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Artificial turf may soon be illegal to install in Millbrae, at least for a period of time, with city council citing environmental concerns and the need to establish permanent rules regarding landscaping material often seen as a low-cost alternative. maintenance and low water consumption to real grass.
The move comes amid a worsening drought in the state, prompting many residents to seek other garden treatments that require less water. But according to experts, the environmental drawbacks of artificial turf likely outweigh the benefits. The city is now asking for a moratorium on the installation of the plastic material until permanent guidelines on its use can be sought and established.
“In the short term, as long as it may take for staff to research this, artificial turf will continue to increase,” said Mayor Ann Schneider. “Our yards are cemented and covered with artificial turf at the moment.”
Concerns include increased heat, reduced water uptake, and toxic runoff from disintegrating plastic – issues that could exacerbate climate problems often associated with drought.
“You have in the case of a field… terra cotta, sealed and compressed that is completely dead underneath,” said Diana Conway, president of Safe Healthy Playing Fields, a voluntary organization that advocates against artificial turf. “This not only means that there is no worm or bee activity, you have no runoff capability, you have no water infiltration capability, you don’t. have no carbon sinks that you would have with grass. “
Plus, artificial turf is 30 to 60 percent warmer than room temperature on a hot, sunny day, Conway said, further noting that 11 high school athletes have died in the United States on turf from heatstroke. in the past eight months.
The recyclability of synthetic turf has also been questioned. According to Conway, it is not recyclable, despite frequent claims to the contrary.
The city’s moratorium targets primarily residential uses and would not affect high schools, which have increasingly used it to line playgrounds. Council members discussed the possibility of contacting state lawmakers to get more information on what can or is being done at the state level.
While the board did not approve a moratorium at its Tuesday meeting, a draft of such a policy has been requested and will likely be voted on at its next meeting in two weeks. Millbrae would likely be the first city in the state to move forward with a moratorium on turf, noted City Manager Tom Williams, although many cities have rules surrounding its use.
In Millbrae, it is already illegal to have more than 40% of the yard of a single-family residence paved. It was noted that some residents opted for paving yards for similar reasons, artificial turf would be applied, as well as additional parking. It is also possible that residents, if code enforcement action is taken against them for the paving, will attempt to cover the cement with artificial turf.
The moratorium would only apply to new applications, existing uses would be authorized pending possible future directives.
In other cases, the council has approved a new flag policy for those who fly on city flag poles.
The new policy will allow flags representing Black History Month in February, Asian Pacific Islands Heritage Month in May, Pride Month in June, Hispanic Heritage Month in September, Heritage Month Native American in November, as well as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Special requests other than those listed would be submitted to City Council for approval.
“We are receiving several requests from the public to display commemorative flags,” said Williams.
The policy was noted in a presentation by staff as being consistent with the city’s guiding principles, incorporating “diversity, equity, social justice and inclusion as an expression of the city’s official sentiments”.
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