01 Desk Item.Item #1 - 2024 strategic priorities
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/13/2024 ITEM NO: 1 DESK ITEM
DATE: February 13, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Affirm and/or Refine Existing Strategic Priorities and Determine the Priorities
for New Ordinances
REMARKS:
Attachment 6 contains Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m., Friday, February 9,
2024, and 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
Attachments Received with the Staff Report:
1. 2023-2025 Strategic Priorities
2. Los Gatos At-A-Glance
3. Iceberg Model
4. Draft 2024-2026 Strategic Priorities
5. Public Comments received prior to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024
Attachment Received with this Desk Item:
6. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m. Friday, February 9, 2024, and 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
ATTACHMENT 6
From: Pam Bond
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2024 10:48 AM
To: Council <Council@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Comments regarding 2/13/24 Special Meeting regarding Strategic Plan
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Dear Los Gato Town Councilmembers,
Please see attached my letter regarding input on the Strategic Plan discussion.
Sincerely,
Pam Bond
February 13,2024
Dear Los Gatos Town Councilmembers,
I am writing regarding Los Gatos’Strategic Plan and I would like to recommend that a
discussion around limiting or banning artificial turf be highlighted for consideration in the
2024-26 timeline if it is not already.This is a pressing matter as people are inclined to install
artificial turf as a drought saving measure,particularly in California,but the reality is that artificial
turf is not going to help us if we enter a drought period again.I don’t know if this might involve
an ordinance and so I’d like to flag the possibility of an ordinance relating to the use of artificial
turf.
In Section 6.14 Implementation Programs of the 2040 General plan,for the 2020-2025 timeline
Program A Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and Program C Artificial Turf are very
much related and align with Valley Water’s stance on use of artificial turf.See:Valley Water
Artificial Turf Fact Sheet.I won’t go into the details around Valley Water’s recommendation
against the use of artificial turf,but the main points are that artificial turf is not a living landscape
and so it does not contribute to a healthy environment,artificial turf uses water anyway,and
there are environmental concerns with use of artificial turf.
As part of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance I think it is critical that artificial turf not be
incentivized or promoted as a product for reducing water use.And ultimately,I would like the
Town to consider banning artificial turf.
I have been involved in researching artificial turf since 2020 when the Los Gatos Union School
District was considering whether to replace existing grass fields with artificial turf at several
elementary schools.Since the decision in 2022 to keep grass fields at the elementary schools,I
have remained active in the discussions and decisions in California and the East Coast
regarding artificial turf.I and other local parents are in close communication with several
non-profits who are advocating for natural grass or other drought tolerant natural landscaping.
These non-profits have scientists,epidemiologists,chemists and grass experts and researchers
at their disposal for help in getting the science right.And the science is telling us that artificial
turf is an unregulated petrochemical with multitudes of environmental and human health issues.
Here are just two of the organization’s fact sheets on artificial turf to review.
Center for Health and Environment (CHE):
https://www.healthandenvironment.org/join-us/blog/playing-on-plastic-artificial-turf-hazards-and-
safer-alternatives
Beyond Plastics:
https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/synthetic-turf
In town,I have seen artificial turf used for gas station landscaping and I have seen it used in
front yards that are unused.Residents just like the look of something green or they don’t have
time to maintain their yard.What no one thinks about is the heat emitted,the shedding of
microplastic fibers over time,potential flow of plastic bits and chemicals into storm drains,what
to do when you have to replace it,and the emission of greenhouse gases from the plastic for
the life of the product:See Sarah-Jeanne Royer’s article.She “is a postdoctoral research fellow
with the marine biology research division,Scripps Institution of Oceanography,University of
California,San Diego.”
https://www.mvtimes.com/2019/02/20/synthetic-turf-will-contribute-greenhouse-gas-problems/
Many think residential and commercial uses for landscaping don't use tire crumb rubber and so
it’s not as bad.The artificial turf industry is really good at greenwashing and this is incredibly
important to keep in mind when you read about their products.The reality is that the artificial
turf industry “improves”the plastic grass product by adding more unregulated chemicals to
petrochemical-made plastic.And the artificial turf industry adds UV protectants,fire retardants,
colorants,chemicals to make the plastic softer,and other unknowns to make their product
sound better than the rest.Even if you get a “bio-based”plastic (meaning some percentage of
the plastic is derived from plants and not petrochemicals),it almost always still contains
petrochemical plastic.And bio-based plastic is still,in the end,plastic,and still contains all of
those chemicals added to make the product seem better.
You can look to Millbrae for inspiration and technical advice.The City passed a ban on artificial
turf soon after AB676 passed both houses and was signed by Governor Newsom.See more
about SB 676 here:
https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-10-24/once-it-was-hailed-as-a-
drought-fix-but-now-californias-moving-to-restrict-synthetic-turf-over-health-concerns
Boston banned artificial turf in parks:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/30/boston-bans-artificial-turf-toxic-forever-c
hemicals-pfas
As inspiration,I’d like to note that during a Beyond Plastics training session,a 12-year-old had
registered and was in attendance for the training designed for groups who want to become
affiliates of Beyond Plastics.My 11 year old read my public comments before the last Town
Council meeting (and approved!),and a local Saratoga High School environmental club
currently has artificial turf on its main agenda.Their capacity to try to move mountains in this
area is inspiring and I believe their comments and letters have inspired more thought from
decision makers.We should take direction from the youth who will inherit the decisions we
make today.
I hope you will consider serious discussion regarding General Plan section 6.14 Programs A
and C in the near term as laid out in the General Plan and take the wording of Program C a step
further than determining the “appropriate use of artificial turf”.I believe that any possible use of
artificial turf can be addressed with much more environmentally friendly and healthy choices.
Sincerely,
Pam Bond
Los Gatos resident and parent