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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-15-2016 Item 14, GrigsbyCOUNCIL ML -'STING: ITEM NO. Council Memorandum all DATE: November 15, 2016 TO: City Council FROM: Daryl Grigsby, Director of Public Works BY: Matt Horn, Deputy Director of Public Works / City Engineer VIA: Katie Lichtig, City Manager ?� SUBJECT: Questions Regarding Restrictions On Outdoor Irrigation of Public Facility Turf with Potable Water Some City Council members have provided questions to staff regarding the above referenced Public Hearing Item. The answers to these questions may be of benefit to the entire City Council and are included in the memorandum. Question 1 Please elaborate on the safety aspect of turf fields. Why is it a safety issue to have a dirt field? Answer 1 Turf facilities are used by the public with varying degrees of mobility. A high quality turf provides for a cushion between the ground surface and the athlete. The turf provides for greater cushion on feet and knees when running and between the soil and skin when sliding. The severity of head injuries is also related to this and in a 2015 study the results of which were published in the New York Times it was concluded that well maintained fields were an important component of reducing and preventing concussions. A uniform turf surface provides for a greater likelihood of having a uniform soil surface. Providing a uniform surface for play reduces the likelihood of injury due to falling and joint impacts due to unexpected low or high areas in the field. Question 2 Why are we including Mission Plaza Turf in this amendment? It's not like the sports fields, which are what all the other requests are. This area is also subject to the Mission Plaza long range plan, who knows where grass is going or not going in the future. Answer 2 The City seeks to maintain the Mission Plaza in an aesthetically appealing condition. The Mission Plaza is included in the renovation request since it host many visitors throughout the year and supports numerous special events and is a San Luis Obispo cultural icon and historic resource. Turf renovations at the Mission Plaza will provide a thicker grass area and reduced dirt patches. Reduced dirt patches will reduce the amount of soil that is tracked out of the turf area and onto the concrete area. Public Hearing Item 14 — November 15, 2016 Page 2 While the Mission Plaza is included in this request for renovation, the City Council could ultimately decide that a well maintained turf facilities in this area is not the highest and best use of the City's potable water resources. Finally, while the Mission Plaza Assessment will have implications for the configuration of Mission Plaza and its corresponding turf, those changes are expected to be implemented in the next 5 to 10 -year timeframe. Question 3 How much additional potable water is planned to be used on parks turf? Answer 3 About eight acre-feet of potable water is planned to be used on the parks turf through this action. Last year the City in total used 4,730 acre-feet of potable water. The parks system specifically used 69 acre-feet of that 4,730 acre-feet. This eight acre-feet increase represents about a 0.2% total increase in City water usage as compared to last year but still represents a 17% decrease as compared to 2013. Question 4 What other areas of city owned turf that could be removed so that water could go to the park areas as recommended in this item? Answer 4 Determining other areas for turf removal would require a thorough review of all City facilities with criterion of where it would be appropriate to remove turf. This effort would require the allocation of staff to complete this review and reach out to residents and other facility users about any recommended areas for removal. Even though it may appear to be a straight forward to request selective areas of turf in the parks systems, irrigation changes or other modifications would likely need to be completed in order to eliminate watering of turf and at the same time provide for any irrigation of replacement landscaping should it be required. This work effort could be done as distinct Capital Improvement Project consistent with City Financial Policies as part of the 2017- 2019 Financial Plan. Please contact Deputy Director/City Engineer, Matt Horn at 781-7191 with any questions.