL, COLLECT WHAT'S COMING OFF THE FIELD SO THAT WE WE'RE [02:00:01] INSURED, TEST IT AT THAT SITE, AND THEN, UH, PUT IT BACK INTO A A, A WA A WASTE STREAM THAT, THAT ACTUALLY, UH, POSSIBLY REMOVES WHATEVER CONTAMINANTS COME OFF. UM, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COLLECTION AND, UH, TRANSMISSION TO OUR FACILITY FOR, UM, TREATMENT, UH, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER OUR RECYCLED WATER PROGRAM. WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE IMPACTS TO, UH, RECEIVING THAT EXTRA RUNOFF. UM, SO THAT CAN CAUSE AN IMBALANCE. BUT, UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON, YOU KNOW, THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENCY THAT COULD GO TO ELLIS CREEK, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO CHELSEA THOMPSON. ALL RIGHT. COULD WE SET UP A PROGRAM TO AT LEAST TEST WHAT COMES OFF INTO A BIO SWELL AT, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? UM, COULD WE SET UP A BIO SWELL CONTAINMENT, UH, LIKE WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW FOR A LOT OF THE, UH, HOUSING, WE'RE HAVING THE, UH, BIO SWELLS PUT IN, COLLECTING THAT WATER AND THEN RE-RELEASING IT LATER. BUT IN THIS CASE, WE'RE ALSO CHECKING FOR ANY POSSIBLE CONTAMINANTS. 'CAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS. CAN WE TEST THE, THE DRAINAGE WATER ON A REGULAR BASIS SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE THAT OH YEAH. WE DON'T HAVE CHEMICALS COMING OFF OUR FIELD . 'CAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME GUARANTEES THAT THERE'S NO CHEMICALS COMING OFF THIS FIELD. SURE. NO, I UNDERSTAND. APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. UM, WE COULD BRING IN CHELSEA IF SHE'S HERE, HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SPEAK TO KIND OF TESTING METHODOLOGY, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK INTO, UM, WAYS TO CAPTURE, UM, AND ISOLATE FOR SOME TESTING SIMILAR TO HOW ELLIS CREEK CURRENTLY TESTS THEIR WATER QUALITY. RIGHT. AND I'D LIKE IT COMPARED, UM, IF WE'RE DOING THAT, UH, FOR WATER THAT COMES OFF ROOFTOPS. 'CAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF ASPHALT ROOFTOPS, WHICH PROVIDE LOTS OF CONTAMINATION. SO I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A COMPARISON OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE OF ROOFTOP WATER COMING OFF VERSUS WHAT'S THE WATER COMING OFF HERE AND HOW WE ACTUALLY MIGHT DEAL WITH THAT. UM, WHAT CAN WE DO? OKAY. LET'S JUST MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION THEN. UM, UM, IN THE, UH, REPLACEMENTS, YOU WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REPLACEMENT EVERY 10 YEARS OF THE ACTUAL ARTIFICIAL GRASS, UH, SURFACE ON THE VERY TOP. AND THAT'S INTERTWINED WITH A LOT OF THE, UH, OTHER ORGANIC MATERIALS, WHETHER IT BE OLIVE PITS OR CORK, WHATEVER. SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REPLACEMENT, IT'S NOT JUST THE PLASTIC GRASS THAT, THAT WE'RE REPLACING, BUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE INFILL ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, OR NOT? IT WAS ESTIMATED THE, THE COST ESTIMATE DOES INCLUDE REPLACEMENT, BUT IDEALLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REUSE THAT INFILL, UM, IF IT'S OF GOOD QUALITY SO THAT WE WANT TO CHECK IT AT THAT 10 YEAR, UH, UH, PERIOD TO SEE IF WE CAN REUSE IT OR IF WE NEED TO AMEND IT, THINGS LIKE THAT. OKAY. UM, NEXT QUESTIONS MAY BE FOR, FOR HAVE A LIST IS FOR MAYBE LEGAL TO TALK ABOUT. AND, UM, SO IF, UM, THE CONCERN IS, OKAY, REPLACEMENT IS ONE THING, BUT NEW, NEW, NEW ARTIFICIAL TURF, IT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED. AND LOOKING AT A PLASTIC ORDINANCES THAT WE MAY APPLY HERE, WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE IF WE DECIDE TO, UM, MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF NO NEW, LIKE I'M THINKING NOW, MITIGATION THINGS, IF WE GO WITH, UH, THIS PLASTIC FIELD, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MITIGATE, SINCE WE'RE PUTTING PLASTIC DOWN ON THE GROUND, WHAT ABOUT MITIGATION? WHAT CAN WE DO TO KIND OF COMPENSATE? CAN WE BAN ALL ARTIFICIAL TURF, ALL, ALL NEW SURFACES IN TOWN? CAN WE MAKE THAT A GOAL? AND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? SO, LET'S SEE. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO CITY FACILITIES, UM, WE DON'T HAVE TO REGULATE. WE COULD JUST CONTROL WHAT OUR POLICIES AND CHOICES ARE IN TERMS OF, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LIKE, LIKE WE'RE DOING TONIGHT, WHICH IS REALLY DIRECTION FOR STAFF REGARDING DESIGN AND MATERIAL ALTERNATIVES BEFORE THEY SPEC OUT A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT, WHICH THEY'LL THEN SOLICIT BIDS ON AND COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR AWARD, INCLUDE WITH A FULL PACKAGE THAT CAPITAL PROJECTS HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OR DISCUSSION OF WHY IT'S EXEMPTED, ET CETERA. SO WE DON'T, I I DON'T THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A REGULATORY APPROACH CONCERNING CHOICES LIKE THAT ABOUT CITY FACILITIES. THERE'S REALLY NOT. UM, IN TERMS OF, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT IS STILL PROBABLY THE STRONGEST ENVIRONMENT, VULNERABLE PROTECTION STATUTE IN THE COUNTRY, [02:05:01] PROBABLY ONE OF THEM IN THE WORLD. UM, AND IT DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO GOVERNMENT FACILITIES, IT APPLIES TO DISCRETIONARY PROJECTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO, UM, GOVERNMENT APPROVAL, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND PRIVATE PROJECTS. SO TO THE EXTENT, UM, THERE'S FACTUAL, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CALL SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE ABOUT HAZARDS AND, UM, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, THEN WE ADDRESS 'EM THAT WAY. THAT, UM, I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF EMERGING, UM, THESE, THERE ARE EMERGING ISSUES I'LL SAY REGARDING, UM, WHAT HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, PFAS AND RELATED CONSTITUENTS IN ARTIFICIAL TURF. UM, UM, WE, AS THE STAFF REPORT FOR TONIGHT'S, UM, ITEM DISCUSSES THE, UM, THE MANUFACTURERS ASSERT OF THE PRODUCTS THAT THE CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT. THEY ASSERT THAT AS OF, AS OF NOW, THEIR PRODUCTS DO NOT HAVE PFAS CONSTITUENTS IN THEM. UM, CHELSEA IS OVER HERE TUCKED AWAY IN THE CORNER. SO I THINK SHE CAN HELP US WITH SOME OF THESE, UM, TOPICS. BUT, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND, BUT CHELSEA WILL KNOW BETTER THAT EVEN THE TESTING FOR PFAS AND AND HOW THAT IS BEST DONE IS STILL EMERGING. I KNOW CHELSEA'S GOT INFORMATION ON TESTING WE'VE DONE, UM, WITH RESPECT TO OUR SYSTEMS. UM, THAT'S, I THINK THE RESULTS OF WHICH IS ENCOURAGING FOR US. UM, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, JUST AS KIND OF A LOGICAL AND A POLICY AND, YOU KNOW, DECISION MAKING MATTER, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO START WITH ARE THERE THREATS? WHAT ARE THEY, WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TO THOSE TO ADDRESS THEM? UM, I THINK THERE'S PRETTY GOOD DISCUSSION OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS IN THE STAFF REPORT FOR TONIGHT THAT WOULD SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT, UM, BASED ON THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE NOW, UM, THE CURRENT MATERIALS, UM, SEEM TO NOT PRESENT THE PROBLEMS THAT THAT ONES TRADITIONALLY HAVE. UM, IN TERMS OF LIABILITY OF THE CITY, YOU KNOW, THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, THE PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT WE MAINTAIN ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC AS ITS STEWARDS IS SAFE. AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND YOU KNOW, IF WE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR INTRODUCING CONTAMINANTS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT OR IF WE'RE CREATING FACILITIES THAT ARE UNSAFE FOR THOSE THAT ARE USING THEM. AND SO WE HAVE THAT DUTY, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO OUR, OUR NATURAL TURF AND IN TERMS OF HOW WE MAINTAIN THAT, UM, AND AS, AS WE DO WITH RESPECT TO OUR ARTIFICIAL TURF. SO THAT'S, THAT'S NOTHING NEW. UM, I WILL, YOU KNOW, MENTION AS A REMINDER FOR US THAT, UM, THE, THE LAW IN CAL, IN NOT IN CALIFORNIA, IN THE UNITED STATES IS, UM, VERY STRONG ABOUT PRODUCTS LIABILITY THAT MANUFACTURERS IN THE, THE, UM, THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF, UM, CONSUMER PRODUCTS, UM, ARE ARE, ARE BASICALLY STRICTLY LIABLE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HARMS THAT THEIR PRODUCTS MAY CAUSE. AND THAT SORT OF FLOWS, YOU KNOW, FROM MANUFACTURERS THROUGH. SO THE, UM, THAT IS WHY, UM, AND, AND YOU KNOW, JOSH'S TEAM, THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM IS USED TO LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT, AND, AND WE, WE SUPPORT THEM IN MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE DO PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, UM, AND WE HAVE PRODUCTS LIKE ARTIFICIAL TURF OR WE HAVE PRO THINGS LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UM, MEMBRANES FOR FILTRATION AND UV FILTERS LIKE AT ELLIS CREEK, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE FULL MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTIES, UM, THAT APPLY TO THOSE THAT COME TO US VIA THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR USUALLY. SO WE'RE ABLE TO ENFORCE THOSE, UM, THOSE AND, AND HOLD THOSE SUPPLIERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE PRODUCTS. SO I'LL STOP THERE. I THINK THAT'S, UM, HOPEFULLY THAT COVERS MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS. THIS IS OVER WHAT THE QUESTION REALLY IS. OTHER CITIES AND STATES ARE ALREADY STARTING TO BAN ARTIFICIAL TURF, NEW, NEW FIELDS THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE US IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. SO AS A MITIGATION MEASURE, COULD WE DO THAT HERE WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ALL THE LIABILITY STUFF? COULD WE ACTUALLY JUST MAKE A, UH, UH, DO [02:10:01] THAT AS A ORDINANCE TO, UM, UM, THAT, THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH. SO AS I MENTIONED, WE WOULDN'T NEED TO DO THAT, UM, WITH RESPECT TO HOURS, WE COULD JUST CHOOSE TO NOT USE IT. SO, SO, BUT WE HAVE THAT OPTION AND THAT'S REALLY REFLECTED IN THE CHOICE BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT. UM, OKAY. THE QUESTION IN TERMS OF CAN WE, CAN WE SAY NO ARTIFICIAL TURF BY ANY PUBLIC PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL HERE IN THE TOWN IN CITY LIMITS? CAN WE MAKE THAT AS A MITIGATION MEASURE? WELL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SCHIBS, I, I GO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, MITIGATION OF WHAT, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE GENERALLY A FACTUAL PREDICATE FOR OUR REGULATORY, UM, EXERCISE OF OUR REGULATORY POWERS. I, I WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER A LITTLE BIT MORE HOW FAR THOSE POWERS WOULD EXTEND BEYOND THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS I TALKED ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO PRIVATE FACILITIES. GENERALLY, WE, WE'D HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW A FACTUAL PREDICATE OF POTENTIAL HARMS OR DANGERS TO JUSTIFY, I MEAN, EVEN, EVEN WHEN WE CLEARLY HAVE THE REGULATORY POWER, AT LEAST A RATIONAL, WHAT'S CALLED A RATIONAL BASIS STANDARD, IT'S GONNA APPLY TO, TO OUR, OUR, OUR LAWS BEING, OUR REGULATIONS BEING VALID AND, UM, DEFENSIBLE IN COURT. MEANING THERE'S A, A RATIONAL BASIS FOR WHY A CERTAIN KIND OF REGULATION IS BEING IMPOSED THAT IT, UM, FURTHERS THE, THE REGULATION FURTHERS THE PURPOSE, THE STATED PURPOSE FOR IT. THAT THAT'S WHY OFTEN OUR NEW REGULATIONS INCLUDE A PURPOSE SECTION, AN INTENDED PURPOSE SECTION. SO THAT'S THERE TO SUPPORT THE, THE REASON BEHIND THE REGULATORY ACTION. SO, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW, I I DON'T HAVE A QUICK ANSWER FOR YOU RIGHT NOW ABOUT WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO PRIVATE FACILITIES, WE COULD JUST, UM, UM, ADOPT A BAN LIKE THAT. I, I IT WOULD NEED FACTUAL SUPPORT. UM, I AM NOT AWARE OF, UM, A LOT OF INFORMATION OF, OF SUPPORTING THAT, THAT KIND OF REGULATORY ACTIVITY, UM, IN BY OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES. I, I, I KNOW SOME POLICIES ARE BEING DISCUSSED TO DO THAT. UM, BUT I, BUT I, BUT IT'S, IT'S STILL PRETTY EMERGENT, I THINK, WHAT ARE THE FACTUAL BASIS AND WHAT THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS IS FOR THE NEED FOR THOSE THINGS. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT AND ADDRESS IF THE COUNCIL, CAN I WEIGH YOU IN HERE FOR A SECOND? YOU GONNA GIVE YOU, OKAY. SO, UH, NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, HAVE WE CONSIDERED, THERE'S ALSO CALLED HYBRID GRASS FIELDS, WHICH IS MOSTLY GRASS, BUT DOES HAVE SOME OTHER MATERIALS IN IT TOO, FOR GOPHER, UM, CONTROL AS WELL AS KEEPING, UM, THE GRASS IN BETTER CONDITION. HAVE WE CONSIDERED NOT JUST JUST A STRAIGHT NATURAL FIELD, HAVE WE CONSIDERED A HYBRID GRASS FIELD AS AN OPTION? WE HAVE CONSIDERED THAT, UM, THE COSTS ARE MUCH HIGHER, AND WE DO END UP WITH PLASTIC FIBERS WITHIN A NATURAL GRASS TURF SYSTEM, UM, WHICH THEN KIND OF NEGATES BOTH THE, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT. UM, SO YOU CAN GET MORE HOURS OF PLAY OUT OF THOSE HYBRID FIELDS. UM, BUT THAT MAINTENANCE LEVEL AND THE IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT ARE BOTH HIGH. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, AND JUST HEARING FROM OUR, UH, MAINTENANCE STAFF, IF WE CAN, UM, THE, THE THREE FIELDS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR MAINTAINING, DOING THE ORGANICS AND, AND GAINING THAT HELP, THEY'RE STILL BASICALLY ALL CLAY AND THE SOIL AND WE'RE JUST DOING MANAGEMENT. AND THE, UH, MOWING IS STILL STANDARD MOWERS, THE BIG ROTARY MOTORS, UM, WHICH ARE NOT REALLY AS, UH, NOT AS FINE TUNED AS, AS LIKE ROTARIES. SO HOW DOES OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF FEEL ABOUT, IF WE DID HAVE A, UM, IF WE DID GO WITH NATURAL GRASS FIELD, DO THEY FEEL THEY WOULD HAVE THE FULL CAPABILITY BOTH IN MANPOWER, EXPERTISE, MONEY, BUDGET AND EQUIPMENT TO ACTUALLY DO, UH, A YEAR TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY TO DO A YEAR ROUND GRASS FIELD? OR ARE WE KIND OF MISSING THAT RIGHT NOW? HOW DOES OUR ACTUAL STAFF FEEL ABOUT IT? 'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES DOING THE WORK. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, I MEAN, YOU'VE HAD THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MANY OF THE PARKS MAINTENANCE STAFF. THEY'RE INCREDIBLY PRIDEFUL AND DEDICATED CREW. UM, THE, IT'S 175 ACRES OF NATURAL GRASS TURF ARE, ARE BEING MANAGED TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES WITH EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE. UM, WE ARE FORTUNATE THIS COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY HAS, UM, YOU KNOW, INVESTED, WE'VE SEEN TWO ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME [02:15:01] EMPLOYEES IN THE LAST THREE BUDGET CYCLES. UM, WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, DOING MAINTENANCE DIFFERENTLY. UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN A, A POINT OF IMPLEMENTING OUR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH MEANS A LOT OF LABOR INTENSIVE, UH, ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF JUST TURF. SO YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAMS ARE THAT THEY'RE FULL SERVICE, THEY DON'T JUST, UH, MOW GRASS. UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE PUT COSTS OF ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE AS PART OF THESE PROPOSALS, IS IT WILL TAKE, UM, MORE RESOURCES, WHETHER THAT'S LABOR OR CONTRACTED OUT TO MAINTAIN A NATURAL GRASS FIELD AT A EVEN CLOSE TO COMPARABLE LEVEL AS SYNTHETIC. GOOD. YEAH. 'CAUSE I, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE STAFF A LONG TIME ON MANY THINGS OVER 30 YEARS. UM, AND WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL MAINTENANCE STAFF THAT, THAT, THAT'S NO QUESTION ABOUT, THAT'S JUST, DO THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE, WOULD WE HAVE TO CONTRACT THAT WORK OUT? AND IS THERE A CONTRACTOR THAT COULD ACTUALLY DO THE WORK ON A NATURAL GRASS FOOD TO DUO THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE? AND, UH, IS THAT THE COST WE'RE LOOKING AT, OR ARE WE LOOKING AT JUST THE COST IF OUR OWN STAFF DID IT, THE COSTS IN THE ESTIMATE WERE BASED ON IF IT WERE CONTRACTED OUT, BUT IT DID COME OUT VERY SIMILAR TO IF IT WAS IN HOUSE, IT COULD, I'LL, I'LL QUITE LET OTHER FOLKS ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS LEFT OVER FOR, FOR SOME OF THE TESTING AND QUAL, UH, FOR CHEMICALS COMING OFF. I THINK WE WERE GONNA HAVE OUR, OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT F FOLKS COME IN AND TALK ABOUT, UM, THE DRAINAGE WATER AND TESTING OR BIOSWELLS, WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN. HI. SO WE CAN ABSOLUTELY, UM, ESTABLISH A, A TESTING PROTOCOL FOR THAT, UM, FOR THE TURF. UM, BUT THE, THE STICKING POINT, WHICH I THINK, UM, UM, ERIC WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS IS THAT WITHOUT AN ESTABLISHED MINIMUM THRESHOLD TO TELL US WHAT'S SAFE OR NOT SAFE, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO INTERPRET ANY TEST RESULTS. SO RIGHT NOW, THE EPA HAS DEVELOPED A STANDARD CALLED, UM, A MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL, AND IT'S THE SAFEST, UH, SA WHAT WHAT'S DETERMINED IS A SAFE THRESHOLD FOR DRINKING WATER. BUT THIS THRESHOLD ONLY APPLIES TO DRINKING WATER. SO SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER USED FOR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY ONLY. WE DON'T HAVE A SAFE ESTABLISHED THRESHOLD FOR BIOSOLIDS YET FOR WASTEWATER EFFLUENT. WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE KIND OF WHAT'S COMING INTO THE PLANT. WE DON'T HAVE A SAFE ESTABLISHED THRESHOLD FOR RECYCLED WATER. WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THAT FOR TURF, SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF WE, WE CAN ESTABLISH A TESTING PROGRAM, BUT WITHOUT KIND OF THIS MINIMUM SAFETY THRESHOLD. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SAFE OR UNSAFE OR KIND OF WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WILL MEAN. OKAY. THAT THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. I'LL, I'LL PASS ON. GOOD. UH, DO WANT TO GET TO THE AUDIENCE HERE AND, UM, ARE WE READY TO GO TO, I'LL HOLD MY QUESTIONS UNTIL AFTER. OKAY. UH, UM, APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING SO PATIENT AND, UH, STAYING WITH US. I'D LIKE TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND ASK OUR CLERK TO READ OUR MESSAGING FOR THIS. ABSOLUTELY. WE DID RECEIVE 60 PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM BEFORE THE MEETING. THOSE ARE ALL POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, AND AT THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. SPEAKERS ARE REMINDED TO BE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING TRANSLATED. PLEASE PAUSE BETWEEN SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION. DO WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CARDS? UM, THANK EVERYBODY SO MUCH. UM, I SHOULD NOTE THAT OF ALL THE, UH, EMAILS THAT COME IN, UH, COUNCIL READS THOSE, UH, IT'S HARDER THE LATER THEY COME IN. THE ONES THAT CAME IN EARLY IN THE WEEK, UH, GOT, UH, MORE ATTENTION THAN THE QUICKER READS OF THINGS THAT CAME IN AT FOUR O'CLOCK TODAY. BUT, UM, WE DID RECEIVE QUITE A FEW. AS YOU NOTED. THERE ARE 34, UH, SPEAKER CARDS SUBMITTED. AND, UH, GENERALLY WE LIKE TO GIVE EVERYBODY, UM, AN ALLOWABLE THREE MINUTES. BUT, UM, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT IF WE, UM, ARE REPEATING A MESSAGE THAT WE'VE HEARD ALREADY, THEN UM, TRY AND TRUNCATE YOUR TIME A LITTLE BIT. I THINK, UM, THREE MINUTES, TIMES 35 PLUS, UM, STAND UP, SIT DOWN TIMES. UH, IT COULD BE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE WE GET THROUGH THAT MANY, UH, CARDS. SO IF YOU COULD KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AS SUCCINCT AND DIRECT AS, UH, AS POSSIBLE, IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED BY I THINK EVERYONE AND, UH, OUR FIRST SPEAKER [02:20:01] IS, UH, LENNY HOWE TO BE FOLLOWED BY MACKENZIE GIDDINGS. ALL RIGHTY. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS TIME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS LYNE, HOW I'M A CURRENT TEACHER IN THE WAS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HAVE BEEN SO FOR OVER 20 YEARS. MY HUSBAND WAS THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT OF THE PETALUMA YOUTH LACROSSE LEAGUE FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND WE'VE COACHED OUR OWN CHILDREN IN MANY CAPACITIES OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS HERE IN PETALUMA. