Item 17a on the Board of Supervisors meeting on July 18th is: Authorize $238,405 for Softball Fields Synthetic Turf Design Project for all four softball fields at the Centennial Park Complex.
See attached research material is given here. I have sent my public comments as a resident of Carson City, a resident who is concerned about the health and well-being of our residents.
I also thought it was important to speak up because the City does not have an ordinance to protect resident health from known carcinogen chemicals as evidenced below.
A recent experience was the spraying of Roundup to eliminate the noxious weeds in the retention ponds behind our backyard fence. I brought the spraying to the attention of Supervisor Giomi, Mayor Bagwell and City Manager Nancy Paulson in May 2024.
The reply from Mayor Bagwell “I was correct that we do not have a code. Here is the contact information for the state agency that deals with this issue on private properties”. Mayor was concerned that the spray could seep to the soil and water but no action was taken even to suggest creation of a new code.
Supervisor Giomi said “there is nothing in the code enforcement laws/regulations that would allow us to tell anyone to stop spraying weeds. Any property owner has the right to address weeds on their property and the City doesn’t have any way to control or stop it.”
City Manager, Nancy Paulson, said nothing.
Well, that means it is up to you to protect your health and the health of your family. Ensure no property owner or the City does things that could harm you.
The attached research material points to the dangers from direct exposure to hazardous chemicals due to contact by athletics; indirect exposure from environmental contamination from the run-off from the artificial turf fields and the life of 15 years when artificial turf is disposed of in a landfill because it cannot be recycled. National teams are reverting to the natural turf to avoid the danger of hard falls on the field as well.
The city staff has not provided any material of the composition of the artificial turf and any consideration of prevalent research about artificial turf at the moment. Perhaps, it was not even a consideration for city staff. The city does not have the level of funds to replace the artificial turf should there be new research or if carcinogens, neurotoxicants, mutagens and endocrine disruptors have an impact on turf users.
Where does it leave you? Be forewarned. Ask questions of your city representatives – Supervisors, Mayor and City Manager. Take action.
UPDATE: July 19, 2024-Mayor Bagwell announced at the Board of Supervisors meeting on July 18th that item 17a: Authorize $238,405 for Softball Fields Synthetic Turf Design Project for all four softball fields at the Centennial Park Complex will not be discussed and have been pulled from the meeting agenda.
Many thanks to the five residents who sent public comments and one resident who wrote to two Supervisors. It will be brought back for Board discussion after additional research and approvals are obtained. Resident action is critical and it is unfortunate that only six residents expressed their opinion on the detrimental impact on community health and environmental contamination. Note there is no city ordinance to protect community health from dangerous contaminants.
Stay alert for the next meeting discussion, possibly in August 2024.
Thank you.