September 10, 2024
Mayor Klein and Councilmember Mehlinger
456 W. Olive Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Email to Mayor Klein: kleincouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Email to Councilmember Mehlinger: mehlingercouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov
CC: Council@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Dear Mayor Klein and Councilmember Mehlinger,
Thank you for your continuing support for resident’s health by voting for a moratorium on new artificial turf on Sunnyvale City property, including on sports fields. The Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter appreciates your steadfast and courageous vote for a moratorium (called a “ban” in the August 27 agenda) on new installations of artificial turf until completion of the upcoming Study Issue ESD 24-01 - Evaluate the Use of Artificial Turf versus Living Groundcovers.
Opposition from local soccer organizations was expected, particularly from administrators, so it was surprising to learn that soccer families were awarded club volunteer credits [1] for coming to the Council meeting expressly to repeat misinformation, which egregiously included an assertion that “outsiders” were responsible for the Sunnyvale Council’s decision to put a new grass athletic field instead of an artificial turf field at Lakewood Park. Surely the North Sunnyvale neighbors of Lakewood Park were insulted since they were the most vocal and numerous supporters of grass fields.
It was also a surprise to learn that the largest artificial turf company in the world, TenCate, had flown a top executive from the Netherlands to California expressly for this meeting, and another meeting by the County on August 27. We note that it might seem impossible to find more of an “outsider” on a Sunnyvale matter.
The events of last week’s City Council meeting have left us concerned for the upcoming Study Issue “ESD 24-01 - Evaluate the Use of Artificial Turf versus Living Groundcovers”. We trust that the study will focus on independent and objective non-industry-related science and medical findings, that every finding will include citations for source material, that all numbers and figures in the study will similarly fully reference sourced material, and will include a proper comparison of modern organically-managed natural grass fields and modern turf fields.
Once again, thank you for your steadfast support for the environment and the health of our kids and all local residents.
Respectfully,
Gita Dev
Chair, Conservation Committee
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
[1] Email below was sent to “2024 - 25 Competitive Coaches, 2024 - 25 Competitive player contacts, 2024 - 25 Recreational Coaches, 2024 - 25 Recreational player contacts, 2024 - 25 Winter Training player contacts, 2024 - 25 Sunnyvale4Soccer player contacts, Sunnyvale Alliance Club Wide Communication, Sunnyvale Alliance Coaches, Sunnyvale Alliance Managers, and Sunnyvale Alliance SASC Board.”
From: Damon James <no-reply@byga.net>
Date: August 24, 2024 at 9:48:37 AM PDT
To:
Subject: GOODBYE FAIR OAKS & TWIN CREEKS!: City Council Announces
Turf Ban is Coming Unless We Act Now!
Reply-To: president@sunnyvalesoccer.org
Dear SASC Members,
We confirmed yesterday Sunnyvale City Council will ban turf on Tuesday -
without waiting for the results of the $60k community survey or $100k study it
commissioned to evaluate turf improvements/alternatives - unless they hear from
you!
If the County bans occurs to, Fair Oaks and Twin Creeks will revert to patchy
grass only open 8 month of the year, like all Sunnyvale's other public fields.
We NEED you to WRITE TO CITY COUNSEL and tell them why we need turf
and/or better grass fields.
We NEED you to JOIN OR CALL-IN to the City Council meeting Tuesday,
August 27 @ 7pm.
-
We are cancelling all competitive practices after 6pm on Tuesday so
our coaches, players and parents are free to show up. -
We are offering volunteer credit for competitive families that attend.
-
You don't have to stay the whole time, just long enough for City Council to
stop pretending you don't exist.
We NEED you to sign and share the Sunnyvale and County petitions. 400
people have already signed the Sunnyvale petition
We NEED you to learn about the pros and cons of turf at the Advocating for
Synthetic Turf website we built with the other Sunnyvale soccer, baseball, softball,
cricket, and rugby clubs who also oppose the ban.
Thank you,
Attachment
This message was sent to (reply to all): 2024 - 25 Competitive Coaches, 2024 - 25 Competitive player
contacts, 2024 - 25 Recreational Coaches, 2024 - 25 Recreational player contacts, 2024 - 25 Winter
Training player contacts, 2024 - 25 Sunnyvale4Soccer player contacts, Sunnyvale Alliance Club Wide
Communication, Sunnyvale Alliance Coaches, Sunnyvale Alliance Managers, and Sunnyvale Alliance
SASC Board. View in app