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN OVER THE IDEA TO REVERT LUCCHESE FIELD BACK TO GRASS. AS A LIFELONG ATHLETE AND A PARENT OF CHILDREN WHO REGULARLY PARTICIPATE IN YEAR ROUND SPORTS, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE WEAR AND TEAR ON LOCAL GRASS FIELDS AND THE GROWING CHALLENGES OF MAINTAINING THEM TO A SAFE AND USABLE STANDARD. DURING MY TIME AS A STUDENT ATHLETE AT SSU LOU CASEY FIELD WAS OFTEN OUR GO-TO PRACTICE SPOT IN THE RAINY SPRINGTIME. NOW, AS A PARENT, I FREQUENTLY WATCH MY CHILDREN PLAY ON PETALUMA'S TURF FIELDS REGARDLESS OF WEATHER. TONIGHT, A PERFECT EXAMPLE. MY HUSBAND AND I APPRECIATE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR LOVE FOR THEIR SPORT YEAR ROUND. IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT GRASS FIELDS ARE SIMPLY NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY OUR COMMUNITY DEMANDS. YEAR ROUND, THE CONDITION OF SEVERAL OF PETALUMA'S PARKS HOSTING LEAGUES LIKE PYSL, LACROSSE, FOOTBALL, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, DEMONSTRATE THAT GRASS FIELDS ARE UNSUSTAINABLE. FOR YEAR ROUND PLAY. WE'VE SEEN REPEATED ISSUES WITH UNEVEN SURFACES, POOR DRAINAGE, INEVITABLE WEAR AND TEAR THAT COMES WITH THAT HIGH VOLUME USAGE. YOU GUYS HAVE DISCUSSED THAT TONIGHT. GRASS FIELDS REQUIRE INTENSIVE MAINTENANCE AND HAVEN'T BEEN CONSISTENTLY KEPT SAFE FOR ATHLETES. ANOTHER GRASS FIELD IS NOT GONNA SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DISCUSSING TONIGHT, FOCUS THOSE THOUGHTS ON OUR CURRENT GRASS FIELDS HERE IN PETALUMA. MAKE THOSE SURFACES SAFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT TO MAKE THE DECISION TO INVEST IN A YEAR ROUND SOLUTION FOR FIELD BY RE TURFING THAT FIELD, THE ALTERNATIVE OLIVE FILL THAT WAS PROPOSED AS A HEALTHY AND SAFE OPTION. WE CAN PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND FIX LUCCHESE FIELD WITH A LONG-TERM PRACTICAL SOLUTION THAT MEETS THE DEMANDS OF OUR GROWING COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, SO I FORGOT TO MENTION, AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA APPLAUD, NOR ARE WE GONNA BOO. WE'RE GONNA LISTEN AND SHARE EACH OTHER'S INFORMATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MACKENZIE GIDDINGS TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, ZAID. HABA. OH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MACKENZIE AND I'M 13 YEARS OLD AND I'M A STUDENT AT KENWORTH. I'VE BEEN PLAYING SPORTS SINCE I WAS AROUND FOUR YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN PRACTICING AND PLAYING IN PETALUMA. MOST OF MY SPORTS TIME. I PLAY COMPETITIVE SOCCER AND SOFTBALL, AND I HAVE BEEN ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TEAMS. I HAVE PRACTICED AND PLAYED ON MANY NATURAL GRASS FIELDS IN THE CITY, AND BECAUSE THEIR CONDITION IS SO POOR, I PRETTY MUCH PLAY ON ARTIFICIAL FIELDS. LAST YEAR DURING A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT AT PRINCE PARK, I WAS PLAYING CENTER FIELD, AND WHEN RUNNING FOR A BALL, I STEPPED IN A GIANT CRACK AND I TWISTED MY ANKLE REALLY BAD. DUE TO THAT, I HEARD IT SO BAD THAT I COULD NOT CONTINUE TO PLAY FOR THE REST OF THAT TOURNAMENT. I'VE PLAYED ON MANY GRASS FIELDS AND PETALUMA, AND NONE OF THEM ARE IN REALLY GOOD CONDITION AT AND HAVE BEEN KEPT UP. ALSO, WHEN IT RAINS, THE GRASS GETS VERY MUDDY AND FLOODED. SO 90% OF THE TIME, NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE TO CANCEL OUR PRACTICES, BUT THANKFULLY TO TURF, THAT NEVER HAPPENS. ME AND MY TEAM ALWAYS GET TO PRACTICE AND PLAY IN THE RAIN, AND IT IS ALSO VERY FUN TO PLAY SOCCER IN THE RAIN. I WILL SAY I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY REAL PROBLEMS WITH TURF FIELDS AND WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO PLAY ON THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ED ABBA. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. I WEAR MULTIPLE HATS. I AM, UH, AN ATHLETE MYSELF. I PLAY IN ADULT LEAGUE. I HAVE TWO KIDS WHO I COACH AND THEY PLAY COMPETITIVE SOCCER. I ALSO VOLUNTEER TO COORDINATE FIELD SPACE FOR NORTH COAST FC. UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 600 KIDS THAT WHO REALLY WANT TO PLAY YEAR ROUND ON MULTI-SPORT, UM, UH, TURF THAT IS APPROPRIATE. UH, LUCAS IS ONE OF THE ONLY FOUR FIELDS THAT [02:25:01] WE HAVE IN PETALUMA. LOSING NET WOULD BE REALLY BAD FOR KIDS THAT WANNA PLAY. UM, I URGE YOU PLEASE TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, LOOK AT THEIR STAFF REPORT AND SEE THE SURVEY THAT YOU CONDUCTED. OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY THAT IS WELL INFORMED OF ANY POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OR ANY POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. 81% STATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PLAY YEAR ROUND. OUR GRASS FIELDS ARE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. ONE OF MY LATEST INJURIES WAS WHEN I WAS ROUGHING A GAME AT PRINCE PARK BACKPEDALING. MY FOOT GETS STUCK IN ONE OF THESE CRACKS AND I TORE MY MENISCUS. I WAS OUT FOR THREE MONTHS. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN ON TURF. THE OTHER THING IS AVERAGE OF 60% ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN SURVEY WANTED, AND THEY PREFER TURF OVER GRASS. WE WANT TO PLAY YEAR ROUND. WE SHARE THIS WITH SENIO SOCCER CLUB, WITH LACROSSE, WITH MULTIPLE ADULT LEAGUES, AND LOSING ESE FOR, I BELIEVE THE SLIDE SAID, EVEN IF YOU REPLACE IT WITH GRASS, IT WILL STILL BE CLOSED UNTIL 2026. YOU KNOW, KIDS WANNA PLAY. I JUST WANNA JOIN THESE YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS UNTIL YOU LET US PLAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS DALEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY LEE OSA. HI, MY NAME'S CHRIS DALEY AND I'M ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF COACHING FOR NORTHWEST FC. UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CLUB FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS, AND DURING THAT TIME I WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF COACHING FOR OUR WINDSOR BRANCH FOR FIVE YEARS. UM, I'VE BEEN AROUND THE GAME FOR A LONG TIME AS A PLAYER AND A COACH, AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF OUR PLAYERS AND THE QUALITY OF FIELDS THAT ARE NECESSARY. WE'RE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE FOUR ALL-WEATHER FIELDS. MANY FAMILIES AND COACHES WHO VISIT OUR TO COMPLEX AT EAST WASHINGTON ARE IMPRESSED BY WHAT WE HAVE. IN FACT, THE TURF FIELDS AND PETALUMA ARE ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY I LEFT MY DIRECTOR'S ROLE IN WINDSOR AND CAME BACK TO PETALUMA COACH. WHILE IN WINDSOR, WE PRIMARILY PLAYED ON WILSON RANCH, WHICH IS GRASS. AND WHILE IT LOOKED NICE FROM AFAR, IT WAS FAR FROM FROM THAT. UM, THE, THE GRASS WAS VERY LONG AND BUMPY AND VERY HARD TO PLAY ON, AND THE CITY WOULD CLOSE THE FIELD AT FIRST SIGHT OF RAIN, MEANING WE'D BE FORCED TO EITHER CANCEL OR OFTENTIMES WE'D HAVE TO GO TO PRACTICE ON BLACKTOPS, WHICH YOU CAN IMAGINE WAS NOT IDEAL FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR KIDS. UM, I'VE ALSO BEEN AROUND AMAZING GRASS COMPLEX LIKE IN DAVIS, AND THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC TO HAVE HERE. UM, UNFORTUNATELY THE FACT IS DAVIS IS, HAS, UH, 16 FULL-SIZE FIELDS AND THEY'RE COMPLEX AND THEY ROTATE USAGE ON 'EM. SO THEY'RE PRIVATELY OWNED, MAINTAINED BY THEIR CLUB, AND THEY HAVE A SAND BASED SOIL THAT IS NOT EXPANSIVE. UNLIKE THE PLAY BASE WE HAVE HERE IN PETALUMA, WHICH IS WHY YOU GO TO ANY OF OUR CURRENT GRASS FIELDS, YOU'LL SEE HUGE, DANGEROUS CRACKS. THE REALITY IS WE NEED QUALITY FIELDS THAT CAN SUSTAIN A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF USAGE ON THEM. NORTH COAST HAS NEARLY 600 KIDS WHO USE THE FIELDS THREE TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK, NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER SOCCER CLUBS, LACROSSE, FLAG FOOTBALL, ADULT SPORTS, AND LIST GOES ON AND ON. THERE'S NOT A GRASS FIELD OUT THERE THAT CAN WITHSTAND THAT TYPE OF USAGE ANYWHERE. I JUST WANT TO END WITH THIS. I KNOW YOU GUYS MAY SEE ME AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF NORTH COAST, BUT I'M ALSO A DAD AND MORE SPECIFICALLY A DAD WHO LOST MY DAUGHTER TO CANCER. SO TRUST ME WHEN I SAY I DON'T TAKE THE SAFETY OF MY KIDS OR MY PLAYERS LIGHTLY. MY FAMILY IS VERY CONSCIOUS ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE WE PUT OUT THERE FOR OUR KIDS, INGREDIENTS, ALL THAT STUFF. UM, SO WHEN I HEARD THE CITY WAS MOVING TOWARD A NATURAL INFILL LIGHT, COCONUT HUSS OR OLIVE, AND REMOVING THE RUBBER INFILL, WHICH I AGREE IS, IS NOT GREAT. UM, I WAS REALLY EXCITED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PERFECT SOLUTION. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LEE RAPOSA SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY PANAMA OMI. UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, CITY COUNCIL. UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN. I REPRESENT THE VOICE OF NORTH COAST FOOTBALL CLUB SERVING, UH, 500 7600 PLAYERS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. MY POINT IS TO BRING OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPOSED GRASS FIELD. I WANNA START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR CITY'S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. THEY MANAGE OUR FIELDS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, EQUIPMENT, LABOR, AND FUNDING. THE CONDITION OF THE FIELDS IS UNDERSTANDABLY THE BEST POSSIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CURTAIN MAINTENANCE OF FIELDS LIKE THOSE AT PRINCE AND WISEMAN GIVES US A PAUSE WHEN DISCUSSING IN THE PROPOSAL TO MAINTAIN A HIGH QUALITY GRASS FIELD AT LUCCHESE PARK. WE ARE NOT HERE TO DISMISS THE IDEA OF OUTRIGHT THAT IDEA OUTRIGHT, BUT RATHER TO ASK THE [02:30:01] CITY TO HAVE A REASONABLE PLAN AND UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT CONDITION OF MANY GRASS FIELDS THAT ARE IN PLACE. CAN IT BE DONE TO A LEVEL THAT NEW FIELD, UH, TO THAT THE NEW FIELD OR EXISTING FIELDS BE KEPT ON PAR WITH A NEWLY IMPROVED TURF FIELD? MAINTAINING A HIGH QUALITY GRASS FIELD IS NO SMALL FEAT. IT REQUIRES CONSISTENT CARE RESOURCES AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MOWING THE GRASS, IT'S ABOUT IRRIGATING PROPERLY, DEALING WITH THE ISSUES LIKE GOPHERS AND CRACKS IN THE SOIL, AND ENSURING THAT THE FIELD CAN HANDLE FREQUENT USE. AS WE'VE SEEN, IT FEELS LIKE WISEMAN, THESE ISSUES CAN QUICKLY ESCALATE AND MAKE FIELDS UNUSABLE BEFORE WE COMMIT TO A PROJECT THAT WILL IMPACT ONE OF OUR ONLY FOUR TURF FIELDS IN OUR CITY. IT MAKES SENSE TO ASK THE CITY TO LOOK INTO HOW, HOW IT CAN HANDLE THE CHALLENGES OF GRASS FIELD MAINTENANCE AND THE PROPOSED USE THAT IS CURRENTLY THE NORM. WE ASK THAT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS ON A NEW GRASS FIELD AT LUCCHESE, LET'S INVEST IN UPGRADING ONE OF OUR EXISTING GRASS FIELDS LIKE WISEMAN TO SEE IF MAIN MAINTAINING A HIGH QUALITY GRASS FIELD SURFACE IS POSSIBLE. LET'S SEE THOSE FIELDS PROPERLY MOWED, IRRIGATED, AND CARED FOR TO THE STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR PLAYER SAFETY. LET'S TRACK THE FIELD'S PERFORMANCE UNDER HEAVY MULTI-USE SPORT USE. WE CAN MEASURE HOW WELL THE FIELD WITHSTANDS WEAR AND TEAR MONITOR INJURY RATES, AND EVALUATE HOW FREQUENTLY THE FIELD NEEDS TO BE CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER OR MAINTENANCE ISSUES. THESE STEPS CAN BE TAKEN WHILE KEEPING LUCCHESE AVAILABLE FOR KIDS TO PLAY ON. ITS RE TURFED SURFACE. IT'S NOT ABOUT OPPOSING THE IDEA OF GRASS FIELD, BUT RATHER ENSURING THAT WE'RE MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION. IF THE CITY CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT IT HAS THE RESOURCES, COMMITMENT AND ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A PREMIER GRASS FIELD, WE THEN CAN HAVE A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT EXPANDING THAT VISION. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP PANAMA. BOTH FOLLOW ME TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANNIE STEWART. 5-YEAR-OLD JUST MADE IT. UM, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, UM, MY WHOLE CAREER HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. I'VE ACTUALLY NOW REACHED A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I'VE BEEN DOING IT LONGER THAT THAN NOT DOING IT. UM, I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO GET ALL FOSSIL FUELS OUT OF OUR ECONOMY, UM, AND OUT OF OUR LIVES. UM, THAT'S WHAT MY RESUME SAYS. IF YOU LOOK AT MY CALENDAR, IT WOULD SUGGEST WHAT I ACTUALLY DO IS I CHAUFFEUR KIDS AROUND TO DIFFERENT SPORTING EVENTS, UM, ALL OVER OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND TRY OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FIELDS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. UM, THAT'S WHERE I WAS YESTERDAY. I WAS IN SANTA ROSA AT A SOCCER TOURNAMENT AS IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN. 20 TEAMS FROM AROUND OUR REGION WERE ABLE TO GO TO SANTA ROSA AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PLAY SOCCER BECAUSE THEY HAVE WONDERFUL ALL WEATHER FIELDS. AND IT'S THROUGH THESE TWO LENSES, ONE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THROUGH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE THAT I SUPPORT THE INSTALLATION OF RESPONSIBLE ARTIFICIAL TURF AT LUCCHESE FIELD. AND IT'S FOR THREE REASONS. ONE, I THINK WE CAN DO THIS RESPONSIBLY. I HAVE FAITH IN OUR CITY STAFF THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT IN THE RIGHT KIND OF ARTIFICIAL TURF AND MANAGE IT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS THAT BEEN BROUGHT UP BY OUR COMMUNITY. UM, THERE ARE, I THINK OUR THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO THAT. ONE, THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE. LUCCHESE IS ONE OF OUR MOST USED FIELDS IN OUR CITY, BUT IT TAKES UP ONLY ABOUT SIX ONE HUNDREDTHS OF THE TOTAL PARKLAND OF THE CITY. THIS IS A VERY HIGH VALUE, LOW IMPACT APPLICATION. IF WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IN ARTIFICIAL TURF IN THIS LOCATION FOR AVOIDING AND CONTROLLING THE POTENTIAL TOXICITY THAT COMES FROM THIS. I THINK THE CITY AND ITS SPECIFICATIONS MUST SPECIFY AND TEST TO ENSURE A PAS FREE APPLICATION, UM, OF A PRODUCT THAT COMES INTO OUR CITY. AND THEN A INSTALL A HIGH QUALITY DRAINAGE SYSTEM SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SBS HAS SUGGESTED IN ORDER TO CONTROL ANY KIND OF RUNOFF FROM THE SITE. AND THEN LASTLY, END OF LIFE PLANNING. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THIS CARPET, IT DOESN'T END UP IN A LANDFILL. AND SO THE CITY NEEDS TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE END OF LIFE NOW IN ITS APPLICATION AND HAVE A LIGHT, HAVE A PLAN FOR WHEN WE GET RID OF THAT CARPET AND SEND IT AWAY. UM, THE SECOND MAJOR REASON TO DO THIS IS REALLY THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND A COST OF MAINTENANCE IN A BELT TIGHTENING ERA. PETALUMA, LIKE MANY CITIES, IS FACING FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. MAINTAINING NATURAL GRASS IS EXPENSIVE. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT WATERING, MOWING, RESEEDING REPAIRS, FERTILIZING PESTICIDES. THAT LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE ISN'T CURRENTLY HAPPENING ON OUR FIELDS AS IT IS, AND I CAN'T ASSUME THAT ESE WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT IF WE CONVERT IT OVER TO GAS. SYNTHETIC TURF ELIMINATES THE IRRIGATION COSTS AND REDUCES MAINTENANCE LABOR. UM, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING THE UNCERTAINTY FROM FEDERAL FUNDS COMING. WE NEED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE ABLE TO SAVE OUR FISCAL RESOURCES HERE IN THE CITY. AND THEN LASTLY, JUST THE IMPACT OF FIELD [02:35:01] CLOSURES ON A HIGH COMMUNITY ASSET. LUCCHESE IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST FIELDS IN PETALUMA, AND WE'VE COMMITTED TO MAXIMIZING RECREATIONS FOR ALL AGES AND ALL BACKGROUNDS. IT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS SURFACE UNPLAYABLE FOR THREE TO FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR AND IT WILL DEGRADE PUBLIC TRUST IN THE COUNCIL AND CITY LEADERSHIP. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. A ANNIE STEWART TO BE FOLLOWED BY BOB OLA. MY NAME IS ANNIE STEWART AND I'M HERE TO STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR REPLACING THE TURF CASE FIELD WITH A STATE-OF-THE-ART NATURAL GRASS FIELD AND FILLING BUDGETED PARK STAFF POSITIONS OR OUTSOURCING THIS WORK TO IMPROVE THE MAINTENANCE OF ALL OUR NATURAL GRASS FIELDS. I REALLY WANNA SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THOSE OF YOU ADVOCATING FOR ARTIFICIAL TURF. I'M NOT YOUR OPPONENT. I BELIEVE WE WANT THE SAME THINGS, SAFE, HEALTHY, PLAYING FIELDS FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR ADULTS. I TOO, AS AN ATHLETE IN MY YOUTH, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT TEAM SPORTS ARE, UH, OFFER GREAT VALUE. UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA PLAN IT WHERE FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PLAY OUTDOOR SPORTS AT ALL. ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, SCHOOLS AND SUPERVISORS ARE GRAPPLING WITH THE PROS AND THE CONS OF THESE TWO OPTIONS. AND IT'S, IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO GO THROUGH. I, BUT LIKE YOU, THEY MAY BE THINKING, WHAT'S THE HARM OF JUST ONE MORE ARTIFICIAL TURF? BUT IT'S NOT JUST ONE MORE. ACCORDING TO THE EPA, THERE ARE NOW SOME 19,000 ARTIFICIAL FIELDS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH AS MANY AS 1500 NEW ONES INSTALLED EVERY YEAR, ABOUT HALF OF WHICH ARE REPLACING OLDER TURF. AND YES, THESE END UP IN LANDFILL AND SPEW METHANE INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT. ASK YOURSELF THIS. IS IT WISE TO TAKE THE TURF INDUSTRY'S WORD ABOUT THE SAFETY, LONGEVITY AND RECYCLABILITY OF ARTIFICIAL TURF TO EXPOSE OUR, TO EXPOSE OUR COMMUNITIES TO A PRODUCT THAT INCREASES HEALTH AND INJURY RISKS. A PRODUCT EVEN PRO FOOTBALLERS ARE REJECTING TO COVER OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WITH COUNTLESS ACRES OF ARTIFICIAL MATERIAL THAT INCREASES CLIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS. FINALLY, CONSIDER THIS. OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CLEARLY SIGNALED THAT SAFEGUARDING OUR HEALTH, OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND OUR CLIMATE IS NOT A PRIORITY. THAT'S WHY WE WILL BE DEPENDING ON OUR LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE LEADERS TO STEP UP TO THE PROVERBIAL PLATE. THIS MAY NOT BE AN EASY DECISION, I'M SURE IT'S NOT, BUT I'M COUNTING ON YOU TO BE BOLD AND TO BE BRAVE. THANK YOU BOB OLA TO BE FOLLOWED BY GREG ESELMAN. THANK YOU. BOB CHIPOLA FROM SANTA ROSA. I LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO THAT SANTA ROSA FIELD THAT WAS QUOTED, UH, JUST, JUST RECENTLY, PLAIN IN THE RAIN AND STUFF. I WANNA READ, UH, WHAT THE, UH, THE SACRAMENTO A DID. THEY PIVOTED ON PLANS TO PLAY THEIR HOME GAME AT SUTTER HEALTH PARK IN WEST SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, DECIDING ON NATURAL GRASS INSTEAD OF SYNTHETIC TURF. THE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY, UH, A, A REPORTER FOR, FOR, UH, GOOGLE, GOOGLE SPORTS. ANYWAY, THE ARTICLE GOES ON AND SAYS, GRASS FIELDS RARELY REACH TEMPERATURES ABOVE A HUNDRED DEGREES. ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION. BY CONTRAST, SYNTHETIC SURFACES CAN GET TO MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES AS HOT AS A HUNDRED TO 170 DEGREES UNDER HOT SUNNY CONDITIONS. AS MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, ON JULY THE THIRD OF THIS LAST 2024 IN PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA, THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 102 DEGREES. I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN ALL OVER SONOMA COUNTY WITH A DEVICE TO MEASURE THE HEAT, AN INFRARED GUN HERE TO MEASURE THE HEAT ALL OVER SONOMA COUNTY. LUCCHESE FIELD WAS THE HIGHEST AT 171 DEGREES. MANY OTHERS WERE IN THE A HUNDRED SIXTIES, A HUNDRED FIFTIES. UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST A SIGNIFICANT HEAT, UM, RESULT. THIS WHAT I BROUGHT TODAY IS WHAT'S CALLED AERO FILL. IT'S A SECOND GENERATION INFILL AFTER CRUMB RUBBER. THIS WAS INSTALLED IN 2019, THIS PAST SUMMER. IT MELTED, IT GOT ALL OVER THE CLEATS. IT GOT OVER THE PARKING LOT IN THE SOIL EVERYWHERE AROUND TOM SHOFFEN FIELDS REGIONAL PARK ACROSS FROM CARDINAL NEWMAN. UM, IT TOOK THEM TWO WEEKS TO VACUUM OUT. IN NOVEMBER, THE UH, UH, HELLAS CONSTRUCTION OUT OF, UH, AUSTIN, TEXAS CAME FROM VIRGINIA, WHERE THEIR PREVIOUS JOB WAS DROVE FOUR DAYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT LOOKED LIKE THE CIRCUS HAD COME TO TOWN. ALL THE EQUIPMENT THEY BROUGHT IN, THEY VACUUMED ALL OF THE AERO FILL OUT OF THE TWO SOCCER FIELDS. THEY REPLACED ALL OF IT WITH SOMETHING NEW CALLED VEGETAL OR SOME, THEY'VE GOT SOME OTHER CLEVER NAME. WHATEVER INFILL HAS BEEN USED, WHATEVER INFILL HAS BEEN [02:40:01] TRIED, THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH INFILLS. AND, UH, I'LL BE HAPPY TO LEAVE THIS FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF HEAT ON INFILL. UM, I THINK WE CAN GROW GRASS, WE CAN DO A GOOD JOB. WE CAN BE THE GATEWAY TO SONOMA COUNTY PROUD OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, AND WE CAN DO IT WELL. AND IT IS BEING DONE OTHER PLACES. PETALUMA CAN DO IT TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GREG ZERMAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY SEAN, KEN INGER. UH, JUST SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS. I KNOW IT'S A HUGE ISSUE. UM, A LOT OF WHAT'S, I'M BIG PRO TURF HERE. