The Sustainability Commission sponsored Study Issue ESD 24-01 in Aug. 2024. The Study was proposed after community members shared concerns about artificial turf.
On Feb. 15, 2024, City Council approved the Study. The Council set aside $100,000 for staff and a consultant to:
- Review existing research
- Look at the life cycle of artificial turf and ways to improve maintenance
- Study how the City’s athletic fields are used
- Compare costs
- Provide policy recommendations
On Aug. 27, 2024, City Council asked staff to suggest an update to the Study. This update added work to:
- Take a closer look at maintenance practices
- Research ways to improve the quality and use of the City’s natural grass fields
- Explore options for building new natural grass fields in the future
On Sept. 10, 2024, City Council approved the update to the Study. Because the scope grew, the Council increased the budget to $150,000.