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTH SIDES OF IT. UM, A LOT OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, HE SAID NOT TO REPEAT THAT I FEEL THAT WAY. UM, JUST KIND OF ONE THING ABOUT THE HEAT THING. I HAVE TWO BOYS. SO I'M A FATHER 12 AND NINE. UM, ON HOT DAYS PRACTICE AT NIGHT, THAT'S GENERALLY THE NORTH COAST POLICY. SUN GOES DOWN, GETS A LOT COOLER. UM, BIGGEST EYE-OPENING THING FOR ME WAS THE NUMBERS RIGHT HERE. UM, YOU'RE GONNA BE WASTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON GRASS 'CAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BE UPKEPT. UM, GULF PEARLS. MY SONS HAVE BEEN BOTH INJURED. UM, I JUST, I I HUGE RESPECT FOR THE, THE MAINTENANCE CREWS. THEY JUST DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER. UM, AND IT'S SHOWN ON WISEMAN PRINTS ALL THE OTHER PARKS. UM, SO I JUST THINK IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY. SO I'D GO TURF. THANKS. THANK YOU SEAN. KEN INGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, MICHAEL GIBBS. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MR. MAYOR. UM, SEAN INGER. I'M THE VOLUNTEER PRESIDENT FOR PETALUMA YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS, UH, BETWEEN OUR COMPETITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL, UM, LEAGUES OVER 2,500 KIDS WHO PLAY SPORTS HERE IN PETALUMA, UM, WHO PLAY FALL SOCCER BECAUSE OF OUR ORGANIZATION. UM, I'M HERE AND I'VE, I'VE WRITTEN THE COUNCIL. I HOPE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW MY LETTER. IF NOT, PLEASE DO SO, UM, BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA HAVE TIME TO SPEAK TO EVERYTHING I WANNA SAY. UH, BUT I'M HERE TO, UH, ASK YOU TO DO WHAT WAS BUDGETED AND PLANNED FOR FIVE YEARS AGO AND REPLACE THE TURF AT LUCCHESE. UH, FOR ALL SEASON, ALL YEAR PURPOSES. I HAD PREPARED REMARKS, BUT I, LIKE, AS THE MAYOR SAID, IT STARTED TO SOUND REPETITIVE. WHAT I WANNA SAY IS THAT WE HAVE AN URGENT NEED RIGHT NOW. THE URGENT NEED IS LUCCHESE GETTING IT SAFE FOR OUR KIDS TO USE. IT'S, IT'S, AND THE, THERE IS A LARGER QUESTION, UM, THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL OPPOSITION TO THIS ABOUT WHETHER TURF IS GOOD FOR THE LONG-TERM PLANS OF PETALUMA. LET'S HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. LET'S GO AHEAD AND ENGAGE AS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND, AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY, UM, ORGAN SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS. WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION TO LOOKING IF CAN IT BE DONE SUSTAINABLY? IS THERE A VIABLE GRASS OPTION? BUT LET'S NOT MAKE THE KIDS SIT ON THE COUCH WHILE YOU HAVE THAT EXPERIMENT AT LUCCHESE. I MEAN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SANITIZING FIELDS. YOU'RE, YOU COULD, THE PROPOSAL IS TO PUT A GRASS FIELD NEXT TO A DUCK POND. WHAT DO WE THINK'S GONNA HAPPEN? I MEAN, , I, SO I, I I I THINK THAT WHAT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF TURF FIELDS IN, AND, AND FOR THE DEMAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BASIC CORE ELEMENT THAT, THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO DO IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUR COMMUNITY, TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY. WE'VE SPOKEN AS A COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE, THE END USERS OF THESE FIELDS. THE DEMAND IS THERE. WE'VE TOLD YOU WHAT WE WANT. IT'S AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS PROGRAMMING. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE IT, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANNA DO IT. AND THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, UH, THE WAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN FRAMED, WHICH IS WHETHER EITHER YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, UH, GONNA ALIENATE ALL OF US, THE THE COMMUNITY BY, BY, BY TAKING AWAY A QUARTER OF OUR, UH, YEAR-ROUND PLAYABLE SPORTS SPACE, OR YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT CANCER IS JUST RIDICULOUS. IT'S DESIGNED TO PUT YOU INTO UNDER A PRESSURE AND TO MAKE A DECISION THAT DEVIATES FROM WHAT THE LONG TERM OF THE, OF, UH, THE PLAN FOR THE COUNTY HAS BEEN. CLEARLY, BY INSTALLING THESE TURF FIELDS, WE HAD RECOGNIZED THE NEED AND THE VALUE OF THEM THAT NEED AND VALUE STILL EXISTS. AND A VOTE CONTRARY TO THAT TO TODAY, REALLY RENDERS THE BRAND NEW TURF FIELD AT THE BASEBALL FIELD AT PETALUMA COMMUNITY SPORTS FIELD'S DEAD ON ARRIVAL BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME OPPOSITION EVERY TIME. EVERY EXISTING TURF FIELD WE HAVE IS UP FOR REPLACEMENT. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COUNCIL WOULD BE ABLE TO SOMEHOW REVERSE COURSE IF THEY DON'T RE TURF LUC CASEY RIGHT NOW AS AN ALL SEASON FIELD. LET'S GET IT FIXED AND THEN LET'S HAVE THE CONVERSATION. LET'S TAKE THE TICKING CLOCK AWAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UM, MICHAEL IS FUS THANK YOU. YEAH. TO BE FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW CALLOWAY. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT [02:45:01] TO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. I SEE THE MAPS OVER THERE AND, UH, THE SIGNAGE THAT GOT PEOPLE OUT TO TALK ABOUT THIS FOR SO LONG. I APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, THE, THE CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO ARE PUSHING FOR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION AND HOW MUCH YOU ALL'S WORK HAS LED TO THE CLIMATE ACTION THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED IN THE LAST YEARS. AND WE'RE SEEING IT ALL OVER. UM, I HAVE A, A GREEN MBA IN ECOLOGICAL ENTERPRISE, UH, SOME CLASSES WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN BARNACLE IN THE PAST. UH, AND I'M A SOCCER ENTHUSIAST. THE GRASS FIELD, AS IT WAS JUST SAID, DEAD ON ARRIVAL, THAT IS REMOVING A PLAYING SURFACE FROM, FROM THE TOWN. AND THE ONE THING I CAN SAY THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR IS THAT PASS BY THAT FIELD ANYTIME THAT IT'S NOT, UM, COMMITTED TO, UH, ONE OF THESE GROUPS THAT'S HERE TODAY. AND IT'S FULL OF THE LATIN COMMUNITY. IT'S ALL LATIN PLAYERS THERE GOING AFTER SCHOOL KIDS GETTING TOGETHER, HAVING A FIELD THAT'S ACCESSIBLE, THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COMMUNITY. AND SOME OF THE TEAMS HERE ARE, ARE, ARE 90% LATIN BY DEMOGRAPHIC AS WELL, BUT ON THE OTHER TIME IT'S, IT'S LATIN PLAYERS. AND YOU'LL BE TAKING THAT AWAY. THAT GRASS WILL NOT BE PLAYABLE. SO IT'S ALSO A WASTE OF, OF THE MONEY TO DO IT, BUT IT WILL NOT BE A PLAYABLE FIELD. AND PEOPLE HERE CARE ABOUT PLAYING ON THIS FIELD. PLASTIC IS COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS. I DON'T THINK I'LL SAY TO MY FELLOW ENVIRONMENTALISTS, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE FIGHT TO STOP PLASTIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MATTHEW CALLOWAY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC. UM, VASQUEZ. HI THERE. UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MATT CALLOWAY. I'M REPRESENTING A SONOMA COUNTY CONSERVATION ACTION AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT, UH, THE NATURAL GRASS ALTERNATIVE FOR QUEY PARK INSTEAD OF REPLACING WITH THE SYNTHETIC TURF. UM, THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT COST OR CONVENIENCE, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENT, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, AND OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. UM, WELL, ARTIFICIAL TURF IS OFTEN PROMOTERS A LOW COST, LOW MAINTENANCE SOLUTION. IT OBVIOUSLY COMES WITH SERIOUS, UH, COSTS THAT I THINK WE'RE NOT ADDRESSED IN THE, UM, THE COST ANALYSIS, MICROPLASTICS, TOXIC RUNOFF, EXCESSIVE HEAT. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS AND JUST MAKES IT A VERY, VERY POOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE. AS WE, AS WE, UM, FACE INCREASING, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, UM, WE KNOW THESE ARE ALL GONNA BE BREAKING DOWN ALL THESE, UH, MICROPLASTICS AND ALL THESE PLASTICS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, BREAKDOWN OVER TIME. THEY, WHICH TO OUR SOIL IN OUR WATERWAYS, BUT IN BEYOND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. THIS IS ALSO AN ISSUE OF, UH, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ALREADY BEAR A DIS APPROPRIATE, UH, BURDEN FROM ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND LACK OF ACCESS TO REAL GREEN SPACES. UM, CHOOSING NATURAL GRASS. PETALUMA CAN TAKE A STAND FOR EQUITY, EQUITY, EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY, ENSURING THAT ALL RE RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM CLEANER AIR COOLER PUBLIC SPACES, AND HEALTHIER RECREATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS. WE REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT ALIGN WITH OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND THE GOALS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, OUR COMMUNITY VALUES. AND WE REALLY URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE NATURAL SUSTAINABLE PLAYING FIELDS THAT BENEFIT BOTH THE PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ERIC VASQUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY I ILEANA MADRIGAL. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ERIC VASQUEZ, A BOARD MEMBER FOR, UH, SONOMA COUNTY CONSERVATION ACTION AND A LIFELONG PLUMA RESIDENT. WHILE SCCA DOES APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF'S EFFORTS TO BRING FORWARD A THOROUGH ANALYSIS AND WELL MEANT RESOLUTION, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE OPTION OF, OF, UH, NUMBER ONE, REMOVAL OF EXISTING FIELD AND THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW NATURAL GRASS BE ADOPTED. THE DEBATE OVER GRASS, UH, OVER ARTIFICIAL GRASS AS OPPOSED TO NATURAL OPTIONS, HAS LONG BEEN DISCUSSED AS A VIABLE SOLUTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, ALONG WITH HELPING TO REACH OUR EQUITY GOALS FOR YEAR-ROUND USE. UNFORTUNATELY, GRASS, ARTIFICIAL GRASS DOES NOT ENTIRELY HELP EITHER CAUSE WHILE IT'S NO SECRET THE NATURAL GRASS DOES USE MORE WATER, THE SECONDARY EFFECTS OF MAINTAINING AN ARTIFICIAL FIELD WILL UNDOUBTEDLY AFFECT OUR OPEN SPACES WATERWAYS AND OUR OVERALL HEALTH. MICROPLASTICS FROM RUNOFFS ARE VERY LIKELY TO AFFECT OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS, EXACERBATE THE CONTAMINATION OF ALREADY AFFECTED WELLS AND LYNCH CREEK AND WORSEN THE, THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. AS OUR SUMMERS GROW HOTTER, SO WILL OUR OUTDOOR FACILITIES, ARTIFICIAL FIELDS ARE NO EXCEPTION. THEY CAN REACH TEMPERATURES OF 130 TO 140 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BURNS GREATER INJURIES AND EXCESSIVE RADIATED HEAT, MAKING THEM UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE ON HOT DAYS. LASTLY, AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, UN PUZZLED AS TO WHY [02:50:01] THE ATTACHED SURVEY OF A HUNDRED OF 506 RESPONDENTS DID NOT INCLUDE QUESTIONS REGARDING RACIAL AND AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. TO BETTER, TO BETTER HELP US UNDERSTAND THOSE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY ANY CHANGE THAT IS MADE HERE TONIGHT. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE COUNCIL AND STAFF REEVALUATE THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL GRASS OF OUR SHARED SPACES AND THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF ALLED LUMENS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ILEANA MADRIGAL TO BE FOLLOWED BY DANIELLE DOBSON. GOOD EVENING, HONOR HONORABLE MEMBERS OF PETAL LAMA CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF. MY NAME IS IA MADRID AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT OPTION ONE, REMOVAL OF EXISTING EXISTING FIELD AND INSTALLATION OF NEW NATURAL GRASS ATHLETIC FIELD FROM OUR STAFFS REPORT FROM THE LUCCI PARK PLAY FIELD. THIS DECISION IS MORE THAN JUST A QUESTION OF SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS A ISSUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE. ARTIFICIAL TURF POSE A SERIOUS HEALTH RISK. EXA EXACERBATES EXTREME HEAT HARMS THE ENVIRONMENT AND PLACES A FINANCIAL BURDEN IN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. OUR, OUR LATINA LATINO ATHLETES, THIS ARE SAFE, NATURAL, PLAIN SURFACES JUST AS MUCH EVERYBODY OTHER PLAY IN PETALUMA. UM, A COUPLE EXAMPLES WITH EXTREME CLIMATE CHANGES ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND HERE AT HOME, UM, ARTIFICIAL TRS ADDS AN ADDITIONAL 70% OFF OFF GLASSING GASSING AS EXIST NUTRIENTS TO SOUL WATER RUNOFF CONTRIBUTES TO INCREASING FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF TOXIC A, UM, ALGAL BLOOMS. UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S, UH, FLAMMABLE AND REQUIRES TONS OF WATER. SO THIS IS A BIG CONCERN, ESPECIALLY DUE TO RUNOFF AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES OF OUR PETALUMA RIVER. WE CANNOT IGNORE. THE ARTIFICIAL TOURS WILL POLLUTE OUR WATER AND AS WELL, AS WELL AS CLOSE TO OUR CREEKS. AND I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT PORTION ONE FROM OUR STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DANIELLE DOBSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY UM, JAMA ADAM ADAMS. HI, MY NAME IS DANIELLE. UM, MY SON ATON PLAYS ON NORTH COAST. MY DAUGHTER AVIVA PLAYS ON NORTH COAST, AND MY HUSBAND PAUL PLAYS IN EVERY ADULT DIVISION SOCCER TEAM, I THINK IN PETALUMA. WE ARE A HUGE SOCCER FAMILY. WE ARE AT THESE FIELDS BETWEEN FOUR TO SIX TIMES AT MINIMUM A WEEK. THESE FIELDS, WE DON'T GO TO THESE FIELDS JUST BECAUSE WE LOVE THE GAME. THESE ARE OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY CENTER. WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY CENTER ALL YEAR ROUND, NOT JUST PART OF THE YEAR. PLEASE, PLEASE RE TURF WITH TURF FIELD. OH, SORRY. WITH TURF AT LUCCHESE FIELD. THANK YOU, JAMA ADAMS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SLOAN PAAL. HI, MY NAME IS SLOAN PEGAL. I'M THE ZERO WASTE PROGRAM MANAGER WITH ZERO WASTE SONOMA. THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY TASKED WITH MANAGING SOLID WASTE PROGRAMS, PLANNING AND POLICY ON BEHALF OF OUR 10 ME MEMBER JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF PETALUMA. IN 2023 SONOMA COUNTY BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES SENT 390,000 TONS OF MATERIAL TO OUR LANDFILL. IF WE CONTINUE AT THIS RATE, THE SITE IS ESTIMATED TO REACH CAPACITY IN 17 YEARS OR SOONER. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, WE WILL NEED TO OUTHAUL OUR GARBAGE TO OTHER LANDFILLS, WHICH WILL MEAN INCREASED TRANSPORTATION COSTS, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND DISPOSAL RATES. ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN ALL CONTRIBUTE TO EXTENDING THE USEFUL LIFE OF OUR LANDFILL IS TO REDUCE OUR WASTE DISPOSE AS OF AS GARBAGE WHEN REMOVED. ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS ARE NOT BEING RECYCLED DESPITE WHAT MANUFACTURERS MAY CLAIM. ACCORDING TO THE SYNTHETIC TURF COUNCIL, THE AVERAGE 80,000 SQUARE FOOT ATHLETIC FIELD USES 400,000 POUNDS OF INFILL AND 40,000 POUNDS OF PLASTIC TURF. THAT TRANSLATES TO AN ESTIMATED COST OF 40 TO $50,000 TO SEND TO OUR LANDFILL. SIMILAR TO THE WAY THE PFAS CHEMICALS OFF OFF OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF AND INTO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, SO DO MICROPLASTIC SHEDDING FROM THE INDIVIDUAL PLASTIC BLADES OF GRASS ABATEMENT OF THESE CHEMICALS AND MICROPLASTICS IN SOILS, AIR AND WATER SYSTEMS IS DIFFICULT AND COSTLY AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. UH, A FINAL POINT I LIKE TO MAKE WHERE NATURAL GRASS CAN SEQUESTER CARBON FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, ABSORB POLLUTION AND GENERATE OXYGEN. ARTIFICIAL TURF DOES NOT HAVE THESE IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS AS WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO LESSEN OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, WE HAD, UM, JAMA ADAMS, DID I NOT? AND NOT IN THE ROOM. OKAY. AND THEN OUR, UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA BROWN, TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, PETE GANG. [02:55:02] GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNA BROWN. EXCUSE ME. I'M FACULTY AT SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE. UH, BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A MOTHER OF THREE YOUTH ATHLETES IN PETALUMA. UH, MY CHILDREN BEGAN PLAYING SOCCER WITH PYSL, AND TWO OF THEM ARE CURRENTLY NORTH COAST ATHLETES. ONE OF THEMS A SOCCER PLAYER AT CASA GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE PLAYED, OR THEY HAVE PLAYED ON BOTH GRASS AND TURF FIELDS. , I'D LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, UH, THE USE THAT THEY INTEND FOR LUCCHESE PARK. IF YOU INTEND FOR LUCCHESE TO CONTINUE AS A VIABLE SOCCER AND, UH, LACROSSE FIELD, THEN TURF IS THE WAY TO GO. UH, THE GRASS FIELDS. DESPITE OUR CITY'S, UH, MAINTENANCE, UH, WORKERS' EFFORTS, THE GRASS FIELDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE USEFUL OVER WINTER MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO BEING A PARENT, I WAS ALSO A-P-Y-S-L COACH FOR FOUR YEARS. AND, UH, THE FILL DAY THAT YOU MENTIONED, UM, THEY WOULD LITERALLY GIVE COACHES BUCKETS AND SAY, BRING YOUR OWN SHOVEL, AND THERE WOULD BE A PILE OF DIRT. AND BEFORE EVERY GAME, WE WOULD FILL IN REALLY DEEP CRACKS AND HOLES. DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS EVERY SEASON, THERE WERE CHILDREN WHO HURT THEMSELVES, WHO STEPPED IN HOLES. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH TURF FIELDS. UM, A LOT OF THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, SO I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF. UH, BUT PLEASE CONSIDER MAINTAINING THIS FIELD, UH, FOR USE FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PETE GANG, TO BE FOLLOWED BY STACEY VOGEL. GOOD EVENING. UH, I THINK I'VE LIMITED MYSELF TO ONE MINUTE. UM, FIRST, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT WHEN PEOPLE SAY TURF, THEY MEAN SYNTHETIC TURF. UH, I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BETWEEN IN TERMINOLOGY. UM, I'M COMPLETELY SYMPATHETIC WITH THE, THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM PLAYERS AND PARENTS OF PLAYERS AND THE NEED TO, UH, MAINTAIN PLAY YEAR ROUND. I'VE READ THE STAFF REPORT AND THE ATTACHED COST ANALYSIS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS REPORTS, INCLUDING THE 2024 REPORT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONS CONTROL, WHICH STATES, BASED ON OUR EVALUATION, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR ADVERSE IMPACT FROM EXPOSURE TO CANDIDATE CHEMICALS IN ARTIFICIAL TURF, WHICH IS A PRODUCT FREQUENTLY USED BY SENSITIVE SUBPOPULATIONS, INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN. WHAT I'D LIKE EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE, THE FOREVER CHEMICALS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN SYNTHETIC TURF ARE NOT JUST OUT THERE, BUT WE CARRY THEM WITHIN OUR BODIES. SO IT'S, OUR CONCERNS ARE NOT WITH OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, BUT WITH LONG, LONG-TERM HUMAN HEALTH ISSUES. UM, AND I WOULD JUST URGE ALL OF US TO GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THESE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS THAT WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STACEY VOGEL, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANDY SCHRADER. HI, I'M STACEY VOGEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US TIME TO SPEAK. UM, I RUN A PROGRAM CALLED GIRLS UNITED, AND WE EMPOWER GIRLS THROUGH SPORTS AND CAMPS, AND WE RUN A SPRING SOCCER LEAGUE. WE'RE, UM, COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH PYSL, SO WE DON'T WANNA STEP ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WE LOVE THAT OUR GIRLS ARE IN THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL. BUT, UM, BY OFFERING A SPRING LEAGUE, WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THESE GIRLS EITHER PLAY SOCCER YEAR ROUND OR IF THEY WANNA TRY A NEW SPORT, THEY CAN TRY IT IN THE SPRING. WE ONLY HAVE SEVEN DAYS THAT WE ACTUALLY DO IT, SO IT'S SEVEN WEEKS. AND OF THOSE SEVEN WEEKS, I THINK IT'S THREE OR FOUR DAYS, IT'S POURING RAIN, LIKE IT'S JUST SUPER WET OUT THERE. AND THEY'RE RUNNING AROUND AND WE MAKE THEM WEAR TRASH BAGS AND THEY DECORATE THEIR CLOTHES AND WE HAVE A BLAST. BUT, UM, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR SPRING LEAK IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TURF FIELD. AND I AM, I'M HEARING ALL THESE, THIS, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET SICK. I DON'T WANT ANY OF THE GIRLS HAVE, OR BOYS OR ADULTS OR ANYONE THAT'S PLAYING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE ANY HEALTH CONCERNS. BUT WE NEED A PLACE TO PLAY. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT PLACE TO PLAY, THEN WE, WE REALLY, I CAN'T OFFER A LEAGUE. AND, UM, A LOT OF, I THINK EVERY SINGLE GIRL, LITTLE GIRL THAT'S HERE HAS BEEN A PART OF GIRLS UNITED TOO. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND SPEAKING FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AS WELL. BUT, UM, YEAH, WE JUST NEED A PLACE TO PLAY AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE HEALTHIEST VERSION THAT WE CAN, [03:00:01] BUT, UM, WE JUST CAN'T. WE WANNA PLAY IN THE RAIN AND WE NEED TO PLAY IN THE RAIN. SO I THINK WE GOTTA GO TURF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANDY SCHRADER TO BE FOLLOWED BY ELLIOT MARTIN. UH, THIS IS HONESTLY ONE OF THE WEIRDEST, UH, CONVERSATIONS I THINK I'VE EVER HEARD. I'M A SOCCER DAD. UH, MY DAUGHTER MADE SOCCER ALL STARS THIS LAST FALL. THE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS HERE DID NOT ASK MY OPINION AND THEY DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME. I'VE ACTUALLY DONE THE RESEARCH ON ARTIFICIAL TURF AND IT'S EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC, PROBLEMATIC HEALTH IMPACTS ON OUR CHILDREN. THE US MEN'S AND CHIL AND WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAMS WILL NOT PLAY ON ASTROTURF. OF COURSE, I WANT FIELDS FOR MY DAUGHTER TO PLAY ON, BUT I ALSO WANT THOSE FIELDS TO BE SAFE FOR HER HEALTH. THIS IS LIKE CIGARETTES. WE KNOW THEY'RE BAD FOR OUR HEALTH, SO WHY KEEP SMOKING? AND BETTER YET, WHY LET OUR KIDS SMOKE? I STARTED PAYING ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS WITH PLASTIC GRASS AFTER MY THEN 8-YEAR-OLD SON TOOK A WEEK LONG ATHLETIC CAMP ON LUCCHESE PLASTIC GRASS. THE TEMPERATURE AVERAGED ONLY 80 DEGREES THAT WEEK, BUT EVERY NIGHT HE CAME HOME, HE'D EXHAUSTED, COMPLAINING, AND COLLAPSED INTO BED. HE SWORE HE WOULD NEVER PLAY A TEAM SPORT AND I STARTED PAYING ATTENTION. SO THE FACT IS, AND ALL OF US WHO HAVE SAT BESIDE A PLASTIC TURF FIELD KNOW VERY WELL THE PLASTIC TURF GETS REALLY HOT IN THE SUN. SO HOT THAT THE SCIENTISTS AT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY HAVE STUDIED IT AND FOUND IN PEER REVIEWED STUDIES I SENT YOU THAT ASTROTURF GETS HOTTER THAN CONCRETE AND ASPHALT PEER REVIEWED, NOT SOME RANDOM REFERENCES TO AN UNNAMED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT THAT THE ARTIFICIAL TURF EXPERT COULDN'T COME UP WITH. IF YOU WANNA PULL, DO YOU WANNA PUT ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN HERE TONIGHT AT RISK FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION THEY CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND. AS THE CLIMATE GETS HOTTER, WE CANNOT. IN GOOD CONSCIOUS HOST YEAR ROUND PLAY CAL OSHA LAWS REQUIRE SHADE AND MORE PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS ABOVE 95 DEGREES AT 80 DEGREES, THE SCIENCE SHOWS THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF CAN REACH 160 DEGREES. WHY WOULD WE LET OUR CHILDREN PLAY A STRENUOUS SPORT AT THAT TEMPERATURE? THE SCIENCE SHOWS THAT WE SHOULD HALT PLAY AT ANY TEMPERATURE ABOVE 75 DEGREES ON ARTIFICIAL TURF. PLAYING AT NIGHT ONLY IS NOT A YEAR-ROUND SOLUTION. NATURAL TURF ALLOWS PLAY IN HOTTER TEMPERATURES. EVERY DECISION WE MAKE AS PARENTS CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN'S LONG-TERM HEALTH. OR WORSE, EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER OR YOU CAN MAKE THEM WORSE. IF YOU DECIDE TO INSTALL ARTIFICIAL TURF AGAIN, YOU ARE ACTIVELY, KNOWINGLY MAKING THINGS WORSE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHOOSE WISELY SO I DON'T HAVE TO TELL MY ALL-STAR DAUGHTER SHE CANNOT PLAY AT LUCCHESE, WHICH I WILL DO. THANK YOU ELLIOT MARTIN TO BE FOLLOWED BY NICOLE WARWICK. DEAR CITY COUNCIL MAYOR MCDONALD, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M ELLIOT MARTIN, UH, PRESIDENT OF PETALUMA YOUTH LACROSSE, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FROM MAINTAINING THE LUCCHESE FIELD AS AN ALL-WEATHER PLAYING SURFACE. OUR ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RECREATIONAL LACROSSE PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. WE RELY ON THESE TURF FIELDS FROM FALL TO LATE SPRING. THE CURRENT TURF FIELD IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS LONG OVERDUE FOR REPLACEMENT. OUR ORGANIZATION IS ASKING THAT YOU APPROVE THE TURF FIELD BECAUSE IT IS FAR MORE CAPABLE OF DELIVERING ALL WEATHER PLAYABILITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS CONTRAST WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF GRASS FIELDS, INCLUDING THOSE IN PETALUMA, WHICH MUST BE LEFT UNUSED FOR EXTENSIVE PERIODS DURING THE RAINY SEASON. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS DIRECTLY EXPERIENCED THE LIMITATIONS AND CONFLICTS IN ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR HIGH DEMAND. THIS INCLUDES SHARING FIELD SPACE WITH OTHER SPORTS. DO NOT WISH TO USE THEIR DEDICATED GRASS FIELDS HERE IN THE CITY DURING THE RAINY SEASON, AS WELL AS OTHER OUTSIDE CLUBS THAT COME TO THIS CITY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ALL WEATHER FIELDS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM. HAND HANDLING, HIGH DEMAND AND CONTINUOUS USE IS WHY THESE TURF FIELDS WERE BUILT IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE HAVE, UH, BETWEEN 20 TO 40 PLAYERS USING THE FIELD CONTINUOUSLY FROM 4:00 PM TO 8:00 PM FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THESE FIELDS WILL BE USED BY FOR GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS ALL DAY LONG ON THE WEEKENDS. THE PREVAILING TECHNOLOGY AND GRASS FIELDS CANNOT HANDLE THIS. WE NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE GRASS FIELDS THAT WE HAVE TODAY AT PRINCE PARK AND WISEMAN TO SHOW EXAMPLES OF THE PROBLEM. POOR CONDITIONS OCCUR THERE DESPITE ACTIVITY THAT IS FAR LESS THAN WHAT THE TURF FIELDS ROUTINELY ENDURE. DESPITE THESE ISSUES, I WOULD NOT ADVOCATE TURNING THESE SURFACES AT PRINCE PARK OR WISEMAN INTO TURF. THE CITY'S PROPOSED TURF DESIGN AT LUCCHESE ADDRESSES MANY OF THE KEY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RAISED. THE TURF FIELDS HAVE UNIQUE PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY THAT OUR EXISTING GRASS FIELDS DO NOT CURRENTLY DEMONSTRATE. ALL THAT SAID, GRASS FIELDS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE VALUE HERE IN PETALUMA. WE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIMENT WITH GRASS FIELD DESIGNS THAT COULD MEET THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF ALL WEATHER FIELDS AND PETALUMA, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FOUR TURF FIELDS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. ON BEHALF OF PETALUMA AT THE CROSS, I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE TURF FIELD DESIGN. THANK YOU. THANK [03:05:01] YOU NICOLE WARWICK TO BE FOLLOWED BY EILEEN. UM, HAITCH. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY MANAGER, CITY STAFF. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO PARKS AND REC. THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALLOWING US TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BLUE ZONES PROJECT PETALUMA. AND FROM THAT VANTAGE POINT, ANY MOVEMENT, ANY OPPORTUNITIES, WE'RE GETTING OUR COMMUNITY OUT AND MOVING IS REALLY IMPORTANT. UM, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS SIGNED ON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COOL PETALUMA AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS ADVOCATING FOR THE NATURAL GRASS REPLACEMENT. BUT I WAS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY TWO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. NOT FROM MY CAPACITY AS THE LEADER OF BLUE ZONES, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, PRIOR TO STEPPING INTO THIS ROLE, I SPENT SEVEN YEARS PROFESSIONALLY ENGAGED IN CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION. NOW, WHEN I SAY CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, I MEAN WHAT ARE WE DOING WITHIN OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE IMPACTING CHILDREN'S HEALTH, THAT DEMONSTRATES BOTH ACUTE HEALTH IMPACTS AND LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS, LATENT EXPRESSIONS OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS. SO I WANNA KIND OF SPEAK TO THAT AND FILL IN A LITTLE BIT OF A VOID. 'CAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION BEING SHARED ABOUT THE HEALTH HAZARDS WITH RE WITH WITH REGARDS TO THE PLASTIC TURF, UM, IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAPACITIES, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR INSTITUTIONS, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, AND THEIR ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT, THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND THE GREAT SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTES. I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT A DOUBT, THERE ARE EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF. IT IS A CHALLENGE. I'LL SAY I'M A VETERAN SOCCER MOM 20 YEARS, RIGHT? I'M READY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO COME OUT AND PLAY, BUT I WON'T TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN TO AN ARTIFICIAL TURF PARK. AND HERE'S WHY. THE PFAS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT'S A FOREVER CHEMICAL. WE CAN'T FILTER IT FROM OUR WATER SYSTEMS. THE MORE WE PUT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT, THE MORE WE ARE IMPACTING EVERYONE'S COLLECTIVE HEALTH. BUT THE WAY IT SHOWS UP FOR CHILDREN IS DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT. WHEN WE LOOK AT A LOT OF THE SCIENCE THAT'S COMING OUT, THOSE STANDARDS AND WHAT SAFE PARTS PER BILLION IN DRINKING WATER AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE BASED ON A STANDARD FOR 180 POUND MALE, THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION YOUTH WHO ARE SHORTER, SMALLER, CLOSER TO THE FIELD. THEY BREATHE MORE, THEY EAT MORE, THEY, THEIR EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS IS TREMENDOUSLY GREATER THAN ADULTS. SO WE'RE TALKING ASTHMA, ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION, DERMAL IRRITATIONS. IT'S A KNOWN CARCINOGEN, MICROPLASTICS. IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THYROID AND STEROID RECEPTORS IN THE BODY, LIVER, DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, DIGESTIVE HEALTH, AND HEAT RISKS THAT OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED. SO I JUST NEED TO PRESENCE THAT IN YOUR DECISION MAKING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EILEEN HACH TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANN EDM MINSTER. THANK YOU MAYOR CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF PUTTING ARTIFICIAL TURF ON LUCCHESE FIELD. I'M A LOCAL RESIDENT AND I'M ALSO AN AFFILIATE OF THE, UH, ORGANIZATION CALLED BEYOND PLASTICS. AND THAT ORGANIZATION'S SOLE PURPOSE IS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTICS AS ITS BEEN SAID. MAKE NO MISTAKE, ARTIFICIAL TURF IS PLASTIC GRASS. I'VE LOOKED AT THE MAN MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE AND I CLAIM THAT THESE PRODUCTS ARE RECYCLABLE. THERE IS NO RECYCLING FACILITY FOR ARTIFICIAL GRASS IN CALIFORNIA UNLESS THAT MANUFACTURER IS WILLING TO TAKE IT OFFSITE AND OUT OUT OF THE STATE. IT WILL GO INTO OUR LOCAL LANDFILL. AND IF IT DOES GET RECYCLED, PLASTIC WILL GET RECYCLED INTO ANOTHER PLASTIC PRODUCT AND WILL GO INTO THE LANDFILL ONCE AGAIN. DO WE WANT THAT TO BE OUR LEGACY? I'M SURE MOST OF YOU'RE AWARE THAT PLASTIC STAYS WITH US FOREVER AND IT JUST TURNS INTO NANOPLASTICS AND, AND MICROPLASTICS. AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THOSE CAN GO INTO OUR WATERWAYS AND, UM, POLLUTE OUR SOIL. BUT THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN. EVERY TIME YOU WALK ON A PLASTIC GRASS FIELD, IT EMITS NANOPLASTICS AND MICROPLASTICS THAT THEY ACTUALLY BREATHE IN. THE STAFF REPORT DOES NOT ACTUALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE HEALTH ECONOMISTS CONSIDER AN EXTERNAL ECONOMY, THE DISEASE BURDEN BY PLASTIC [03:10:01] CHEMICALS, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT $250 BILLION PER YEAR FOR OUR ENTIRE NATION. IN ADDITION, THE PRODUCTION OF PLASTIC GRASS IS A SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GASES FROM THE EXTRACTION TO THE MANUFACTURING TO THE TRANSPORTATION. MOST OF PLASTIC PRODUCTION IS LOCATED IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS WHERE THE CANCER RATE IS FAR HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. BY PURCHASING ANOTHER PLASTIC PRODUCT, WE ARE ENCOURAGING INDUSTRIES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT THE VULNERABLE AMONG US. PETALUMA IS A MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL CITY FROM THE GAS STATION BAND TO COOL PETALUMA TO THE PURPLE CUP PROGRAM. WE ARE AN EXAMPLE TO ALL CITIES OF SUSTAINABILITY. LET'S LET OUR PAST GOOD CHOICES GUIDE OUR FUTURE ONES. THANK YOU AND EDM ADMINISTERED TO BE FOLLOWED BY UM, JAMES NORFORD. HI ANNA EDIN, NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC. UH, YOU WON'T BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE ARTIFICIAL TURF AND IN SUPPORT OF NATURAL GRA GAS GRASS. . OH MY GOODNESS, IT'S GETTING LATE. , I, UH, I HAVE SEVERAL POINTS I WANNA MAKE AND I'LL TRY TO MAKE THEM FAIRLY QUICKLY. UM, FIRST ONE IS SIMPLY A REMINDER WHICH WASN'T MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THAT IN TWO YEARS, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THE CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION TOOK AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THIS TOPIC AND PASSED A MOTION ADVISING CITY COUNCIL THAT WE FELT THAT WE DIDN'T WANT ASTROTURF, UM, TO QUOTE THAT MOTION THAT WE WANTED TO SEE OVER TIME TO CONVERT EXISTING ASTRO TURF FIELDS WITH NATURAL GAS. SO I THINK THAT'S VERY CONSISTENT WITH CERTAINLY HOW I FEEL TODAY. I'M NOT HERE REPRESENTING THE COMMISSION, BUT JUST TO REITERATE THAT AND REMIND THAT THAT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON THE PART OF THE CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION. UM, THAT ON TOP. UH, SO WE, WE HAD SUBSTANTIAL INFORMATION BEFORE US AT THAT TIME AND THAT FRANKLY, QUITE PALES IN COMPARISON WITH THE SUBSEQUENT INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU ALL THIS EVENING. AND PREVIOUSLY, I WAS BOWLED OVER TO SEE THE 150 PAGES OF SUBMITTED PUBLIC COMMENT IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING, READ MOST OF IT, SKIMMED ALL OF IT, AND FOUND IT EXTREMELY COMPELLING IN FAVOR OF NOT PUTTING ASTROTURF OF ANY FLAVOR DOWN EVER AGAIN. PLASTICS, UH, HAVE NUMEROUS NEGATIVE HUMAN ECOSYSTEM HEALTH EFFECTS, WHICH SEVERAL OF PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE SPOKEN TO WITH GREAT AUTHORITY AND ELOQUENCE. SO I WILL NOT REPEAT THOSE. BUT, UM, WILL CITE AS AMONG THE MOST COMPELLING PIECES OF TESTIMONY, THE, UM, SONOMA COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT CASE STUDY, THE TESTIMONY FROM DIANE CONWAY, PRESIDENT OF SAFE HEALTHY PLAYING FIELDS, AND FROM, UH, PHD NURSE CATHERINE DOD. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THOSE THREE IN DETAIL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. UM, I'VE ALSO HAD EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE. UM, I WORKED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL AS PART OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE LEAD, UM, LEADERSHIP AND ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT NATIONALLY. AND DURING THAT TIME HAD UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS. THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED. THEY WILL PROVIDE MISINFORMATION, PARCEL INFORMATION AND HIDE WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW IN ORDER TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. SO JUST A CAUTIONARY NOTE THERE. AND, UM, SPEAKING OF CAUTIONARY, ONE THING I WOULD SAY, LOOK TO OUR SISTER CITY SAN F THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TIME HAS EXPIRED AND WE HAVE JAMES NORFORD, NOR THANK YOU AND, UH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY AM WILLA NORTON. UH, MY NAME'S JAMES NORTON. I'M A RESIDENT PETALUMA AND A VOLUNTEER TEAM MANAGER FOR NORTH COAST FOOTBALL CLUB. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR REPLACING THE FIELDS AT LUCCHESE, UH, WITH STE SYNTHETIC TURF AT MY OWN HOME, I'VE REPLACED MY LAWNS WITH SYNTHETIC MATERIALS USING NATURAL INFIELDS, CREATING A SAFE LOW MAINTENANCE SPACE WHERE MY CHILDREN PLAY YEAR ROUND. OUR CITY SPORTS FIELDS SHOULD OFFER THE SAME BENEFIT. RIGHT NOW, OUR PUBLIC GRASS FIELDS ARE IN TERRIBLE SHAPE FOR DEVELOPING PLAYERS. UNEVEN SURFACES, BOARD DRAINAGE AND HEAVY WEAR MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR ATHLETES TO TRAIN AND COMPETE AT A HIGH LEVEL. THE WELL MAINTAINED FIELDS THAT WE DO GET TO PLAY ON [03:15:01] ARE TYPICALLY PRIVATE AND REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT UPKEEP. OUR CURRENT PUBLIC GRASS FIELDS ARE NOT EVEN COMPARABLE. TURF FIELDS PROVIDE A DURABLE, COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION THAT ENSURES RELIABLE P RELIABLE PLAY, REDUCES MAINTENANCE COSTS AND ATTRACTS HIGH LEVEL PLAYERS, ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ATHLETES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE TURF FIELDS FOR OUR ATHLETES, FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU WILL AND NORTON TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, UH, MIGUEL BURINO HERE. LET'S DO THIS DARLING. HI, MY NAME IS WILLA NORTON AND I'M NINE YEARS OLD AND I LEARNED TO PLAY SOCCER AT LUC CASEY PARK. BECAUSE OF THE TURF FIELD, I WAS ABLE TO PRACTICE SOCCER ALL YEAR LONG. MY DREAM IS TO PLAY SOCCER AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY. THE FIELDS IN PETALUMA IS WHERE I WORK TO GET BETTER WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PLAY ALL YEAR LONG. AND I GO FIELD WITHOUT POTHOLES, LESSENS MY CHANCES OF BETTER AT SOCCER. PLEASE LET HIS CHILDREN PLAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MIGUEL SANO TO BE FOLLOWED BY HEATHER GALLAGHER. I'M GONNA PUT THIS UP A LITTLE BIT. ALRIGHT, SO A LOT OF YOU GUYS DON'T PROBABLY KNOW ME OR YOU DO KNOW ME A LITTLE BIT. MY STORY BACKSTORY JUST A LITTLE BIT. FIRST TIME I EVER PLAYED, WHAT'S WITH THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE, KEVIN MCDONALD, WHO WAS RIGHT HERE OUT HERE. OKAY, SO I PLAYED FROM PYL TO INTERNATIONAL TO BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD. YOU ASKED ME THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT FIELDS SHOULD WE USE? TURF FIELD. OKAY? NATURAL GRASS. AND FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T WANNA TAKE ANYBODY TO GET OFFENDED OR ANYTHING. I'VE NEVER STUDIED THIS. I JUST, RIGHT NOW SPEAKING, SO WHEN I SAY ABOUT TURF GRASS, OKAY, BEAUTIFUL NATURAL GRASS, OKAY? BUT THAT IF YOU ASK ME AS A PROFESSIONAL PLAYER WHEN I PLAYED NATIONALS OR WHATEVER, ET CETERA, YEAH. WE, WE WANT TO PICK GRASS OVERALL. I DON'T THINK PETALUMA HAS THE BUDGET TO AFFORD A NATURAL GRASS. NUMBER ONE, ARE YOU GONNA BUILD THE STADIUM? NUMBER TWO, ARE YOU GONNA BUILD MORE FIELDS ON THE OTHER SIDE? AND ALL I'M ASKING YOU IS, I THINK WHEN I FIRST STARTED, MY FIRST SOCCER HERE IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS LEESE PARK. DID I PLAY LEESE WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY ALL MESSED UP? YES. WAY BEFORE EVEN TURF. DID I HURT MY LEG? DID I BROKE MY ANKLE WHEN I WAS PLAYING THERE? YES, I COULD BE HERE BACK AND FORTH, WHATEVER, LIKE, OH, HEY, THE SCIENTIFIC AND ALL THAT STUFF. ALL I WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND IS DON'T ASK ME, I'M HERE. I RUN A CLUB. ENO SOCCER CLUB HAVE ABOUT 90% LATINOS. OKAY? SO THE THE REASON WHY I STARTED THIS CLUB, IT'S NOT TO TAKE KIDS OUT OF THE STREET TO PUT KIDS IN A GAME OF SOCCER OR IN ANY SPORTS. THESE ARE BEING USED NOT ONLY LACROSSE AND THE OTHER ORGANIZATION OF SOCCER OR ANOTHER THINGS, UH, UM, FRISBEE IS BEING USED. NOT ONLY THAT. AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE, HEY, ANOTHER FIELD. AND IF YOU ASK MY QUESTION, HERE WE ARE. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK I GET VERY EMBARRASSED AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL BECAUSE THE FIELD IS ALREADY THERE. WHY ARE YOU GONNA VENT THE WHEEL? WHY ARE YOU GONNA CREATE ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE IT THERE? THERE'S NOTHING TO IT. AND AGAIN, YES. ARE WE THE PARENTS? DO WE GET TO DECIDE WHO GETS TO PLAY ON THOSE SOCCER FIELDS? YEAH, AS A PARENT, IF I WANNA PUT MY KID IN HALF, WHO KNOWS? DAY TOMORROW, LIFE IS SHORT, I MIGHT BE GONE. OKAY, WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS? WE'RE ALREADY HERE, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE FAITH. AND AS WE LIVE HERE, LET'S GET THESE KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY THE GAME IN A TURF FIELD. NOTHING IS BEING SAID. NOTHING IS CHANGING. LET'S DO THIS FOR THESE KIDS. AND THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU HEATHER GALLAGHER TO BE FOLLOWED BY LANDRY. PURCELL. GOOD EVENING. I'LL TRY NOT TO REPEAT A LOT OF THOSE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID. SO I GONNA TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT WATER AND THE IMPACTS OF YOUR GUYS' DECISION. FIRST OFF, I WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS AND ALL OF YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST THAT YOU GUYS HAVE OR THAT WE HAVE IN YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS OF PETALUMA AND THAT CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, AND THE BLUEPRINT FOR PETALUMA IS QUITE AMAZING AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT PLASTIC AND WATER. THE PETALUMA CITY STAFF REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL TURF FOCUSES ON WATER CONSERVATION. HOWEVER, THERE [03:20:01] IS NO MENTION OF WATER POLLUTION. SCIENCE DISTRICT PUBLISHED ON AN ARTICLE CALLED THE DARK SIDE OF ARTIFICIAL GREENING PLASTIC TURF AS WIDESPREAD POLLUTANTS OF AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS. THEY INVESTIGATED RUNOFF AND RIVER AND SEA SURFACE WATER SUGGESTING THAT ARTIFICIAL TURF FIBERS MAY CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO PLASTIC POLLUTION. UP TO 20,000 FIBERS A DAY FLOAT DOWN THROUGH THE RIVER. AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FIBERS WERE FOUND FLOATING ON THE SEA SURFACE OF NEAR SHORE AREAS. ARTIFICIAL TURF. APART FROM IMPACTING URBAN DIVERSITY, URBAN RUNOFF, HEAT ISLAND FORMATION AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL LEACHING IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION TO NATURAL AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSIONS DENIED UC, SANTA BARBARA'S APPLICATION TO INSTALL A SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD JUSTIFYING THEIR DENIAL. THE COASTAL COMMISSION SAID THAT THE TOXIC RUNOFF FROM SYNTHETIC TURF THREATENS WILDLIFE AND THE COASTLINE. SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY STATE THAT PETALUMA VALLEY IS ONE LARGE WATERSHED WITH MANY ABOVE AND UNDERGROUND WATERWAYS ALL FEEDING INTO THE CREEKS, RIVERS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY, AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE SITE FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD IS SITUATED IN OUR WATERSHED WITH MANY WELLS AND LYNCH CREEK NEARBY. PLEASE TEST THE WATER AND SAMPLE THE SOIL FOR PFAS. JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER SOCCER PLAYERS HERE. UM, I WAS AN ATHLETE FOR MANY YEARS. I PREFER PLAYING ON NATURAL GRASS FIELDS 'CAUSE I HAVE ASTHMA AND ARTIFICIAL TURF EXASPERATES, MY ASTHMA. MY NIECE AND NEPHEW BOTH HAVE ASTHMA. THEY PLAY ON ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS. THEY ALSO HAVE REALLY BAD HEAT DAYS WHERE THEY, THEY CAN'T EVEN PLAY BECAUSE THEY'RE ON ARTIFICIAL TURF. THANK YOU. LANDRY PURCELL, UH, PUR PURCELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, ALEXANDRA, UH, SEWELL. THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR, YOU KNOW, ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. WHAT A TRICKY THING. RIGHT? YEAR-ROUND PLAY IS IMPORTANT. PLAY IS IMPORTANT. I HAVE A KID WITH A DHD. THEY NEED, KIDS NEED TO MOVE. IT'S GOOD FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. I GET IT. UM, I'M ALSO PARENT AND, YOU KNOW, I, I ALSO RUN THE, UM, THE SONOMA COUNTY YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB THAT WE HAVE AT MEET AT ANGELA'S ICE CREAM SHOP. I ASKED THE KIDS NOT TO COME TODAY BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS REALLY TRAUMA INFORMED FOR THEM TO HEAR ABOUT THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE IN THE PLASTIC GRASS. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE UNDER, UNDER THE PLASTIC GRASS. WE KNOW THE TIRE CRUMBS BAD NOW. WE WERE PROMISED BEFORE BY INDUSTRY THAT IT WAS FINE. I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE PLASTIC BLADES. UM, TOXIC CHEMICALS AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, SCISSOR AND PLASTIC GLASS, INCLUDING INCLUDING CARCINOGENS, NEUROTOXINS, HORMONE DISRUPTORS, IMMUNE SYSTEM DISRUPTORS, THAT BIO ACCUMULATE IN OUR BODIES. IT COULD HAVE LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T BRING KIDS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE PLAYING ON THAT. AND I THINK AS ADULTS, WE CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS. THE BLADES BEGIN TO DEGRADE. THEY TURN INTO MICROPLASTICS. THE UV RADIATION GETS THEM, UM, UP IN THE AIR AND ABOUT GETS IN OUR LUNGS. MICROPLASTICS NOW FOUND IN THE BRAIN. UM, JUST SEEMS LIKE WE CAN DO BETTER. RAGUL RANCH HAS NINE FIELDS GOING IN. THEY HAVE ONE COMING IN THAT'LL BE READY IN APRIL. MODEL FIELDS WITH GOPHER WIRE PUT DOWN FROM THE GATE WITH OWL BOXES WITH, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE COULD PRI PRIORITIZE IN OUR KIDS IN PETALUMA. SO THE CHOICE ISN'T NO SOCCER OR CRAPPY FIELDS OR IT, WE CAN HAVE MODEL FIELDS. OUR KIDS DESERVE IT. AND WE CAN FIND THE MONEY IF WE PRIORITIZE OUR CHILDREN. AND THE REASON WHY YOU WANNA HAVE MORE FIELDS IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES ONE PLAY, IF YOU'RE GONNA GO THE NATURAL ROUTE, ONE FIELD, YOU NEED TO MOVE AROUND. PLAY SOMETIMES. SO YOU HAVE A NEW EMERGENCY POLICE AND FIRE CENTER GOING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. START OVER. PUT A FIELD IN THERE THAT WORKS FROM THE GATE, LOW WATER GRASS. UM, GO FOR WIRE AND HAVE THE POLICE DO LIKE A, A POLICE YOUTH ATHLETIC LEAGUE. HAVE THE POLICE RIGHT THERE WITH THE KIDS. WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE SOME FIELDS THAT WERE DONE. RIGHT? WE COULD SPREAD OUT PLAY. WE COULD DO THIS RIGHT. OUR KIDS DESERVE IT. UM, THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN TIBURON. THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN WINDSOR. THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN TATI. THEY FIGURE IT OUT IN SONOMA. ALL THESE PLACES HAVE NATURAL GRASS FIELDS THAT WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE TOOK THE TIME AND ENERGY AND THEY PRIORITIZED OUR CHILDREN. MASSACHUSETTS, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE TURF FUND. YOU CAN ASK LOCAL PHILANTHROPIES. [03:25:01] I KNOW ONE THAT'LL PITCH IN RIGHT NOW. HAVE YOU TRIED ASKING THE HOAS FUND? HAVE YOU TRIED ASKING THE SOCCER FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO CHIP IN TO DO MORE? UM, LIKE THE BASEBALL ASSOCIATIONS, THE FAMILIES CHIP IN, THEY SUPPORT THE FIELDS. MY HUSBAND'S GONNA GO WORK THE FIELD THIS WEEKEND FOR THE BASEBALL. THE SOCCER FAMILIES COULD BE ASKED TO DO MORE LEAGUES, COULD BE ASKED TO DO MORE LOCAL PHILANTHROPIES. FAMILIES. WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE SAFE SOCCER. THANK YOU, ALEXANDRA SEWELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY FIONA MOYLAN. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS ALEX SOLE. MY DREAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO PLAY SOCCER AND I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY ON THESE FIELDS. THE TURF FIELDS ARE ALWAYS BETTER BECAUSE THEY ARE EASIER, FLATTER, AND YOU DON'T TRIP ON ANY POTHOLES FOR KIDS. TURF IS WAY MORE SAFE BECAUSE THERE IS NO HOLES NOW GRASS. IT IS MORE WORK. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO MOW THE GRASS OR WATER IT IF IT IS TURF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FIONA MOYLAN TO BE FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE DOD. HI, I'M FIONA MOLAN. I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTH COAST FC SOCCER CLUB. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO LET US PLAY ON TURF AND WE FINISH THE TURF FIELDS AT LUCCHESE. WHILE THE GRASS FIELDS ARE GREAT TO PLAY ON, THEIR CONDITIONS ARE POOR. WE WANT YOU TO MAINTAIN THE GRASS FIELDS WE HAVE, BUT KEEP LUCCHESE TURF SO WE HAVE FIELDS TO PLAY ON YEAR ROUND IN ANY WEATHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND LET US PLAY ON TURF. THANK YOU. CATHERINE DODD TO BE FOLLOWED BY VINNY ZO. HI, MY NAME'S CATHERINE DODD. YOU GOT A LETTER FROM ME. UM, AS ONE OF THE MANY COMMENTS THAT WAS SUBMITTED. I'M A REGISTERED NURSE WITH PHD AND I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE AND SPECIALIST. I'M A CONSULTANT IN THAT AREA. I SPOKE AT THE PARK AND REC COMMISSION MEETING ON AUGUST 23RD, UM, WHEN THE PARK AND REC COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO NOT, UH, PAVE PETALUMA WITH PLASTIC, UM, FOR HEALTH REASONS. UM, AND THAT PARTICULAR VOTE OR OUTREACH WASN'T INCORPORATED INTO THE STAFF REPORT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS UNUSUAL. UM, AND ALSO THE CLIMATE COMMISSION UNANIMOUS VOTE WASN'T IN THE STAFF REPORT. THE OTHER THINGS THAT I, I JUST WANNA TOUCH ON BECAUSE MANY OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, UM, MENTIONED THE DI THE CHEMICAL EXPOSURES. BUT I DID WANNA SAY THAT THE STAFF REPORT SAYS THAT, UH, NATURAL GRASS WILL PREVENT 90 DAYS OF PLAYING. SO IT'S NOT YEAR ROUND. WELL, THE REALITY IS, IS THAT LAST YEAR SONOMA COUNTY HAD 124 DAYS OVER 80 DEGREES THAT WENT UP 24 DAYS IN ONE YEAR. IT'S ONLY GONNA CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND KIDS SHOULD NOT BE PLAYING ON PLASTIC IN, IN, WHETHER THAT'S THAT HOT. NOW, INFILL IS NOT GOING TO DECREASE THE, THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT'S ABSORBED BY THE PLASTIC AND THEN REFLECTED BACK CREATING A HEAT ISLAND. LOOK IT UP ON THE, WELL, IT MIGHT NOT BE ON THE EPA WEBSITE ANYMORE, . UM, BUT I ACTUALLY, I SAVED THAT PARTICULAR PAGE. UM, THAT, THAT HEAT ISLAND DOESN'T COOL OFF. IT STAYS AND IT ACTUALLY MAKES THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD HOTTER. SO KIDS ARE PLAYING IN A SAUNA, IN A DRY SAUNA DURING THE SUMMER. SO WE WATER THOSE PLASTIC FIELDS AND THEY CREATE STEAM. SO KIDS ARE NOT ONLY IN A SAUNA, UH, DRY SAUNA, THEY'RE IN A STEAM SAUNA. AND MORE AND MORE KIDS ARE COLLAPSING, UM, BECAUSE OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT EXPOSURE. SO THOSE 90 DAYS ARE, ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO THE 124 DAYS OVER 80 DEGREES THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SEE AS CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASES. SO LET ME JUST SAY A THING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. THE STAFF REPORT TALKS ABOUT SYNTHETIC TURF BEING MADE OF POLYETHYLENE. POLYETHYLENE IS THE MOST THERE, THERE'S MORE POLYETHYLENE THAN ANY OTHER PLASTIC. AND IT CREATES METHANE. IT BEGINS TO OFF GAS METHANE THE MINUTE IT'S ROLLED OUT. AND IT CR AND IT DOES THAT THROUGH ITS ENTIRE LIFETIME UNTIL IT GETS DUMPED IN OUR LANDFILL. THAT METHANE IS 28 TIMES MORE, MORE POLLUTING IN TERMS OF A GREENHOUSE GAS THAN CO2 IS. SO IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, IF WE AS A, AS A TOWN ARE WORRIED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE WANNA PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, LET'S FIX THE BAD NATURAL GLASS, NATURAL GRASS FIELDS. DON'T JUST PAVE THEM WITH [03:30:01] PLASTIC. KIDS NEED NATURE. SO DO THE REST OF US AND OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE THE COURAGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. VINNY CORZO TO BE FOLLOWED BY VERONICA OLSON. HI, UH, MY NAME'S VINNY CORZO. I'M, UH, DIRECTOR OF COACHING FOR NORTH COAST FC AND ALSO, UH, THE GIRLS SOCCER COACH AT CASA GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL. BEEN COACHING SOCCER HERE IN PETALUMA FOR 25 YEARS, 18 YEARS AT CASA GRANDE. UH, I DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK TONIGHT 'CAUSE WE HAD A GAME UP THE STREET AT PETALUMA HIGH ON A TURF FIELD, WHICH WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IF, UH, WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT THE TURF. SO, UM, A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO QUICKLY, UM, TOUCH BASE ON. UM, OUR FIELDS ARE CURRENTLY IMPACTED IN A, IN A HUGE WAY AS IT STANDS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, AT ANY GIVEN TIME, FROM FOUR TO FIVE 30, IF YOU GO OUT TO THE FIELDS, YOU'LL SEE 50, 60, 70 KIDS ON EACH FIELD. THAT'LL HAPPEN AT FOUR TO 5 30, 5 30 TO SEVEN, SEVEN TO 8 34 NIGHTS A WEEK, AND THEN GAMES ON THE WEEKENDS. SO NO GRASS FIELD CAN STAND UP TO THAT. FORGET RAIN, FORGET WEATHER. THE MOST PERFECT GRASS FIELD IN THE WORLD WILL BE CHEWED UP AND DESTROYED IN A WEEK WITH THE KIND OF USAGE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO I DON'T THINK GRASS IS A GOOD SOLUTION FOR, UM, THE KIND OF USAGE THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE. OKAY. UM, I WANNA ASK IF, DO WE KNOW WHAT A, AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF PFAS IS FROM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING? I, I THINK THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. ARE WE BANNING NON-STICK COOKWARE, TOOTH FLOSS, SHAMPOO, WATER? YEAH, THOSE ARE ALL BANNED. INTERESTING. UM, STAIN PROOF, FA UH, FABRICS, FOOD PACKAGING, KIDS' TOYS, ON AND ON. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. APPLE WATCHES. HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS GOT ONE ON RIGHT NOW WITH A, WITH A PLASTIC BAND ON IT? OKAY. REGARDING HEAT, OUR LEAGUE HAS A, HAS A STANDARD CALLED A WET BULB. AND WHEN A, UH, WHEN A WET BULB, UH, TEMPERATURE REACHES A CERTAIN AMOUNT, SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF, UH, TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY GAMES AND TRAININGS HAVE TO BE CANCELED. SO WE'RE, UH, WE'RE AWARE OF, OF HEAT AND WE LOOK AT IT AND WE HAVE A WET BULB. AND IF IT REACHES A CERTAIN STANDARD, IT CAN'T BE PLAYED. WE ALSO LOOK AT, UH, UM, AIR QUALITY AND WE'VE CANCELED MANY TRAININGS AND MANY GAMES WHEN AIR QUALITY GETS, GETS TO BE TO A POINT. SO WE'RE, UM, WE'RE OF COURSE CONCERNED WITH THE HEALTH OF OUR KIDS, UM, FROM OUR CLUB. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE TO MITIGATE THAT. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE SOME QUALITY GRASS FIELDS. I'VE PLAYED SOCCER MY WHOLE LIFE. I'VE COACHED SOCCER MOST OF MY LIFE. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE SOME QUALITY GRASS FIELDS. I THINK THE SOLUTION IS REPLACE THE TURF AT LUCCHESE WITH THE BEST QUALITY NEW TURF THAT CAN BE, THAT CAN BE HAD WHILE EXPLORING THE OPTIONS OF IMPROVING GRASS FIELDS WITH THE EXISTING EXISTING GRASS FIELDS WE HAVE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERONICA OLSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY BEVERLY ALEXANDER. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR TIME TONIGHT AND ALL OF THE DILIGENT, UM, ANALYSIS THAT HAS GONE GONE FOR THIS ISSUE AND FOR THE STAFF REPORT TO ADDRESSING THE, THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS, UM, GETTING FIELDS FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO ALL THE COMMENTS TONIGHT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED TO ME TONIGHT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF TRAINED TO BE IN A DESIRE FOR A QUICK FIX. OUR SOCIETY IS BASED ON THAT. EVERYTHING IS FAST. WE'RE INTO FAST FOOD. WE WANT FAST ANSWERS. UM, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO SLOW DOWN ON CHOICES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY ULTIMATELY IN THE LONG TERM. AND THE, I WANT MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REALITIES OF WHAT IT'S GONNA DO TO, TO OUR WATERWAYS, TO OUR CHILDREN, AND TO THE EXPOSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GONNA HAVE WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF. SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS, AGAIN, I KNOW I'M ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT DESIGN, BUT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, , BECAUSE IF WE CAN DESIGN NATURAL TURF THAT IS EFFICIENT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOPHER WIRE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LENDY, UM, TALKED ABOUT THAT MAYBE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO HAVE EVERYBODY WIN SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTION AND, UM, HAVE OUR GRANDCHILD AND CHI OUR GRANDCHILDREN'S AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH BE A PRIORITY. UM, AND THE OTHER THING THAT HAS KIND OF STRUCK ME WAS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARTIFICIAL TURF AND, UM, AND NATURAL AS NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY, BUT THE, THE HEAT [03:35:01] COMING FORWARD WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IS ANOTHER FACTOR. SO THAT, THAT NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. UM, AND I THINK THAT, UM, LET ME SEE WHAT ELSE. THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH THAT'S BEEN SAID. I JUST DON'T WANNA REPEAT. UM, YEAH, I JUST, I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN A NATURAL TURF THAT CAN WORK AND TRY AND TRY TO GET THE, THE HUMAN SIDE. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE INTO PLANTING TREES THAT WILL ALSO KIND OF, UM, AN INTERSECTION OF OUR TREE POLICIES AND THE THINGS THAT THE PARK AND RECS SAID THAT THEY DON'T WANT THE PLASTIC TURF. WE HAD OUR CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION SAYING, WE DON'T WANT PLASTIC TURF. OUR COMMUNITY IS SAYING. SO NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT THE BEST SOCCER FIELDS, THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE YES. WE WANT, WE WANT TO SUPPORT EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY. BUT I JUST, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. THANKS. THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING, BEVERLY ALEXANDER. HI. I'M GLAD I MADE IT. . UM, IN A WAY, UM, THIS IS REALLY HARD 'CAUSE I'VE HEARD ALL THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS SPEAKING, AND I HAD THREE, UH, CHILDREN WHO PLAYED SOCCER. UH, AND THAT WAS BEFORE ANYBODY HAD ARTIFICIAL TURF. I'M ALSO A LITTLE OFFENDED AT THE IDEA OF CALLING TURF USING THE TERM TURF OR ARTIFICIAL TURF. IT'S LIKE CALLING, UM, UH, A ROCKING HORSE, A REAL HORSE OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW. UM, SO THERE'S THAT. IF I TOOK COCAINE, I COULD GET A LOT MORE DONE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. AND THE ARTIFICIAL TURF IN A WAY IS LIKE THE COCAINE, BECAUSE YOU CAN PLAY ALL YEAR. IT DOESN'T HAVE GOPHERS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL THIS GREAT STUFF ABOUT IT, SEEMINGLY. BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO, I, I MEAN, I'M GETTING OLD AND I USED TO WATCH ADS WHERE DOCTORS WERE TELLING US IT WAS GOOD TO SMOKE CIGARETTES. THIS IS NOT SMART. UM, AND JUST THE SA AND THE REASON I'M HERE, I HAVE TO GET UP AT 5 45 TO DO TECH SUPPORT ON A ZOOM. AND I'M LIKE, NO, I DON'T WANNA GO TO CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT. BUT I JUST TODAY READ A NEW STUDY CAME OUT TODAY THAT SAID THAT HU BRAINS ARE FULL OF MICROPLASTICS. AND FROM, I THINK IT WAS 19, FROM 2016 TO 2024, THE AMOUNT OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE BRAIN INCREASED BY 50%. DO WE REALLY WANT TO ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE IGNORANT AND IGNORE THESE THINGS? HOW MUCH ARE WE GONNA BE PAYING IN HOSPITAL BILLS DOWN THE ROAD? I WOULD MUCH RATHER HIRE MORE PEOPLE TO WORK ON THE FIELDS, ENOUGH PEOPLE TO KEEP THOSE FIELDS HEALTHY THAN, UH, THAN SEE MY NOW IT WOULD BE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN BECOME ILL. SO I AM ASKING YOU TO DO SOMETHING REALLY HARD BECAUSE THE SPORTS COMMUNITY, A LOT OF THEM ARE GONNA BE REALLY UPSET IF YOU KEEP THE NATURAL GRASS. BUT IT WILL ALSO SUPPORT ALL THE LITTLE CREATURES THAT WE DON'T EVEN SEE. THE BACTERIA, THE LITTLE BUGS AND STUFF THAT ARE ALL PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND WITHOUT WHICH WE MIGHT NOT BE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THAT CLOSES PUBLIC COMMENT AND FOR THE EVENING, AND I'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK UP TO, UH, THE DAAS AND SEE, UH, WHERE THE COUNCIL WANTS TO START. CERTAINLY BEEN A, A LOT OF VERY GOOD COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE, UM, HAVING THEIR SAY TONIGHT. AND, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINN. SURE. I'LL JUMP INTO THE DEEP END ON THIS. UM, SO IT'S A TOUGH DECISION. UH, IT'S A DECISION OR IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A ISSUE THAT I DON'T, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT I DON'T CONTEMPLATE LIGHTLY. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE LISTENED TO, I'VE MET WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY GROUPS. UH, I'VE READ THE PUBLIC [03:40:01] INPUT. I'M AN ENVIRONMENTALIST. I'M A FATHER OF A CHILD WHO PLAYS ON OUR LOCAL FIELDS. I'M A YOUTH COACH WITH EXPERIENCE ON OUR LOCAL FIELDS. UH, LAST MARCH YOU WOULD'VE FOUND ME OUT WITH THE, UH, WITH THE, UH, VACUUM BRIGADE AT PETALUMA VALLEY, LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD AS WE SUCKED THE WATER OUT OF, OFF THE FIELD TO, TO JUST GET OUR GAMES IN. AND I'M NOW SOMEONE WHO HAS TO MAKE A BALANCED DECISION THAT IMPACTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO, A FEW AREAS THAT I THINK ABOUT IN THIS REGARD. I THINK ABOUT THE LOCATION AND THE DEMAND. LUCCHESE IS A HEAVILY USED FACILITY THAT'S CENTRALLY LOCATED, AND IT'S MORE EASILY ACCESSIBLE VIA ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION. AND IT'S A PARK THAT WE NEED TO PROMOTE MORE USE OF. AND THE FORTHCOMING SKATE PARK IS GOING TO MAKE IT AN ALREADY DESIRABLE LOCATION, EVEN MORE VIBRANT. MY POINT BEING IS IT'S ALREADY IN HIGH DEMAND AND THAT DEMAND IS ONLY GONNA GROW. I THINK ABOUT THE USER FEEDBACK AND THE CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE FIELD USERS ARE ASKING FOR SYNTHETIC SURFACE. 80% ARE SAYING YEAR ROUND USE IS VERY IMPORTANT. UH, USING A NATURAL SURFACE WILL GREATLY IMPACT THE AVAILABLE TIME ON THE FIELD THAT CAN BE PLAYED ON. AND THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF GREAT ALTERNATIVES FOR THAT DEMAND TO GO TO. I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THE, ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRONT. WHILE NOT PERFECT, THE SYNTHETIC SOLUTIONS ARE CLEARLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLING A FIELD THAT IS PFAS, THAT'S MANUFACTURED WITHOUT PFAS. UM, UM, UM, MATERIALS, UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, IMPLEMENTING, UH, A, A BIODEGRADABLE INFIELD. SO IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UH, IF WE GO THAT SIZE, UH, IF WE GO THAT DIRECTION, GIVEN THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THIS FIELD COMPARED TO THE REST OF OUR PARKS, IT'S 1%. IT'S A SMALL AREA. UM, I THINK ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, WE NEED TO PROVE THAT WE CAN CREATE A NATURAL SURFACE. IT WOULD BE A DISASTER, IN MY OPINION, IF WE PUT IN A NATURAL SURFACE HERE AND WE COULDN'T UPKEEP IT FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT'S THAT IMPORTANT OF A PARK, AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN GET IT WRONG. UM, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US PROVE THAT WE CAN DO IT WITH ANOTHER FACILITY. AND LASTLY, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO BE, UH, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE, UH, UH, A, UH, UH, SYNTHETIC SURFACE, UH, IS THE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE CHOICE RIGHT NOW. UH, AND FOR THOSE REASONS I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, UH, OPTION TWO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VOLUNTEERS OPINIONS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHRI. OKAY, I'M GONNA AGREE WITH, UH, WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, QUINT HAS SAID RIGHT NOW. UM, I'M SORT OF LIKE IN BETWEEN 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN A HORTICULTURALIST AND ENVIRONMENTALIST FOR A LONG TIME. AND, UM, MY TENDENCY IS, OKAY, MINIMIZE CHEMICALS IN OUR LIFE. AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS A SOCCER COACH FOR 13 YEARS. MY KID, BOTH KIDS PLAYED SOCCER. I COACHED IN BOTH ON THE VARIOUS FIELDS I'VE BEEN TO VARIOUS FIELDS. I'VE, UH, UM, TWISTED MY ANKLE SEVERAL TIMES ON, ON, UH, CURRENT GRASS FIELDS AT THIS POINT. SO, YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY COMPLEX AND I WANNA GO IN THE DIRECTION OF ALL NATURAL GRASS. THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO END UP. HOWEVER, THE CURRENT DEMAND AND NEED BY THE SOCCER COMMUNITY AND THE, UM, IN THE LACROSSE, AND EVEN NOW RUGBY AND OTHER THINGS, UM, THEY WANT AT LEAST THIS TEMPORARY FIX RIGHT NOW. BUT LET'S, LET'S DO THINGS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE AWAY. SO HERE, I'M TRYING TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND, SO SUPPLY, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY FIND IT, FILL THE NEED FOR, FOR THE FOLKS THAT, THAT ARE DEMANDING IT FOR EQUITY REASONS, FOR 'CAUSE I'VE, I'VE HEARD THESE BEFORE WHEN I WAS OVER IN AG AND OPEN SPACE. WE GOT THE SAME ARGUMENTS, UM, FOR THAT. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, I, I WANT SOME, A HUGE AMOUNT OF MITIGATION DONE AND EFFORT AND MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. SO SOME OF THE THINGS I'M GONNA BE, UM, UH, CONSCIOUS OF, WELL, THOSE FOLKS THAT WANNA PLAY ON THE ARTIFICIAL TURF ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT THOSE RISKS. 'CAUSE WE ACCEPT RISKS ALREADY ON OUR ROOFS, OUR ASPHALT, OUR CARS, WHERE WE PLAY BASKETBALL. THERE'S, WE, WE HAVE RISKS THAT WE CHOOSE EVERY DAY. EVEN GETTING YOUR CAR. THERE'S PFAS, IT'S, IT'S A CHOICE. OR YOU GET ON YOUR BIKE. NO PFAS, IT'S A CHOICE. UM, SO I WANNA MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION. I WANNA GO FOR BICYCLES JUST FOR THAT REASON ALONE. UM, BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN. I'VE ASKED SEVERAL OF THE QUESTIONS. I WAS TRYING TO LEAD A LITTLE BIT INTO WHAT I'M SEEKING. SO I WANT, UH, TO KNOW THAT RECYCLING IS ACTUALLY REAL AND NOT ARTIFICIAL. B******T THAT'S COMING AT US BECAUSE [03:45:01] I'VE HEARD THAT IT IS B******T. AND I NEED THAT CONFIRMED WITH EVIDENCE. NOT JUST SAYING, OH, IT'S RECYCLABLE. I WANNA SEE THE FACILITY, I WANNA SEE VIDEOS OF IT, AND I WANNA SEE THE ACTUAL PROCESS. AND HOW MUCH ENERGY DOES IT TAKE TO RECYCLE. I WANNA KNOW, UM, IT, 'CAUSE OTHERWISE I OTHERWISE I, I WANT TRANSPARENCY ON THIS THING. I WANNA UPGRADE. UM, LET'S SEE. WE HAVE THE THREE FIELDS THAT ARE BEING UPGRADED WITH GRASS, BUT THEY'RE STILL ADOBE CLAY. I WANT ONE FIELD. REMOVE THE ADOBE CLAY AND ACTUALLY PUT IN SOME REAL SOIL AND LET'S TRY IT AND MAKE IT WORK. I WANT OUR CITY STAFF TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND TEST AND TRY ON THEIR OWN. LEARN, GET THE EXPERIENCE. MAKE AN ALL-WEATHER FIELD OUTTA GRASS AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN. NOT JUST TRY TO TAKE ADOBE SOIL AND MAKE IT. THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN MAKE ADOBE SOIL INTO A NICE GRASS FIELD. IMPOSSIBLE. IT, THE SOIL WILL NOT ALLOW IT. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SOIL. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE GRASS. IT'S ALL ABOUT SOIL. WE NEED TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE SOIL, PUT IN REAL SOIL ALONG WITH ALL THE GRADES THAT WE SAW, EVEN WITH WHAT IT IS. WOULDN'T, IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE THAT MUCH. IT, IT CAN BE DONE AT LOW COST. LET'S MAKE IT AT LEAST ONE OTHER FIELD, COMPLETELY BRAND NEW WITH THE PROPER SOIL AND THE PROPER ELEMENTS IN IT. AND LET'S HAVE OUR STAFF LEARN HOW TO MANAGE IT. RIGHT? AND THEN IF THAT WORKS, THEN LET'S START CONVERTING ALL THE OTHER FIELDS DOWN THE ROAD. LET'S MAKE THAT CONVERSION, BUT LET'S PROVE THAT WE CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW, I DO NOT HAVE THE CONFIDENCE. I'VE WORKED WITH STAFF. THEY HAVE WONDERFUL STAFF. THEY'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE, THEY'RE HARDWORKING, THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY'VE GOT. THEY ARE NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, THE EXPERTISE, OR THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT ON A GRASS FIELD. THAT, THAT THE PROFESSIONAL GRASS FIELD THAT WE WANT, THE THEORETICAL GRASS FIELD, THE PROS ARE DOING IT. THEY'RE SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE PER SQUARE FOOT ON THEIR FIELDS THAN WE ARE, UH, CAN, CAN DO ON OUR FIELD. SO THEORETICALLY, YEAH, IT WOULD BE LOVELY. I DON'T THINK OUR STAFF IS CAPABLE OF, OF MANAGING IT. WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT MOWERS TO START WITH. WE HAVE TO BUY ALL NEW MOWERS. ANYWAYS, THAT'S ANOTHER THING. SO I WANT US TO TEST ONE FIELD COMPLETELY. ALL NEW SOIL. ANOTHER THING I WENT TO TEMPERATURE. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE WET BULB TEMPERATURES. THAT'S, THAT'S HOW YOU ACTUALLY TEST THE AIR TEMPERATURE USING A WET BULB. YOU ACTUALLY SWING A THERMOMETER AROUND TO DO THAT. OKAY? EVERY DAY ON A HOT DAY, SWINGING IT AROUND, IF IT HITS A TURNING TEMPERATURE, IF IT'S A HUNDRED DEGREES ON THAT WET BULB OFF THAT FIELD, YOU GO, PERIOD. IF IT'S 30 DAYS STRAIGHT, IT'S 30 DAYS STRAIGHT OFF THAT FIELD. TOO HOT OF A TEMPERATURE. SO MITIGATE FOR ALL THE, THE HEAT. SO NO HEAT EXHAUSTION ALLOWED. TEMPERATURE GETS HIGH. IT HAS TO BE REGULATED, HAS TO BE TESTED. IF WE NEED TO PUT IN A, UM, INSTRUMENTS RIGHT NEXT TO THE FIELD TO ACTUALLY TEST. 'CAUSE WE, THERE'S WEATHER STATIONS YOU CAN BUY. AND SO PUT THERE, LET'S PUT A WEATHER STATION IN THERE, WHICH HAS THESE TEMPERATURE CHECKS BELOW THE GROUND, AT THE GROUND AND ABOVE THE GROUND. LET'S PUT PERMANENT THERMOMETERS IN THERE. IF IT REACH A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE, RED, RED FLASH FLASHES, GET OFF THIS FIELD NOW. SO THAT CAN BE DONE. THAT'S NOT THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSES. UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE ALL ASTRO ALL NEW USES OF AS, UH, THE ARTIFICIAL TURF BE GONE. SO THAT THIS IS THE LAST ONE. ABSOLUTELY. THE LAST ONE, ANOTHER ONE. UM, I WOULD LIKE THE WATER. THIS BILE SWELL I TALKED ABOUT. I WANT A BILE SWELL PUT IN THAT WOULD COLLECT THE WATER OFF THIS FIELD. AND I WANT TO TEST IT. I WANNA SEE WHAT'S COMING OUT. IS IT THE GRASS PARTICLES? IS IT THE MICROPLASTY? LET'S COLLECT THEM. AND IF WE NEED TO CLEAN IT UP, LET'S CLEAN IT UP. OKAY? AND IF WE NEED TO GO BACK AND, AND, AND SAY, HEY, YOU GUYS, YOUR WARRANTY, YOU GUYS TOTALLY LIED TO US. WE GOTTA GAIN CONTAMINATION. YOU COME BACK, YOU FIX IT. I WANNA SEE YOUR IRRIGATION. MADE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT IN CASE WE DO NEED TO COOL IT OR, UH, OR DO SOME CLEANING DISINFECTION. SO AT LEAST WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY. SO WE NEED TO HAVE A PROPER IRRIGATION SYSTEM UNDERGROUND WITHIN IT. WE NEED TO HAVE SHADE STRUCTURES ON THE SIDELINES FOR THE KIDS TO GET SHADE. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS VERY LITTLE SHADE. THERE'S NO SHADE FOR THEM OR FOR THE, FOR THE OBSERVERS. SO WE HAVE TO BUILD SHADE STRUCTURES FOR SURE. UM, AND THE FOLKS THAT DO GO OUT THERE PLAY, DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE TAKING A RISK? WELL, WHEN I GET IN MY CAR, I, I CAN SMELL THE, THE FORMALDEHYDE IN A NEW CAR WHEN I GET IN. THIS SAYS, OKAY, I'M SMELLING FORMALDEHYDE. I ACCEPT THAT RISK. DO THE, ALL THE PLAYERS KNOW THE RISK. OKAY. SO THE PARENTS NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE IS, UM, THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL HAZARDS. SO WHETHER IT'S BE A SIGN UP FRONT SAYING, OH, OKAY, THERE'S CHEMICALS, WHATEVER IT TAKES. BUT YEAH, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND THEY HAVE TO ACCEPT THE RISK THAT THAT'S OKAY, THAT THEY WANNA PLAY GREAT, LET 'EM PLAY. UM, AND I WANNA SEE THE BUDGET. THE WHOLE PARKS MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTAFFED FOR WHAT THEY DO COMPARED TO, UH, WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST. UM, I REMEMBER BACK, 'CAUSE I WAS AT, UH, UM, IN, IN, UH, A COUPLE DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE THE STAFFS HAVE BEEN MOST STAFFS AROUND BOTH FOR CITIES, ALL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CUT IN HALF. BUT GIVEN TWICE AS MUCH WORK TO DO, TWICE TO ACREAGE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, UM, THAT'S BEEN A PRETTY COMMON THING ACROSS. SO WE NEED TO GO BACK AND SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY GONNA BUDGET OUR MAINTENANCE PART SO THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB. UM, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WOULD EXPECT. AND YEAH, I I, I'LL GO FOR THE ARTIFICIAL FIELD. IF WE CAN MEET THESE, MY EXPECTATIONS, [03:50:01] AND I'M GONNA BASICALLY DEMAND THAT IF WE CAN MEET THESE, GREAT, LET'S GO FOR IT. LET'S MAKE, LET'S HA KEEP THE SOCCER FIELDS HAPPY, BUT IF NOT, I'M GONNA GO THE OTHER WAY. SO I, I'D LIKE STAFF TO RESPOND TO THAT, UM, WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE TALKING TO SEE IF WE CAN DO THESE THINGS. OTHERWISE, I'LL BE VOTING NO. BUT IF WE CAN DO THESE THINGS, I'LL BE VOTING. YES. THANK YOU. NICE MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU. UM, I'M, I'M SORRY IT'S SO LATE. AND THE, THE CHILDREN LEFT ALREADY BECAUSE, UM, I'LL TELL YOU THAT'S OUR FUTURE. THAT'S OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR, I CAN SEE, UH, FIONA MONAHAN AS A MAYOR IN 2046. UM, IN MY LIFETIME, LEAD PAINT IS NO LONGER USED ON PLAYGROUNDS, TOYS, POLES AND BARS. RED DINE NUMBER THREE WAS BANNED. YES, I GREW UP WITH RED KOOL-AID. SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS ARE NOW MANDATORY. DDT WAS DROPPED BY AIRPLANES OR AS KIDS PLAYING IN PARKS. AND WE HAVE A BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS. AND WE ALL KNOW THE SAYING PLASTIC IS DRASTIC. I THINK MY OLDEST SON, SEBASTIAN, EVEN WROTE A SONG ABOUT THAT. AND SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE OCEAN, THERE'S A, THERE'S A, A PILE OF PLASTIC FLOATING AROUND BECAUSE IT'S NOT, IT DOESN'T DECOMPOSE. UM, YET WE HEARD A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS FROM SPEAKERS TONIGHT ON THE WANTING OF PLASTIC GRASS. I WATCHED MY GRANDSONS PLAY LAST FALL ON, UM, PRINCE PARKS FIELD, AND I THINK I TEXTED THE, UM, STAFF AND SAID, THESE FIELDS ARE MAGNIFICENT. UH, YEAH, THEY'RE GONNA TUR OVER A GOPHER HOLE. UM, I GREW UP ON A FARM. THERE'S LOTS OF GOPHERS, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. IN THE NINETIES, I WENT ON THE PARKS TO MARKS COMMISSION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PLAYING FIELDS. I WAS TOLD TO SENATE, TAKE MY KIDS TO RUN AT PARK OR TATI TO PLAY AND PRACTICE SOCCER. NOW WE HAVE FIELDS, AND WE HAVE EVEN A BRAND NEW, UM, SOCCER FIELD WITH SYNTHETIC GRASS THAT'S YEAR ROUND, EXCEPT ON THOSE HOT DAYS AT THE EAST WASHINGTON PARK. BUT WE WANNA DO BETTER IN PETALUMA. THE CITY OF PETALUMA MAY NEEDS TO MAINTAIN ITS EXISTING GRASS FIELDS. WE NEED TO MAYBE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THIS LUCCHESE AREA WITH THE CORRECT GO FOR WIRE AND THE CORRECT, UM, SOIL SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE CRACKS AND DO IT CORRECTLY WITH THE RIGHT GRASS SEED. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS WITH THE RIGHT STAFFING, EVEN IF WE NEED TO OUTSOURCE, BECAUSE I KNOW OUR STAFF IS OVERWHELMED WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE. AND PLAYING FIELDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY HAS GOTTA BE A PRIORITY. AND I APPROVE THIS, UM, GRASS FIELDS OVER PLASTIC TURF AT THE PARKS AND RECS COMMISSION MEETING. IT WAS UN UNANIMOUS. AND OF COURSE, NOW WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND OUR COUNCIL STAFF REPORT THAN WE DID IN OUR PARKS AND REC STAFF, UH, REPORT. BUT THAT HAPPENS WITH FOUR MONTHS OF, UM, NEW RESEARCH. BUT LET'S CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD. AND FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, IT WOULD BE EASY TO VOTE IN FAVOR AND CONTINUE TO STATUS QUO OF SYNTHETIC GRASS. BUT I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. AND I WANNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, REVERSE THE MISTAKE WE MADE IN THE LAST FEW DECADES OF HAVING SYNTHETIC TURF AND NOT ADDRESSING OUR GRASS NEEDS AND NATURE. UH, DIRT DON'T HURT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON. HANG ON MY COMPUTER. SHUT DOWN. HANG ON. I, UM, YEAH, THIS IS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGING ISSUE. UM, I, I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT REGAL PARK, SO I DECIDED TO DO A DEEP DIVE AND FIND SOMEBODY WHO ACTUALLY CREATED THIS PARK AND, AND CONTINUES AS A SOCCER COACH THERE. AND SO I WAS TALKING TO HIM TODAY AND HE SAID THAT THE GOPHERS ARE BACK. THE RAPTORS COME AND THEY GRAB THE GOPHERS AND THE FIELDS ARE NOT USED FROM LIKE NOVEMBER TO MAY. AND THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO IS A [03:55:01] REAL ENVIRONMENTALIST. AND HIS, UM, WHAT HE SAID TO ME WAS HE WISHED THAT HE WOULD HAVE ONE ALL YEAR ROUND FIELD BECAUSE AT REGAL PARK, IT'S NOT USED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AND WHAT SOME OF THE PUBLIC IS ASKING FOR, THEY WANT AN ALL YEAR ROUND FIELD. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT PFAS IS EVERYWHERE. I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THINK OF MRS. ROBINSON, YOU KNOW, THE MOVIE, UM, AND YOU KNOW, BY PLASTICS, YOU KNOW, BUY STOCK IN PLASTICS, AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY. IT'S IN OUR WATERWAY, IT'S EVERYWHERE. AND IT'S JUST LIKE TEFLON, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE MAGIC, YOU KNOW, SO YOUR, YOUR EGGS WOULDN'T STICK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE COOKING. AND THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT THE, UM, CORPORATIONS BROUGHT US AND HOW DO YOU REVERSE IT? IT'S, IT'S NOT EASY TO REVERSE BECAUSE IT IS EVERYWHERE. IT'S NOT JUST ON THESE TURF FIELDS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. BUT THE REALITY IS, IF YOU, IF WE HAD MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WE COULD HAVE PERFECT TURF FIELDS, BUT THEY'RE STILL NOT GONNA BE USED ALL YEAR ROUND. SO WE HAVE ONE GROUP THAT'S ASKING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS FIELD, SO IT CAN BE USED ALL YEAR ROUND. AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP THAT IS SAYING WE CAN'T MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION AND THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL GRASS FIELDS, WHICH WOULD BE IDEAL. BUT I, I MEAN, I'M GONNA BE A REALIST. THERE IS NOT THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN EVERY FIELD IN THIS TOWN. I MEAN, THE GOPHER, I MEAN, I LIVE ON ADOBE AND IT JUST CRACKS. I WAS RAISED ON ADOBE AND IT JUST CRACKS. YOU GO TO, UM, THE FIELDS AND THERE'S CRACKS EVERYWHERE. AND TO REALLY THINK THAT THESE FIELDS ARE GONNA BE PRISTINE ALL YEAR ROUND AND WE'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE CRACKING AGAIN, AND WE'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE GOPHERS COME UP AGAIN. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S REALISTIC. UM, I AM ACTUALLY IN SUPPORT OF REPLACING THIS FIELD, BUT I AGREE WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES. I DON'T REALLY WANNA SEE ANY MORE OF THESE FIELDS CREATED IN OUR TOWN. I'M NOT REAL PLEASED WITH WASHINGTON, YOU KNOW, BALL FIELDS, THAT THERE'S SO MUCH SYNTHETIC AS SYNTHETIC AT THAT AREA. I MEAN, THAT IS, UM, IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IN MY OPINION, BUT IT DID. AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UM, I JUST THINK THIS PARTICULAR AREA, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. THERE IS A WHOLE GROUP THAT REALLY WANTS TO USE THIS FIELD. AND IT IS USED ALL THE TIME. I HAPPEN TO LIVE CLOSE TO THAT AREA, AND I GO BY THERE A LOT. IT IS PACKED FROM TILL NIGHTTIME, UH, EVERY WEEKEND IT'S PACKED. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IF WE CHOOSE TO GO WITH A, A GREEN FIELD, A NATURAL FIELD, IT'S NOT GONNA BE USED THE SAME. I MEAN, I'M LISTENING TO, YOU KNOW, SEEING ABOUT THE HEAT. MY DAUGHTER PLAYED ON THIS ORIGINAL FIELD AND IT WAS REALLY HOT WITH THE RUBBER. AND SO I THINK THAT THE PRODUCTS ARE BETTER. DO I REALLY TRUST THE REPS? NOT NECESSARILY, WHERE'S THIS GONNA GO IN A LANDFILL? IT'S NOT GONNA GO IN A LANDFILL. WE KNOW THAT. I MEAN, IT GOES, PROBABLY GOES TO CHINA AND THEN IT'S JUST THROWN. SO WE DON'T EVEN HAVE OUR RECYCLING DOWN IN THIS ENTIRE WORLD. MAYBE WE THINK THAT WE DO EVEN IN THIS AREA, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT THAT'S THROWN OUT IN THE LANDFILL. UM, AFTER THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT REGAL PARK TODAY, IT JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, MADE YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A, IT'S DIFFICULT TO CREATE THIS TURF. SO IT'S PERFECT ALL YEAR ROUND. AND EITHER WE CHOOSE TO HAVE AN ALL YEAR ROUND FIELD OR WE CHOOSE NOT TO. AND I THINK, UM, I HAVE READ EVERY LETTER, I'VE CONTACTED A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS AND HAD CONVERSATIONS, AND I'M JUST, AND THEN I HEAR THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE SYNTHETIC TURFS IN THERE, AND HOW IS THAT GONNA CHANGE OUR, OUR STUDENTS? I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE THE MOST STUDENTS ARE, ARE IN SCHOOLS, NOT AT THIS PARTICULAR PARK. [04:00:01] UM, I MEAN, THIS IS JUST A CHALLENGE. IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE HATED BY ONE SIDE AND YOU'RE GONNA BE ON THE NEXT DOOR IS GONNA BLOW UP AND THEY'RE GONNA JUST BE SLAMMING YOU. SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH WAY YOU GO, I DON'T THINK THE SOCCER PEOPLE ARE, BUT I ASSURE YOU THERE'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP THAT IS GONNA BE ON THERE, AND I KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE, AND THEY ARE JUST GONNA BE JUST SLAMMING YOU CONSTANTLY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT GETS A LITTLE BIT TIRING THAT THAT'S HOW IT ENDS UP AT THE END OF A DECISION THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE. I, I GET THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLETELY. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S CLEAR. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS REALLY THE SPECS ON THESE PRODUCTS AND FIND OUT REALLY WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM. AND I, I JUST WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PRODUCT ITSELF. AND, AND, UM, AND I DO WANT THE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE WATER QUALITY CONTROL AS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RIRI WAS SAYING. AND I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THE WATER AT LUCCHESE PARK IN THE POND, IS THAT USED FOR RECYCLING OR IS THAT USED FOR WATERING? FOR IRRIGATION? FOR IRRIGATION, YEAH. I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT. , YOU WERE VERY SURPRISED. I MEAN, I JUST NEVER KNEW THAT. I DO KNOW THAT THE PURPLE PIPELINES ON MARIA DRIVE FOR RECYCLED WATER ARE THERE, BUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE CONNECTED TO LUCCHESE PARK FOR PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. I MEAN, IT'S, IT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE PURPLE PIPES THERE, BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO GET IT INTO THE PARK. AND THERE'S COMPLICATIONS WITH THAT ALSO. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YEARS OF PLANS AND YOU KNOW, ONE HAS ONE PLAN, THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PLAN SOMEPLACE ELSE, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT ANOTHER AREA. SO IT'S NOT LIKE ONE CONSISTENT, UM, SYSTEM BELOW GROUND. I MEAN, THEY ALL HAVE TO BE KIND OF TIED TOGETHER, AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY WERE ALL TIED TOGETHER. AND THE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH OUR LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT ON SONOMA MOUNTAIN ROAD, UH, OR SONOMA MOUNTAIN, UM, YEAH, ROAD. AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS, THERE WAS, THERE WAS ALL THESE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND IT WAS FOR THE IRRIGATION. AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME BEFORE THE STAFF COULD ACTUALLY REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES THAT SOMETHING WAS PUT TOGETHER. AND IT JUST WAS A CHALLENGE, BUT IT FINALLY GOT DONE. OKAY. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING WITH THE RECYCLED WATER. I FEEL AS THOUGH IF THE PURPLE PIPES AND THE RECYCLED WATER WAS THERE TODAY, I WOULD PROBABLY WANNA GO WITH THE, THE TURF. BUT THEN AFTER TALKING ABOUT WR RANCH AND THE FACT THAT IT IS NATURAL TURF AND IT'S BEEN PREPARED SO GOPHERS WOULDN'T COME UP, AND THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, AT LEAST ONE PARK HERE IN NATURAL TURF THAT, UM, THAT WE CAN REALLY DO A DEMONSTRATION ON. I MEAN, JUST GET ONE SO IT'S, SO IT'S DONE AND SEE HOW, SEE WHAT THAT TIMEFRAME IS. SO WHAT'S A PLAY PERIOD? HOW ARE THE GOPHERS GONNA COME THROUGH? ARE THE CRACKS GONNA COME THROUGH AGAIN? AND I WANNA SEE WHAT CAN ACTUALLY, WE CAN DO AS A CITY, JUST TAKE ONE FIELD AND FOCUS ON THAT. BECAUSE ADOBE IS NOT EASY TO WORK ON. AND SANDY LOAM ISN'T EASY ALSO. I MEAN, THERE'S, BUT ADOBE IS MORE PROBLEMATIC AND ADOBE DOES HAVE GOPHERS NOW. WE HAVE NEVER, I'VE BEEN IN MY HOUSE 40 SOME ODD YEARS, NEVER HAVE HAD GOPHERS UNTIL THE LAST FIVE YEARS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM, BUT THEY ARE ALL AROUND. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. THE HAWKS LOVE THEM. SO I, MY TENDENCY IS TO SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ALL-WEATHER FIELD, BUT GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND STARTING TO REALLY FIND OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR NATURAL FIELDS SAFER AND, UM, AND MAINTAIN THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MAINTAINED. GREAT. OKAY. I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT AGAINST YOU. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF MANPOWER TO DO WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING AND IT'S, IT'S CHALLENGING. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. UM, YOU WANT IN NEXT? SURE. OKAY. [04:05:03] SO FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE ALL THE FAMILIES AND, UH, SOCCER HOOLIGANS STICKING IT OUT THIS LATE. UM, THESE CHAIRS AREN'T COMFORTABLE AFTER FOUR HOURS, BUT, UM, AND IT SEEMS, SEEMS LIKE THE POTHOLES IN, UH, OUR FIELDS ARE NOW STARTING TO RIVAL OUR ROADS. UM, NO, WE HAVE, WE HAVE BETTER ROADS NOW, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, BESIDES JOKING, I, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ACTUALLY ARE PRETTY, PRETTY DEFICIENT IN OUR, OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT'S VERY APPARENT NOW AS, AS WE'VE BEEN, UH, DISCUSSING IT. AND I THINK WITH ME BEING THE LIAISON TO PARKS AND REC, UM, IT JUST STARTED, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ON ME, BUT, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, REALIZING THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SO SERIOUS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, UH, WE NEED TO GET MORE STAFF, WE NEED TO GET MORE FUNDING OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER PARKS AND LOTS OF OTHER PLACES THAT NEED IT. UM, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S EVEN POSITIONS RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT ARE OPEN IN, IN THAT DEPARTMENT. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK TOO THAT AS, UH, AS KAREN POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE UPON A TIME DRINKING FROM LEAD PIPES WAS, WAS ALL TOO COMMON AND, AND CONSIDERED SAFE. AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE USED ASBESTOS AS FAKE SNOW. AND, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL YEARS LATER WHEN PEOPLE HAD SERIOUS HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS AND IMPLICATIONS THAT, UH, THAT WE ALL REALIZED THIS, THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR US. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT I DON'T CARE. UM, I WANT TO SEE KIDS AND ATHLETES PLAY YEAR ROUND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S, SPORTS ARE A HUGE PART OF DEVELOPING AND GROWING UP. AND, YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK ALL OF US WANT THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THERE'S SERIOUS HEALTH IMPLICATIONS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT. AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT POINTED OUT, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY BY PLASTIC, WE ARE. AND I DON'T, I DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE THAT EITHER. SO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, UM, IT DOESN'T MAKE THIS DECISION ANY EASIER. AND SO I, I FEEL THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, YOU KNOW, BELIEVING THAT MICROPLASTICS ARE VERY DANGEROUS, THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THEM, THE CANCER, THE INFERTILITY, ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS AND RISKS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED, UM, THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY THINKING ABOUT HERE. AND SO FOR ME, IT'S, IT'S VERY HARD TO SUPPORT CONTINUING THAT FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS ON A FIELD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, YOU KNOW, I, UM, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF, UH, COMMENTS TONIGHT AND UH, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF HELPS INFOR VERY MUCH INFORMS, UM, OUR OPINIONS. AND, UM, MY TAKE ON IT, UM, I HEAR WHERE EVERYBODY'S COMING FROM. I MEAN, NOT JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, IN, UH, DOING THE ENVIRONMENTAL THING AT THE CITY. NOT JUST BECAUSE I SPENT A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME ORIGINALLY GETTING THESE FIELD FIELDS BUILT. UM, THE REASON EAST WASHINGTON HAS, UH, THREE FIELDS OUT THERE IS 'CAUSE WE RAN A CAMPAIGN AND GOT 60% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY. SO TO SAY THAT WAS WHAT THE CITY NEEDED TO DO. RIGHT NOW, THE FIELD NEEDS WERE SO GREAT, ALSO NOT BECAUSE I LEFT A LOT OF MY OWN KNEE SKIN ON THE TURF PLAYING THERE. UM, BUT IT REALLY, I, I, I DO KNOW WHERE EVERYBODY'S COMING FROM AND, UH, I DO WANT TO APPRECIATE MR. CORTES, UH, COMMENT THAT, UH, PETALUMA AND, AND CONSA GRANDE GIRLS ARE PLAYING TODAY IN THE RAIN AND COLD. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE BEEN PUSHED TO DUE TO ALL THE SPORTS SCHEDULING. I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GOT TO PICK FIRST AND, AND AND BE A WINTER SPORT. THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PUSHED TO. AND SO WHEN THEY SAY THEY WANT WINTER FIELDS, IT'S BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT'S SET UP NOW. AND, AND, UM, AND OTHER SPORTS HAVE THE, THE OTHER PERIODS, UM, AND, AND THEY'RE PLAYING AT PET AT PETALUMA HIGH OR CASA BE BECAUSE THOSE ARE LIKE THE ONLY FIELDS OPEN IN WINTER OR THE ARTIFICIAL ONES. WELL 0.1 GRASS IS A NINE MONTH SOLUTION. AND TURF, ARTIFICIAL TURF IS A 12 MONTH SOLUTION. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT RAUL RANCH AND WE'VE, UM, SEVERAL OF US SINCE THE FIRST REPORTS CAME OUT AT, AT PARK AND REC THAT RAUL WAS DOING SOMETHING INTERESTING. WE ALL CALLED RA UH, UH, COUNTY PARKS AND SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING SO INTERESTING? AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING RID OF THE GOPHERS. AND WE SAID, ARE YOU PLAYING THROUGH THE WINTER TIME? AND THEY SAID, NO, THE FIELD THING WE'RE DOING IS NOT A WINTER FIELD. WE DO NOT INTEND TO BE OPEN. AND THEN WE CALL 'EM BACK A LITTLE BIT AFTER THEIR SEASON'S GONE THROUGH AND THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT WEAR SPOTS. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ROTATING THE STRIPING ON [04:10:01] THE FIELD SO THAT IT DOES EVEN THEIR FIELD BECAUSE IT IS THEIR ONE GOOD FIELD AT THAT FACILITY. AND THE FIELD THAT THEY DID IS THE BIGGEST FIELD, THE, THE ONLY FULL SIZE FIELD THERE. THOSE ARE REALLY SMALL FIELDS. SO EVERYBODY'S USING THE ONE FIELD. IT'S JUST LIKE OUR PROBLEM. THE W THINGS WEAR BECAUSE OF OVERUSE 'CAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH GOOD PLACES TO PLAY. UM, UH, TYRON'S, MCKENNEY GREEN GOT, UH, LISTED, SAME THING THAT'S NOT OPEN IN THE WINTERTIME AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HEAVY INVESTMENT TO KEEP, UH, AT QUALITY LEVEL BUT NOT OPEN. UM, NOW MAXWELLS OVER IN TOWN OF SONOMA COUNTY PARK, THAT'S AN ALL WEATHER FIELD. THEY CAN BE OPEN IN IN THE SUMMERTIME. UM, YOU KNOW, UH, LIN UP IN SANTA ROSA IS, UM, ALL WEATHER FIELD AND UM, GONNA BE EXPANDED. UM, SO, UM, ALL, ALL JURISDICTIONS CLOSE THEIR GRASS FIELDS DURING AND AFTER RAINS, AND MOST OF THEM DON'T EVEN ISSUE WINTER PERMITS. UH, ELIMINATING LUCCHESE FROM BEING ARTIFICIAL WOULD INCREASE WEAR ON EAST WASHINGTON, NOT SO MUCH THE OTHER FIELD, THE GRASS, BECAUSE NOBODY'S USING THE GRASS 'CAUSE IT ISN'T PLAYABLE. SO ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE COMPETING NOW FOR FOUR FIELD SPACE WOULD COMPETE FOR THREE FIELD SPACE. UM, AND AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S 40, 50 KIDS ON ONE FIELD, YOU KNOW, CONSTANTLY DURING, AND YOU CAN'T REALLY RUN A TACTICAL PRACTICE WHEN YOU HAVE 40, 50 KIDS OUT THERE. SO WE, WE NEED ALL THE SPACE FOR THE KIDS IN THIS TOWN. UM, I KEEP SAYING KIDS, BUT I HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE'S AN OVER FIFTIES SOCCER LEAGUE IN THIS TOWN. YOU KNOW, THE, THE GEER LEAGUES AND STUFF, THEY'RE OUT THERE TOO. AND OLD GUYS NEED, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THEY'RE DUE AS WELL. UM, IF WE ELIMINATE LUCCHESE TO CREATE, UH, UH, WINTER DAMAGE ON THE GRASS FIELDS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T PLAY ON ARTIFICIAL, YOU'D BE ON GRASS. YOU'D BE TEARING IT UP. AND UNPERMITTED USE IS TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS. UM, AND, UM, ELIMINATING LUCCHESE WOULD, UH, TAKE AWAY FROM OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS. LIKE, UH, ROTARY HAS THEIR WIFFLE BALL TOURNAMENT. IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL. SO WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY, IT'S IN SPRINGTIME, THEY PUT IT ON THE ARTIFICIAL TURF. 'CAUSE EVERYBODY CAN PLAY ON THE ARTIFICIAL TURF. EVEN IF THEY GET A RAIN THAT DAY, THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR FUNDRAISER, WHICH HELPS THE COMMUNITY. UM, LITTLE LEAGUE SAYS, OH, WE CAN'T BE DO OUR TRYOUTS IN SPRING BECAUSE OF, UM, THE, THE RAIN OR JUST THE SATURATION OF THE FIELD. WE WANT TO USE THE ARTIFICIAL, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM THIS. UM, BUT 0.2 GRASS ISN'T AFFORDABLE. UH, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE GOOD GRASS FIELD IN, IN PETALUMA. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS RUNNING THE SOCCER LEAGUES, I WOULD COMPLAIN TO THE HEAD OF PARK AND REC, UH, AT THAT TIME AND HE'D SAY, YOU DON'T WANNA PLAY, GO AWAY. HE SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANY BUDGET TO, TO MAKE THAT FIELD ANY BETTER. I'D SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT, AM I GONNA TELL KIDS THAT THE CITY DOESN'T SUPPORT YOUTH SPORTS? AND HE SAID, YOU CAN TELL HIM TO PLAY ON THAT FIELD OR NOT PLAY ON THAT FIELD. I HAVE NO RESOURCES. GOOD GUY LIKE THE GUY, BUT HE'S GOT NO RESOURCES. WHAT'S HIS OPTION? AND, UM, UM, AL ALREADY, UH, UM, PEOPLE FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE COMING HERE TO PLAY ON OUR ARTIFICIAL NEVADA ADULT SOCCER HADN'T GOT MENTIONED. THE, THE ADULT LEAGUES, JUST LIKE THE YOUTH LEAGUES COMING DOWN, SANTA ROSA ATHLETICAL COMING DOWN AND PLAYING AS, UH, A YOUTH PROGRAM IN PETALUMA, NEVADA ADULT SOCCER CALLING, CALLING OUR PARKS MANAGER AND SAYING, YOU HAVE AN OPEN FIELD THIS WEEKEND. WE'RE WE GOT SHUT DOWN ON OUR FIELD. UM, THE PENT UP DEMAND IS HUGE. AND YEAH, THEY'LL TRAVEL AND THEY'LL PAY BECAUSE THERE'S SO FEW GRASS FIELDS FUNCTIONING IN OUR, IN, IN OUR REGION. UM, THE CITY HAS 20 GRASS FIELDS AND FOUR ARTIFICIAL. I THINK THAT'S LIKE A NICE MIX. NOT EVERYBODY PLAYS THROUGH THE WINTER. A LOT OF PEOPLE PLAY THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR. 24 FIELDS IN PLAY IN IN SUMMERTIME, FOUR IN WINTER. THAT SEEMS LIKE A NICE BUFFER TO GET US THROUGH THE WINTER. UM, YOU KNOW, AND AND I I REALLY LIKE THE PRESENTATION NIGHT WHERE IT TALKED ABOUT THE PILOT FIELDS, BUT AS WE ASKED, THERE'S NO INTENTION THAT THOSE PILOT IMPROVEMENTS TO GET ORGANIC FIELDS AND GET BETTER PLAYABLE, DO ANYTHING FOR WINTER PLAY. SO I THINK PERHAPS THE GREAT MISTAKE MAKING MADE OVER TIME WAS NOT INVESTING IN GRASS. WE'VE LET THE PEOPLE DOWN AND NOT FIGURING OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH GRASS. AND CLEARLY WHEN YOU NEGLECT THE GRASS IN THE ARTIFICIAL, IT WORKS. YOU'RE GONNA GRAVITATE TO TO, TO THE, UH, ARTIFICIAL. AND WHEN YOU BUILD AN ARTIFICIAL FIELD, YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORRY IF THE BUDGET FOR MAINTENANCE IS GONE. TIMES ARE GONNA GET TOUGH HERE AT THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN CYCLES. SOMETIMES WE WE'RE DOING BETTER AND INVESTING, SOMETIMES WE'RE CUTTING WHEN WE CUT. WHERE DO YOU THINK IT'S GONNA BE? IS IT GONNA BE IN GRASS MAINTENANCE OR POLICE AND FIRE? THE PLACE THAT GETS CUT IS ALWAYS PARKS FIRST. UM, YOU KNOW, I I REALIZE PLASTIC ISN'T OUR FUTURE AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS AND, AND CONCERN FOR THESE ISSUES. WE, UM, [04:15:02] WHEN PARK AND REC BANNED, AND THIS PREDATES TO YOU GUYS, UM, PAR BANNED GLYPHOSATE AT, UH, CITY PARKS AND, UH, ALL CITY PARKS AND MEDIAS, WE, UM, WE TESTED WHAT IT TOOK TO KEEP THE MAINTENANCE OF MEDIAS AND, AND LANDSCAPE STRIPS. UM, WITHOUT THAT. AND WE REALLY COULDN'T AFFORD THE LABOR. THERE'S JUST NO WAY YOU COULD DO THE MAINTENANCE ON IT. YOU, YOU JUST COULD NOT. AND WE AGREED THAT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE IS TO BAN THE GLYPHOSATE. IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE IT WAS AN AESTHETIC TREATMENT. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, IT'S NOT AN AESTHETIC TREATMENT, BUT IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL THAT WE HAVE NO ALTERNATE REPLACEMENT FOR. YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT, NONE OF US ARE PROPOSING A GRASS MIDDLE OF WINTER. THAT'S NOT A THING. WE'RE ASKING THE PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE SUBSTANTIALLY. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ASK YOU TO PUT IN A HEAT PUMP, IT COMES OUTTA YOUR POCKET A LITTLE, BUT YOU'RE STILL WARM AND COZY AT NIGHT. WHEN WE PUT IN, WHEN WE ASK FOR OTHER, UH, CHANGES HERE THAT ARE CLIMATE DRIVEN, THEY, THEY COME OUTTA YOUR POCKET, BUT THERE'S AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE. YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT AT A LOSS TO INSTALL SOLAR. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING HERE IS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF WHAT WE ASKED FOR IN CLIMATE. UM, UH, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WHEN WE, THE PUBLIC DEMANDED GLYPHOSATE BANS AND, AND THINGS, YOU STILL WALK INTO ANY MARKET AND GET ROUNDUP. WE DID IT TO OURSELVES. WE TOOK THE HIGH ROAD, WE DEMONSTRATED TO THE PUBLIC, BUT WE NEVER ACTUALLY HAD THE FOLLOW UP, PERHAPS STRENGTH OF CONVICTION OR ENERGY FROM THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GET A PUBLIC BAN ON A THING. AND WE KNOW THAT THAT PRODUCT IS LIKE THE SERIOUSLY FIRST TOP OF LIST TO, TO GET AFTER. UM, SO THAT BOTHERS ME TREMENDOUSLY. UM, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BANNING ARTIFICIAL ON SPORTS FIELDS THAT GET HIGH USE, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TAKING IT OUT OF ALL THE LANDSCAPING. YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO PUT IN LANDSCAPING AND IT'S AESTHETIC VALUE AT YOUR HOME. IT'S NOT COMMUNITY GOOD. UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT WHO HAS, UM, ARTIFICIAL AND WHO DOESN'T HAVE ARTIFICIAL. WELL ALL, EVERY SINGLE DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL TEAM HAS ARTIFICIAL TURF IN NOW, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE MAINTENANCE. EVERY PRO TEAM, MOST TWO THIRDS OF PRO FOOTBALL TEAMS HAVE, UM, HAVE TWO THIRDS HAVE GRASS BECAUSE, UM, THEY TEAR IT OUT EVERY YEAR. THEY LIMIT PLAY TO ONLY THE GAME PER WEEK OR EVERY OTHER WEEK. THEY'RE LIGHTLY USED AND THEY CAN AFFORD A GRASS. D ONE CAN'T AFFORD GRASS. AND, AND THOSE ARE LIKE BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAMS. UM, THE TURF CAN GET HOT. AND I THINK WHAT WE FIGURED OUT HERE IS THAT ARTIFICIAL IS OUR WINTER SOLUTION. WE NEED THAT THROUGH THE WINTER AND GRASS MIGHT BE THE SUMMER. IF YOU SAY THAT, UH, IT'S NOT RIGHT TO BE HERE TODAY ON THIS HOT ARTIFICIAL, YOU HAVE TO SAY, WHERE CAN I GO? AND, AND IN SUMMER WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE GOOD GRASS FIELDS. WE, WE NEED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THAT. SO I KIND OF AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES. THIS IS LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE, THE ARTIFICIAL TAKE CARE OF OUR WINTER PROBLEMS AND LET'S GET OUT THERE AND FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A GOOD MAINTAINABLE, UH, GRASS FIELD. IF WE COULD DO A WEISSMAN OVER AND, AND GOOD GRASS FIELD WITH SEBASTOPOL TECHNOLOGY, AL TECHNOLOGY, THAT'D BE A GOOD SUMMER FIELD. IT WOULD BE OUR BEST GRASS FIELDS WOULDN'T HELP WINTER, BUT IT WOULD HELP SUMMER. UM, SO, UM, AND YOU KNOW, LIKE WAS MENTIONED, THESE, THE, UH, STATE YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAMS ARE FIGURING OUT THE SAME THINGS WE'RE FIGURING OUT. SO THEY'RE SAYING WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE INSTITUTING STATE YOUTH PROGRAM SUMMER YOUTH SUMMER HEAT THINGS. UM, RULES AND LEAGUES ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING THOSE HEAT PROHIBITIONS. UM, EVERY ITERATION OF THE ARTIFICIAL HAS GOTTEN BETTER. IT'S BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC. IT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL SELL FIELDS IF YOU STAY RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC. SO THEY HAVE, IT KINDA TICKLES ME WHEN PEOPLE SAY ASTROTURF ASTROTURF IS FIVE VERSIONS AGO AND ASTROTURF IS CONCRETE WITH A RUG ON TOP OF IT. IT WAS AWFUL. UM, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE FUND MAINTENANCE IN THE TIME OF SHIFTING PRIORITIES. CITY HAS SO MANY PRIORITIES TO SPEND MONEY ON, UH, IMPORTANT PRIORITIES. WE WILL NOT HAVE THAT. I I DON'T BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE THAT MONEY, UM, INTO THE FUTURE. AND CERTAINLY THERE'S NO COMMITMENT TO IT. SO EVEN IF WE DO PUT IN A PERFECT FIELD, WE NEED THE ARTIFICIAL TO BE SURE THAT IT'S THERE. [04:20:02] SO, UM, OPTION TWO WILL HELP KIDS STAY IN THE PROGRAMS LONGER, PLAY ALL YEAR ROUND. AND THAT'S WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT. UM, THAT WAS A LONG, I AND I, I FORGET IF I'VE MISSED ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK AND MEMBER BARNACLES. UM, I HELD MY QUESTIONS BACK, UM, UNTIL NOW. SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT SAYS, SELECTING BIODEGRADABLE INFILLS SUCH AS CORKER, ALL OF PITS HAS SHOWN A REDUCTION ON FIELD TEMPERATURES BY APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WHEN COMPARED TO CHROME RUBBER. UM, IS THAT A MANUFACTURER CLAIM OR IS THAT A, UH, BEEN VERIFIED BY THIRD PARTY? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. IF DEVIN CONWAY'S STILL IN THE AUDIENCE, I'D HAVE HIM COME UP. UM, I PULLED THOSE NUMBERS LOOKING THROUGH WHAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD PROVIDED AS THEIR STUDY, UM, FOR FIELD TEMPERATURES TAKEN AND I LOOKED AT THEM, I FOUND ABOUT AN AVERAGE. BUT AGAIN, UM, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT AND IT'S PRETTY STICKY WHEN YOU TRY TO FIND IT. SO I'D LIKE DEVIN TO ELABORATE ON THE 10 TO 20 DEGREES COOLER FOR THE CORK OR THE OLIVES. THE ALTERNATE INFILL, CORRECT. YEAH, WE CAN VERIFY THAT WE'VE DONE TEMPERATURE STUDIES. IT DEPENDS ON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. IT CAN, IT CAN BE MORE THAN THAT. IT CAN BE LESS THAN THAT. JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE AM AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS. JUST TO BE, JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU REPRESENTING A MANUFACTURER OR ARE YOU LIKE AN INDEPENDENT DESIGN CONSULTANT? I'M A DESIGN, I'M NOT A TURF CONSULTANT. I'M A DESIGN CONSULTANT. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, THEN WE HAD SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS TALK ABOUT, UH, THE, THE FIELDS BEING CLOSED FROM EXTREME HEAT, UM, AS, AND THAT NOT BEING CAPTURED IN THE, THE DAYS THAT THE FIELDS AREN'T PLAYABLE. UM, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DAYS, UM, OUR FIELDS WERE CLOSED DUE TO EXTREME HEAT LAST YEAR? I CANNOT GET YOU THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW. I CAN SAY THAT. UM, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH, UM, THE YOUTH SPORTS PROVIDERS THAT HOLD THE FIELD PERMITS. SO TYPICALLY WHEN THERE IS AN ADVISEMENT ON A, ON A HOT DAY AND IT, THERE'S A HEAT INDEX THAT REACHES A THRESHOLD, THEN THE PERMIT HOLDERS WILL SEND OUT SINCE NO NOTICES CANCELING GAMES, UM, WE DID NOT CLOSE, UH, A FIELD SPECIFICALLY PREEMPTIVE OF A YOUTH SPORTS GROUPS NOTIFYING THEIR MEMBERS AS WELL. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND THEN, UM, THE MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR GRASS FIELDS, DO THOSE ASSUME THE EXISTING LEVEL OF SERVICE, UH, AT THE GRASS FIELDS THAT I THINK HAVE WIDELY BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED ARE INADEQUATE? UM, OR DO THOSE ASSUME A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE? THOSE DO ASSUME A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE THAN OUR EXISTING. UH, THE INTENT WAS TO GIVE SOMETHING THAT'S COMPARABLE, UM, TO A SYNTHETIC KNOWING THAT WE CAN'T GIVE A PERFECT FIELD. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. AND THEN, UM, UH, MAYOR TALKED ABOUT 20 GRASS FIELDS FOR ARTIFICIAL FIELDS. UM, ARE WE PLANNING FOR, ARE, ARE THE 20 GRASS FIELDS BEING HELD TO THE LEVEL OF, OF SERVICE STANDARD THAT YOU'VE MODELED IN THESE COST ESTIMATES? OR ARE THEY BEING, ARE THEY, UM, ADHERING, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY LOWER COST OF MAINTENANCE, I GUESS? YEAH, AND I'D, UM, I'D HAVE TO LOOK, I BELIEVE THE REFERENCE FOR THE 20 WAS FOR SOCCER AND LACROSSE OR MULTI-USE FIELDS THAT WOULDN'T INCLUDE, UM, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS AS WELL. SO, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, NO, THERE, THE FREQUENCY OF MAINTENANCE FOR THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS THAT WERE CALCULATED FOR THIS FIELD AT LOU CASEY IS NOT THE MAINTENANCE PER FIELD ACROSS 20 SOCCER AND LACROSSE NATURAL GRASS FIELDS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. UM, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S MORE THAN THAT WHEN YOU DO FACTOR IN BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, AND YOU ALSO HAVE HIGHER DEGREES OF MAINTENANCE AT SEVERAL OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE SITES THAT MANAGE AND PUT A LOT OF SWEAT EQUITY AND PAID EQUITY INTO MANAGING THOSE FIELDS AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR. SO THOSE COSTS WOULD NEED TO BE PROBABLY CAPTURED TOO, UM, IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT A REAL CASE BY CASE BASIS. GOT YOU. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS THIS, WE'RE GONNA DO, LIKE, THIS FIELD IS GONNA BE LIKE, UM, CARED FOR TO A HIGHER L LIKE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAN WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING CITYWIDE. YES. IT WAS AN EXERCISE TO COMPARE, UM, YOU KNOW, A A COMPARABLE PLAYABLE SURFACE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES, UM, AT LUKE CASEY PARK. [04:25:01] OKAY. UM, THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY QUESTIONS. UM, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, TO ME THIS IS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND LEVEL OF SERVICE, UM, QUITE FRANKLY BECAUSE, UH, I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THE CLAIMS THAT THEY'RE THE MICROPLASTICS DON'T MATTER. UM, I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY DOES. UM, I I, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THERE'S, IN THAT THERE'S FILL THAT IS, UH, UM, BETTER AT, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT CREATING HEAT ON THE FIELD. UM, I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. UM, I ALSO, YOU KNOW, TOO, I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, QUINT WHO, WHO LED OFF AND SAID LIKE, WE CAN'T GET THIS WRONG. WE CAN'T SCREW THIS UP FOR THE COMMUNITY. UM, WE CAN'T HAVE, UH, LIKE, UM, IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ASK PEOPLE TO NOT PLAY SOCCER IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND LIKE I, UM, I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN FOR, UM, MAKING PEOPLE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS. UM, ALSO THERE'S A, THERE'S AN EQUITY ISSUE IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PLAYING FIELDS AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO GET DRIVEN TO A DIFFERENT CITY TO PLAY. UM, AND SO I THINK THERE'S LIKE 10 DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN SPIN THIS TO MAKE AN EQUITY ARGUMENT. UM, IN THE END, IT'S JUST A TOUGH AR IT'S JUST A, UH, A TOUGH DECISION. UM, AND I, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE WOULD BE FOCUSING ON TRYING TO MAKE THIS FIELD THAT'S CURRENTLY ALL WEATHER BE LIKE AN IMMACULATE NATURAL GRASS FIELD WHILE WE HAVE NATURAL GAS FIELDS THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE IMMACULATE. AND, UM, THE, THE COST OF DOING THIS STUFF IS IMMENSE FOR THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE JUST ON HERE. UM, PARKS HAVE BEEN GROSSLY UNDERFUNDED FOR A LONG TIME. UM, WE FINALLY STARTED TO PUT RESOURCES TO 'EM THANKS TO MEASURE YOU, BUT THEY'RE STILL UNDERFUNDED AND THEY'RE STILL HUGE NEED THAT EVERYBODY HAS. AND YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S PLAYGROUNDS OR SKATE PARKS OR, UM, SOCCER AND LACROSSE OR WHATEVER, EVERYBODY HAS A DESIRE. I WANT TO GET THE MCNAIR GRANDSTAND DONE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY, MY PET PROJECT. UM, AND THERE'S JUST NEVER ENOUGH MONEY. AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S LIKE, UH, A LITTLE IRONIC TO ME THAT, UM, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING WE NEED TO HIRE MORE PARK STAFF AND WE NEED TO DO THIS STUFF, ARE ALSO THE ONES THAT ARE POO-POOING THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BRING IN REVENUE TO OUR CITY. UM, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OR THOSE A LOT OF US DO, BUT IT'S, UM, IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING TO BE UP HERE TRYING TO, UM, MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO ENSURE A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. UM, AND JUST THE, THE FINANCIAL REALITIES OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, ARE NOT CONSIDERED. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT REASON, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M IN SUPPORT, I THINK OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERSHIPS TALKED ABOUT OF REALLY FOCUSING ON THE STRONGEST, MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE OPTIONS THAT WE CAN WITH, UM, IN ALL WEATHER FIELD. UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A, A FUN DECISION FOR SURE BECAUSE THERE ARE REAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, UM, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS. OKAY. UNLIKE, UM, MAYBE TO BRING IT BACK OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES POINTS, I THINK YOU HAD CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS AND, AND, AND THAT'S BEEN BOUNCED AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE US PAST 11. OH YEAH. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION BY DECAT THOMPSON AND A SECOND BY NOW. AND I'M, I'M GONNA ASK FOR A VOTE BY A CLAIM. ARE WE ALL STILL IN FOR FINISHING TONIGHT? PAST 11? PAST 11, YES. OKAY. WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD TO KEEP GOING. UM, AND I HOPE YOU ARE TOO. AND, UM, SO A FEW THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, COUNCIL MEMBER SCH, RIBS, UH, SHADE STRUCTURES, BIOSWALE AND, UM, UM, TEMPERATURE AND WELL, I THINK THAT THE BIOSWALE AND THE SHADE STRUCTURES WE CAN DEFER TO STAFF AS DESIGN ELEMENTS TO BE BROUGHT BACK WHEN THEY BRING A PROJECT BACK. SO, SO I THINK WE CAN PROVIDE THEM AS DIRECTION AND, AND, AND I'M ASKING IF ANYBODY THINKS THOSE ARE BAD DIRECTIONS TO STAFF. OKAY. AND, UM, THE STAFF GET THAT THAT WAS THE ASK AND, UM, AND THEN, UM, NO NEW INSTALL THERE, THOSE, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH THE [04:30:01] ATTORNEY AND, UM, YOU PHRASED IT AS MITIGATION AND, UM, AND I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT ASSUMES THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG AND WE'RE NOT READY TO DECLARE THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG, YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S EMERGING SCIENCE. WE'RE, WE'RE, SO IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING A POLICY, I THINK I'M GONNA BOUNCE THE QUESTION BACK TO THE ATTORNEY A DIFFERENT WAY. IF WE FEEL THAT OUR MIX OF TYPES OF FIELDS IS ADEQUATE, CAN WE FRAME A POLICY THAT SIMPLY SAYS WE THINK OUR MIX IS ADEQUATE? YES. AND, AND, AND CONSEQUENTIALLY THAT THAT WOULD WARRANT. AND, AND WITH THE MIX ADEQUATE NO NEW, UM, INSTALLATIONS BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE AND MAINTAIN AND REPLACE WOULD BE WARRANTED. THAT THAT ALL FITS IN A POLICY. UM, SURE. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, A, A CONTINUUM OF HOW FORMAL OR NOT YOU WANT THAT POLICY TO BE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU DECLARE IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN GIVING STAFF DIRECTION IS ALREADY A POLICY. SO, SO DOES, DOES THAT ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL? OKAY. AND THEN, UH, YOU ALSO HAD, UH, WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HEAT AND, AND DAYS WHEN HEAT IS, UH, A PROBLEM. CAN WE SIMILARLY DIRECT STAFF TO HAVE MORE FORMAL POLICY OF WHAT DAYS FIELDS SHOULD BE CLOSED? UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE A SMOKE POLICY YET, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR AIR, AIR QUALITY DAYS. AND, AND SO WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TO KIND OF AGENDA, PULL ALL THAT TOGETHER AND WOULD THAT SATISFY THAT POINT OF YOURS? OKAY. SO THAT'S A YES. UM, AND THEN, UM, YOU'RE SUGGESTING TO, UM, UPGRADE ONE GRASS GRASSFIELD TO THE, UH, OPTION ONE PLAYING LEVEL OR INSTALLATION LEVEL. CAN WE PUT THAT CONVERSATION INTO, UH, BUDGET DISCUSSIONS FOR THIS YEAR? YES. OKAY. AND, UM, THE, UM, RECYCLING, I THINK WE SHOULD DEFER THAT BACK TO STAFF TO MAKE THAT PART OF ANY FUTURE PRESENTATION SO THAT WE, I, I'M KIND OF A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WE DIDN'T HAVE THE NAME OF THE ACTUAL PROVIDER FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, DRILL DOWN ON PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S MEETING, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GOT TO THAT STEP YET. AND, AND WILL, UM, AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, WAIVERS FOR THE USER GROUPS. FOR ME THAT KIND OF REALLY IS A STUMBLING BLOCK. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'D ACHIEVE THAT AGAIN, TO THE MITIGATION THING. WHAT, WHAT ARE WE ASKING TO SIGN OFF ON AND, AND WOULD WE DO IT TO THE VISITING TEAMS AS WELL? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS GETS INTO KIND OF KETTLE OF FISH. UM, ALSO, I'M NOT SURE WE CAN DO, I MEAN, THE ONLY WAIVERS OR RELEASES THAT ARE LEGALLY AFFECTED ARE THOSE THAT ARE KNOWING AND, AND FREELY CHOSEN AND, AND THERE'S SOME REAL PROBLEMS WITH THAT ON A PRACTICAL BASIS. WHAT I WOULD, ONE THING I WOULD SUGGEST, UM, THAT MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE, UM, MIGHT, MIGHT BE MORE, UM, PRAGMATIC IS INFORMATION. SO WE, WE HEARD TONIGHT FROM FOLKS WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO NOT USE THE ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS. AND WE HEARD FROM FOLKS WHO WOULD, AND I THINK KIND OF LIKE IT DOES IN SO MANY OF THE THINGS WE DO, IT BEHOOVES US AS, AS THE PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM ALWAYS BE MAKING INFORMED CHOICES TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. AND SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THAT WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROJECT GOING FORWARD IN THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DOES RECYCLING REALLY HAPPEN? DOES IT REALLY JUST END UP IN THE LANDFILL? WHAT ABOUT THE, WHAT ABOUT THE MICROPLASTICS AND, AND THEIR IMPACT? UM, I THINK PROBABLY THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT IS TO CONTINUE TO, UM, PROVIDE INFORMATION SO THAT USERS OF THESE RESOURCES CAN MAKE INFORMED CHOICES. I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT, THAT WE ALLOW STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A PROPOSAL FOR HOW INFORMATION CAN BE CONVEYED, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE DIALOGUE WAS TONIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I, I THINK ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A STRONGER BULLY POOL, BUT TO GET THE MESSAGE OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING INTO HANDS OF MORE PEOPLE. AND, UM, SO I THINK WITH US PROCEEDING, WE CAN DO AN EDUCATION, WE CAN HELP THE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN GO FORWARD. YEAH. UM, ON A LOT OF PRODUCTS NOW THERE'S, THERE'S LITTLE BOXES DOWN BELOW SAYING THESE PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS, IT MAY CONTAIN THIS OR THAT. AND, AND THESE ARE KNOWN CARCINOGENS. IT'S ALL IN A LOT OF PRODUCTS NOW. IT'S ON TOYS, IT'S EVERYWHERE. SO WE JUST NEED TO HAVE OUR LITTLE BOX WITH THEY, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT'S, WHAT'S, UH, THIS PLASTICS [04:35:01] CONTAIN POLY, UH, POLYETHYLENE AND EVERYTHING. AND, AND THERE ARE SOME, UH, UH, CANCER CAUSING THINGS THAT MAY BE PART OF THIS FIELD. AND JUST INFORMATION COULD BE A SIGN, COULD BE A HANDOUT, COULD BE ANYTHING BUT JUST INFORMATION. SO PEOPLE, THEY, THEY HAVE A CHOICE. WELL, WELL, AND WE HAVE THE, UM, THE CANCER WARNINGS IN CALIFORNIA BY STATE LAW, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE BY THE GAS PUMPS AND ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS. UM, BUT AS CHELSEA ALSO MENTIONED, WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE STANDARDS AND THE TESTING OF THE STANDARDS DOESN'T EVEN EXIST YET IN, IN A LOT OF REALMS ABOUT THIS. SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE, UM, IT'S, IT IS NOT LIKE A SHRINK SHRINK RACK LICENSE, UM, WITH SOFTWARE OR WHEN YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, GET AN ONLINE UPGRADE AND YOU ACCEPT ALL THE NEW POLICIES THAT NO ONE EVER READS. IT'S, THAT'S NOT EFFECTIVE TO PRO FOR, TO PROTECT THE CITY. BUT WE CAN DO OUR BEST TO INFORM. SO PEOPLE ARE, ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, CHARTING THEIR OWN DESTINY TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY WITH ALL THIS EMERGING INFORMATION AND STANDARDS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN OFFER, BUT RIGHT. WE WE'RE HERE TO IT. JUST, JUST SAY, HEY, THESE FIELDS CONTAIN, UH, PLASTIC ON, ON A GRASS, AND THERE'S UNDERLAYMENT THAT IS, THERE'S ALSO PLASTIC. AND, AND JUST SO THAT THERE'S AWARENESS THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE ENTERING IN A WORLD OF, OF PLASTIC OUT HERE. JUST IT'S A GOOD IDEA. IDEA. DON'T EVEN SAYING IT'S BAD OR ANYTHING, JUST SAYING WHAT IT IS. YEAH, SURE. WELL, I THINK THAT INFORMATION IS GONNA COME, COME BACK WITH THE, RIGHT, SO PROJECT, I'M FINE WITH SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE KNOW THE INFORMATION AND IT'S A CHOICE. AND HOPEFULLY I CAN LIVE WITH THAT. HOPEFULLY STAFF ARE ABLE TO SHOW IN WHAT WAY WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS SUPERIOR IN TERMS OF THINGS LIKE, LIKE OFF-GASSING, LIKE TEMPERATURE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, PFAS, WHATEVER. SO, AND, AND THAT'LL BE, THAT'LL BE INFORMATION FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY TOO. THANK YOU. YES. UH, VICE MAYOR, UM, ON THAT, THE DISCLAIMER, SIGNAGE SHOULD BE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. WE HEARD TONIGHT THAT THE, UM, THE POPULATION ISN'T JUST ENGLISH SPEAKING THAT USES THOSE FIELDS AND THERE'S DISCLAIMERS I THINK ON THE PURPLE PIPING NOT TO DRINK IT. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, IT'S JUST FOR PLANTS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO PUT SIGNAGE ON OUR FIELDS TOO. UM, I HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT PUTS IT UP BECAUSE HE USES PESTICIDES AND ANOTHER NEIGHBOR THAT SAYS THEY DON'T USE PESTICIDES. SO, UM, IF IT WAS IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE TOO, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANKS. COMMENTS, HOME STRETCH. UM, WELL WITH THAT, DOES ANYONE WANNA MAKE A MOTION? I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE OPTION TWO. THANK YOU. CAN WE GET A SECOND? SECOND. SO WE HAVE, UM, MOTION FROM QUINT. SECOND FROM SHRIVES IN ROLL CALL VOTE BARNACLE. AYE. CATER THOMPSON? YES. DID CARLY? NO, NOW? NO. QUINT. QUINT. YES. REPPS? YES. MCDONALD? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AT, UH, UH, WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS AND, UH, HOPE TO SEE A FUTURE C CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AS WELL. AND THAT IS THE END OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION AND BRINGS US TO ADJOURNMENT. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.